Patents by Inventor Paul S. Pickard

Paul S. Pickard 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: 9745899
    Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to tuning composition of a fluid mixture in a supercritical Brayton cycle power generation system are described herein. Compounds, such as Alkanes, are selectively added or removed from an operating fluid of the supercritical Brayton cycle power generation system to cause the critical temperature of the fluid to move up or down, depending upon environmental conditions. As efficiency of the supercritical Brayton cycle power generation system is substantially optimized when heat is rejected near the critical temperature of the fluid, dynamically modifying the critical temperature of the fluid based upon sensed environmental conditions improves efficiency of such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Paul S. Pickard, Milton E. Vernon, Ross F. Radel
  • Publication number: 20130033044
    Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to tuning composition of a fluid mixture in a supercritical Brayton cycle power generation system are described herein. Compounds, such as Alkanes, are selectively added or removed from an operating fluid of the supercritical Brayton cycle power generation system to cause the critical temperature of the fluid to move up or down, depending upon environmental conditions. As efficiency of the supercritical Brayton cycle power generation system is substantially optimized when heat is rejected near the critical temperature of the fluid, dynamically modifying the critical temperature of the fluid based upon sensed environmental conditions improves efficiency of such a system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Steven A. Wright, Paul S. Pickard, Milton E. Vernon, Ross F. Radel
  • Patent number: 7645437
    Abstract: A method and apparatus, constructed of ceramics and other corrosion resistant materials, for decomposing sulfuric acid into sulfur dioxide, oxygen and water using an integrated boiler, superheater, and decomposer unit comprising a bayonet-type, dual-tube, counter-flow heat exchanger with a catalytic insert and a central baffle to increase recuperation efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Moore, Paul S. Pickard, Edward J. Parma, Jr., Milton E. Vernon, Fred Gelbard, Roger X. Lenard