Patents by Inventor Mario Gaia

Mario Gaia 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: 11802716
    Abstract: A heat exchange circuit for a geothermal plant comprising a well excavated in the rock, a casing arranged inside the well, integral with it and comprising at least a first perforated section extending along a first portion of the well and at least a second perforated section extending along a second portion of the well, the perforated sections allowing the exit and the entry of a flow of geothermal fluid contained in an aquifer, an internal duct, located inside the casing in which a heat transfer fluid flows, wherein the well, the casing and the internal duct being arranged as a substantially closed ring, except for at least one surface interruption, at least one heat-exchange section at the bottom of the well between the first portion and the second portion of the well within which the geothermal fluid transfers heat to the heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TURBODEN S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini
  • Patent number: 11802494
    Abstract: A cascade organic Rankine cycle plant comprising a hot source, at least a first high temperature organic Rankine cycle and a second low temperature organic Rankine cycle, said cycles comprising at least one preheater, at least one vaporizer, at least one turbine, at least one condenser, wherein the hot source first supplies a vaporizer of the high temperature cycle, then the vaporizer of the low temperature cycle and finally it is divided into two flows which supply a first preheater of the high temperature cycle and a preheater of the low temperature cycle. The first high-temperature organic Rankine cycle comprises a further vaporizer operating at an intermediate pressure between the vaporizer pressure of the high temperature cycle and the vaporizer pressure of the low temperature cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TURBODEN S.p.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Bini, Mario Gaia, Claudio Pietra
  • Publication number: 20230220789
    Abstract: An organic Rankine cycle system with cascade cycles provided with a first organic Rankine cycle which operates at high temperature, in which a first organic working fluid carries out a heat exchange with a hot source fluid and a second organic Rankine cycle which operates at a temperature lower than the temperature of the first organic Rankine cycle and in which a second organic working fluid carries out a heat exchange with the same hot source. The evaporator of the first organic Rankine cycle is fed by the entire flow rate of the hot source fluid, while the evaporator and the preheater of the second organic Rankine cycle are fed by a first partial flow of the hot source fluid, the remaining second partial flow of the hot source fluid being used to partially carry out the preheating of the organic working fluid of the first organic Rankine cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: TURBODEN S.P.A.
    Inventors: Mario GAIA, Roberto BlNl, Claudio Pietra
  • Patent number: 11473428
    Abstract: An axial turbine (100) with two supply levels for the expansion phase of a working fluid in a thermodynamic vapor cycle or in an organic Rankine cycle comprising a shaft (2), a plurality of rotor blade arrays (R1-Rn) and corresponding support disks (21, 22), a plurality of stator blade arrays (S1-Sn), further comprising a first inlet opening (5) and a second inlet opening (7?). The second volute (4) is positioned inside the first volute (3), the working fluid of the second supply level reaching upstream of a stator blade (S2,Sn) that is are immediately upstream of one of the rotor blade arrays that extends radially into both of the first and second supply levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TURBODEN S.P.A.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini
  • Publication number: 20220205370
    Abstract: A cascade organic Rankine cycle plant comprising a hot source, at least a first high temperature organic Rankine cycle and a second low temperature organic Rankine cycle, said cycles comprising at least one preheater, at least one vaporizer, at least one turbine, at least one condenser, wherein the hot source first supplies a vaporizer of the high temperature cycle, then the vaporizer of the low temperature cycle and finally it is divided into two flows which supply a first preheater of the high temperature cycle and a preheater of the low temperature cycle. The first high-temperature organic Rankine cycle comprises a further vaporizer operating at an intermediate pressure between the vaporizer pressure of the high temperature cycle and the vaporizer pressure of the low temperature cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: TURBODEN S.P.A.
    Inventors: Roberto BlNl, Mario GAIA, Claudio PIETRA
  • Patent number: 11365652
    Abstract: A binary geothermal system comprising: —an organic Rankine cycle having at least one supply pump for feeding an organic working fluid, in liquid phase, of at least one heat exchanger for heating the organic working fluid until its transformation vapor phase and to its eventual overheating, an expansion turbine to expand the organic working fluid vapor, a condenser bringing in a liquid phase the organic working fluid, —a geothermal source comprising a geothermal liquid and a geothermal vapor, the organic working fluid is vaporized directly or indirectly through a flow of geothermal vapor in the heat exchanger and is preheated by a flow of geothermal liquid in a first pre-heater, and the organic working fluid is preheated also in a second pre-heater which exploits the thermal energy contained in a flow rate formed by the gas mixture and by the geothermal vapor fraction which is not condensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: TURBODEN, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini, Andrea Duvia
  • Publication number: 20220186984
    Abstract: A heat exchange circuit for a geothermal plant comprising a well excavated in the rock, a casing arranged inside the well, integral with it and comprising at least a first perforated section extending along a first portion of the well and at least a second perforated section extending along a second portion of the well, the perforated sections allowing the exit and the entry of a flow of geothermal fluid contained in an aquifer, an internal duct, located inside the casing in which a heat transfer fluid flows, wherein the well, the casing and the internal duct being arranged as a substantially closed ring, except for at least one surface interruption, at least one heat-exchange section at the bottom of the well between the first portion and the second portion of the well within which the geothermal fluid transfers heat to the heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: TURBODEN S.P.A.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto BINI
  • Publication number: 20220112809
    Abstract: Axial turbine (100) with two supply levels for the expansion phase of a working fluid in a thermodynamic vapor cycle or in an organic Rankine cycle comprising a shaft (2), a plurality of rotor blade arrays (R1-Rn) and corresponding support disks (21, 22), a plurality of stator blade arrays (S1-Sn), further comprising a first inlet opening (5) and a second inlet opening (7?). The second volute (4) is positioned inside the first volute (3), the working fluid of the second supply level reaching upstream of a stator blade (S2, S3 . . . Sn) any subsequent to the first stage, and the vapor flow of the first supply level and that of the second supply level are conveyed so as to be substantially parallel to each other according to an axial direction upstream of a stator blade (S2, S3 . . . Sn).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: TURBODEN S. p. A.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini
  • Patent number: 11248500
    Abstract: An organic Rankine cycle system (100, 110, 120) with direct exchange and in cascade comprising a high temperature organic Rankine cycle (10) which carries out the direct heat exchange with a hot source (H) and a low temperature organic Rankine cycle (10?) in thermal communication with the high temperature cycle (10). The organic Rankine cycle system (100, 110, 120) is configured in a way that the thermal communication between the cycles (10, 10?) takes place through at least one heat exchanger (3) configured to use at least the condensation heat of the high temperature cycle to vaporize and/or preheat the working fluid of the low temperature organic Rankine cycle fluid and through a heat exchanger (4) configured to operate as working fluid sub-cooler for the high temperature organic Rankine cycle (10) and as a working fluid preheater for the low temperature organic Rankine cycle (10?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TURBODEN S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini, Riccardo Vescovo
  • Publication number: 20210277805
    Abstract: An organic Rankine cycle system (100, 110, 120) with direct exchange and in cascade comprising a high temperature organic Rankine cycle (10) which carries out the direct heat exchange with a hot source (H) and a low temperature organic Rankine cycle (10?) in thermal communication with the high temperature cycle (10). The organic Rankine cycle system (100, 110, 120) is configured in a way that the thermal communication between the cycles (10, 10?) takes place through at least one heat exchanger (3) configured to use at least the condensation heat of the high temperature cycle to vaporize and/or preheat the working fluid of the low temperature organic Rankine cycle fluid and through a heat exchanger (4) configured to operate as working fluid sub-cooler for the high temperature organic Rankine cycle (10) and as a working fluid preheater for the low temperature organic Rankine cycle (10?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: TURBODEN S. p. A.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini, Riccardo Vescovo
  • Publication number: 20210222591
    Abstract: A binary geothermal system (100) comprising:—at least one organic Rankine cycle (10) having at least one supply pump (PUMP) for feeding an organic working fluid, in liquid phase, of at least one heat exchanger (EV1) for heating the organic working fluid until its transformation vapor phase and to its eventual overheating, an expansion turbine to expand the organic working fluid vapor, a condenser (CON) bringing in a liquid phase the organic working fluid,—a geothermal source (20) comprising a geothermal liquid and a geothermal vapor, wherein the organic working fluid is vaporized directly or indirectly through a flow (S1) of geothermal vapor in the heat exchanger (EV1) and is preheated by a flow of geothermal liquid (B1) in a first pre-heater (PRE1), and the organic working fluid is preheated also in a second pre-heater (PRE2) which exploits the thermal energy contained in a flow rate (S4) formed by the gas mixture and by the geothermal vapor fraction (S2) which is not condensed, and exit from the heat exchan
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: TURBODEN S. p. A.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini, Andrea Duvia
  • Publication number: 20210189912
    Abstract: An apparatus for gas compression comprising: a container containing the gas to be compressed; a first heat exchanger exchanging heat between a high temperature thermal source and the gas, to introduce heat into the gas; a second heat exchanger exchanging heat between a low temperature thermal source and the gas, to extract heat from the gas; supply means of the gas at a supply pressure and delivery means of the gas at a delivery pressure greater than the supply pressure); gas permeable means configured to accumulate and transfer heat to the gas, and gas permeable or gas impermeable movable means dividing the container into a first section in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger and in a second section in thermal communication with the second heat exchanger and in fluid communication with said supply means and said gas delivery means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: TURBODEN S. p. A.
    Inventors: Roberto Bini, Mario Gaia, Paolo Belotti
  • Patent number: 10895164
    Abstract: A method for reducing the leakage of an organic working fluid operating within a turbine (10) of an Organic Rankine Cycle system, the method comprising the injection of a fluid flow rate (Q) into a volume (I) at a static pressure lower than the total pressure (P1) upstream of the turbine and located near of at least one labyrinth seal (L1, L11) of at least one stage of the turbine (10), said fluid flow rate (Q) having an initial exergetic content lower than the initial exergetic content of the organic working fluid located inside the turbine and flowing through said labyrinth seal (L1, L11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: TURBODEN S.P.A.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini
  • Patent number: 10883510
    Abstract: A control method of a centrifugal compressor (C) mechanically coupled to an expansion turbine (TorC), the centrifugal compressor (C) being provided with at least a control system (20) of the absorbed power. The control method of the rotation speed of the turbine-centrifugal compressor group performs the following steps: —acting on the centrifugal compressor control system (20) of the absorbed power by means of a first controller (PID-f), in order to keep constant the rotational speed of the compressor mechanically coupled to the expansion turbine; —ensuring that the centrifugal compressor (C) remains in a stable operating condition by means of an admission valve (Vi) of the expansion turbine (TorC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: TURBODEN S.P.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Bini, Mario Gaia
  • Publication number: 20200408103
    Abstract: A rotating turbomachine provided with a fluid sealing device, comprising an extensible/dilatable bellows piston to make a sealing surface abut against a rotor disc, or against the head of the shaft, therefore confining the working fluid in the turbomachine stopped during the respective maintenance operations, is described. A coolant is supplied inside the bellows piston during the normal operations of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: TURBODEN S. p. A.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini, Andrea Monterisi
  • Patent number: 10794202
    Abstract: A mixed flow turbine (1) for the expansion phase of steam thermodynamic cycles of an organic Rankine cycle provided with a first section (A) in which a first expansion of a main flow of working fluid takes place, in a substantially radial direction having at least one stator stage (S1, S2, . . . Sn) and at least one rotor stage (R1, R2, . . . Rn) of a second section (B) in which a second expansion of the main flow of the working fluid takes place in a substantially axial direction having at least one stator stage and at least one rotor stage and, between the first and the second section, with at least one angular stator stage (S4) comprising an array of angular blades which deflect the main flow of working fluid from the initial radial direction to a substantially axial direction. The turbine (1) is provided with means for injection (60) and/or means for extraction (70) of a second flow of working fluid, placed in proximity of the stator stage (S4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Turboden S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Gaia, Roberto Bini, Davide Colombo
  • Publication number: 20200148426
    Abstract: A screw cap for wine bottles, has an outer capsule screwable to the bottle and an insert inserted in the outer capsule and intended to stay interposed between the mouth of the bottle and the outer capsule, is described. At the bottom, the insert is provided with a metal foil intended to directly stay in contact with the mouth of the bottle by intercepting the same. The metal foil is the only component of the cap wettable by the wine and is made of a precious metal inert at room temperature, or it is made of an alloy of precious metals inert at room temperature. The insert also has a gasket positioned on the metal foil, which has a radial extent larger than the metal foil itself, and has an outer crown surrounding the metal foil by adhering to the mouth of the bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventor: Mario GAIA
  • Patent number: 10605535
    Abstract: Heat exchanger (100, 200) for cooling contaminated fluids and which are subjected to variable thermal load, by means of heat transfer to a receiving liquid and/or vapor fluid, said heat exchanger comprising a tube bundle consisting of a plurality of independent tubes (1), two plenums (9, 10, 109, 110), plates (12, 13, 112, 113), and characterized in that said independent tubes (1) comprise an inner tube (2, 102) in which the contaminated gas flows, and an outer tube (3, 103) being said inner tube (2, 102) and outer tube (3, 103) coaxial and where between the outer surface (2?, 102?) of the inner tube (2, 102) and the inner surface (31, 103?) of the outer tube (3, 103) is defined an annular passage G in which flows the receiving fluid and in that said inner tube (2, 102) is welded to the plate (12, 112) in a gas inlet section, while a gas outlet section is guided in a corresponding hole of the plate (13, 113), so that the inner tube (2, 102) expansion in an axial direction is not constrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: TURBODEN S.R.L.
    Inventors: Roberto Bini, Mario Gaia
  • Patent number: 10526892
    Abstract: A turbine of an organic Ranking cycle (ORC) is described. The turbine includes a shaft supported by at least two bearings and a plurality of axial stages of expansion, defined by arrays of stator blades alternated with arrays or rotor blades. The rotor blades are sustained by corresponding supporting disks. A main supporting disk is directly coupled to the shaft in an outer position with respect to the bearings, and the remaining supporting disks are constrained to the main supporting disk, and one to the other in succession, but not directly to the shaft. Some of the remaining supporting disks are constrained to the main supporting disk and cantileverly extend from the same side of the bearings that support the shaft, so that the center of gravity of the rotor part of the turbine is shifted more towards the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TURBODEN SPA
    Inventors: Roberto Bini, Mario Gaia, Davide Colombo
  • Publication number: 20190309763
    Abstract: A control method of a centrifugal compressor (C) mechanically coupled to an expansion turbine (TorC), the centrifugal compressor (C) being provided with at least a control system (20) of the absorbed power. The control method of the rotation speed of the turbine-centrifugal compressor group performs the following steps: acting on the centrifugal compressor control system (20) of the absorbed power by means of a first controller (PID-f), in order to keep constant the rotational speed of the compressor mechanically coupled to the expansion turbine;—ensuring that the centrifugal compressor (C) remains in a stable operating condition by means of an admission valve (Vi) of the expansion turbine (TorC).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: TURBODEN S. p. A.
    Inventors: Roberto Bini, Mario Gaia