Patents by Inventor Martin Knoche

Martin Knoche 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).

  • Publication number: 20230392859
    Abstract: A pre-cool refrigeration circuit includes a pre-cool compressor configured to receive and compress pre-cool refrigerant vapor from a pre-cool heat exchanger, a pre-cool cooling device configured to receive and cool compressed pre-cool refrigerant from the pre-cool compressor, a pre-cool expansion device configured to receive and expand compressed and cooled pre-cool refrigerant from the pre-cool cooling device, and a pre-cool separation device configured to receive expanded pre-cool refrigerant from the pre-cool expansion device at a reduced pressure so as to lower a boiling point of the expanded pre-cool refrigerant and to separate the expanded pre-cool refrigerant into a pre-cool refrigerant vapor stream and a pre-cool refrigerant liquid stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventor: Martin Knoche
  • Patent number: 11658316
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising an outer container, defining an enclosed chamber. Inside the enclosed chamber are provided: a storage vessel for storing a cryogenically liquefied working fluid, a gasification device coupled to the storage vessel, a fuel cell arrangement coupled to the gasification device, and a control unit configured to control flow between the components within the enclosed chamber. A power cable is provided which is coupled at one end to the fuel cell arrangement and extending through an exterior wall of the outer chamber such that a second end of the cable extends outside the chamber. The enclosed chamber is substantially sealed such that in use, leaking of the working fluid is substantially prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Ehegartner, Martin Knoche
  • Publication number: 20230130572
    Abstract: A system and method for cooling, purifying and liquifying a feed gas stream uses liquid nitrogen for cooling the system. After cooling the system, the warmed nitrogen is vented as a vapor. The system and method include a water condenser, a first and second cooler and a liquifier and production of at least first and second contaminant streams. Optionally, the system includes a compressor or blower and/or a separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Catherine Dorsi, Martin Knoche, Andrea Macrellino, Filippo Garuti
  • Publication number: 20220082210
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for filling a transport tank with a product medium in a liquid state in a gas liquefaction plant, comprising a step of supplying the product medium in the liquid state from a storage tank (18) of the gas liquefaction plant to the transport tank. The method is characterized in that it further comprises a step of discharging the product medium in a gaseous state from the transport tank into the storage tank (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Lutz DECKER, Martin KNOCHE, René MULLER
  • Publication number: 20210381756
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a cooling method for liquefying a feed gas, comprising the steps of providing a cooling cycle with a refrigerant stream; dividing the refrigerant stream into a first partial stream and a second partial stream; expanding the first partial stream in a first expansion device; and transferring cooling energy from the expanded first partial stream to a feed gas stream to be cooled, particularly comprising hydrogen and/or helium. Further the method comprises the steps of guiding the expanded first partial stream to a suction inlet of an ejector; and guiding the second partial stream to a propellant inlet of the ejector such that, upon expanding the second partial stream in the ejector, the expanded first partial stream is compressed and merged with the expanded second partial stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Lutz DECKER, Martin KNOCHE
  • Publication number: 20210341182
    Abstract: A cryogenic refrigeration system and a corresponding method for increasing the cooling efficiency of the system, preferably the cooling of a thermally coupled load. Accordingly, the system comprises a supply means for providing a supply flow of a cryogenic refrigerant, a compressor fluidly coupled to said supply means and configured to compress the supplied cryogenic refrigerant, and a cold box fluidly coupled to the compressor, said cold box comprising a first expansion device and a first heat exchanger, wherein the first expansion device is configured to receive the compressed cryogenic refrigerant from the compressor and expand it and provide the expanded refrigerant to the first heat exchanger, and wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to be thermally coupled to a load. The system furthermore comprises a second heat exchanger arranged in the cold box comprising at least a first and second heat exchanging section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Lutz DECKER, Alexander ALEKSEEV, Martin KNOCHE
  • Publication number: 20200251757
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising an outer container, defining an enclosed chamber. Inside the enclosed chamber are provided: a storage vessel for storing a cryogenically liquefied working fluid, a gasification device coupled to the storage vessel, a fuel cell arrangement coupled to the gasification device, and a control unit configured to control flow between the components within the enclosed chamber. A power cable is provided which is coupled at one end to the fuel cell arrangement and extending through an exterior wall of the outer chamber such that a second end of the cable extends outside the chamber. The enclosed chamber is substantially sealed such that in use, leaking of the working fluid is substantially prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Florian EHEGARTNER, Martin KNOCHE
  • Patent number: 6569291
    Abstract: The liquid distributor (2) for columns (1) comprises at least one tub shaped or tubular part (3) of a rigid material. Outflow elements (4) of yielding, in particular elastomeric material are tightly inserted into apertures (30) of the tub shaped or tubular part. A liquid (6) to be distributed can flow off in each case through at least one opening (40) in the outflow element. This opening has a precisely predeterminable geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Sulzer Chemtech AG
    Inventor: Martin Knoche