Patents by Inventor Ralph Greenberg

Ralph Greenberg 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: 10690013
    Abstract: A liquid energy storage system where the mixed refrigerant may include the following components with concentrations in mole volume percentages as follows: about 12.0% Nitrogen, about 15.0% Ethylene, about 39.0% Methane, about 20.0% Ethane, about 10.0% Propane, and about 4.0% Iso-Butane. A liquid energy storage system where the thermodynamic relationship for lost work is characterized by: Wlost=TOIntegral(T1?T2)/(T1×T2)dH, where To is the ambient temperature and T1, and T2 are the temperatures of the hot and cold streams, respectively, all temperatures are absolute temperatures, and H represents the enthalpy or heat content of the fluids in the heat exchange process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Inventors: John D. Upperman, Ralph Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20200102858
    Abstract: A liquid air energy storage system, the system comprising: a liquid air storage means; an input of a first pump in fluid communication with the liquid air storage means; a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with an output of the first pump; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication first heat exchanger and configured to receive the fluid stream from the first pump and the first heat exchanger; a first expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first expander turbine generator; a third heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to receive the fluid stream from the first expander turbine generator and the first heat exchanger; a second expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the third heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second expander turbine generator; the fluid stream from second expander turbine generator and
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: John D. Upperman, Ralph Greenberg
  • Patent number: 10508596
    Abstract: A liquid air energy storage system, the system comprising: a liquid air storage means; an input of a first pump in fluid communication with the liquid air storage means; a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with an output of the first pump; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication first heat exchanger and configured to receive the fluid stream from the first pump and the first heat exchanger; a first expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first expander turbine generator; a third heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to receive the fluid stream from the first expander turbine generator and the first heat exchanger; a second expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the third heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second expander turbine generator; the fluid stream from second expander turbine generator and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Inventors: John D. Upperman, Ralph Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20180371993
    Abstract: A liquid air energy storage system, the system comprising: a liquid air storage means; an input of a first pump in fluid communication with the liquid air storage means; a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with an output of the first pump; a second heat exchanger in fluid communication first heat exchanger and configured to receive the fluid stream from the first pump and the first heat exchanger; a first expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first expander turbine generator; a third heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to receive the fluid stream from the first expander turbine generator and the first heat exchanger; a second expander turbine generator in fluid communication with the third heat exchanger; the first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second expander turbine generator; the fluid stream from second expander turbine generator and
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: John D. Upperman, Ralph Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20120038172
    Abstract: Machinery and methods for converting inexpensive electricity to higher value electricity. A system includes means for compressing a gas such as air, means for condensing the gas to a liquid stream, means for storing liquefied gas, means for pumping the liquefied gas, means for evaporating and heating the liquefied gas or for heating the liquefied gas to form a supercritical fluid, and introducing this stream into a means for producing electricity. The means for compressing a gas may include sources of electricity from renewable energy sources. A method of storing energy may comprise (a) compressing and liquefying air using energy from a renewable energy source; and (b) subsequently expanding vapor generated from the liquefied air through an expander to drive a generator and produce electricity. Various systems and methods disclosed herein allow electricity from renewable sources and produced during off-peak periods to be utilized during peak demand periods for electricity with low capital and installed costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Ralph GREENBERG
  • Patent number: 8020406
    Abstract: A method and system for the small-scale production of LNG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventors: David Vandor, Ralph Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20090113928
    Abstract: A method and system for the small-scale production of LNG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: David Vandor, Ralph Greenberg
  • Patent number: 7464557
    Abstract: A method of cold recovery in a cold compressed natural gas cycle, the method comprising: compressing air; drying air; heat exchanging air with cold compressed natural gas from a storage vessel, in a first heat exchanger, thereby forming cooled air; heat exchanging the cooled air with liquid methane, in a second heat exchanger, such that the cooled air becomes liquid air and the liquid methane becomes methane; heat exchanging the liquid air with natural gas from a pipeline, in a third heat exchanger, such that the natural gas cools to a cold compressed natural gas and the liquid air becomes air in a gaseous state; discharging the air in a gaseous state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventors: David Vandor, Ralph Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20080216510
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant comprising: a first cycle comprising: a prime mover; a prime mover exhaust in fluid communication with the prime mover; a second cycle comprising: a liquid air supply; a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the liquid air supply and the prime over exhaust; a turbo expander in fluid communication with the heat exchanger; wherein liquid air is heated to gaseous air by the heat exchanger, and the gaseous air is expanded in the turbo expander thereby producing work. A liquid air combined cycle method comprising: providing pressurized liquid air; heating the pressurized liquid air to pressurized gaseous air; expanding the pressurized gaseous air with a turbo expander; using work from the expansion of the pressurized gaseous air to compress ambient air; heating the expanded pressurized gaseous air; sending the heated expanded air to a turbine combustion chamber; and using waste heat from a turbine to heat pressurized liquid air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: David Vandor, Ralph Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20070186563
    Abstract: A method of cold recovery in a cold compressed natural gas cycle, the method comprising: compressing air; drying air; heat exchanging air with cold compressed natural gas from a storage vessel, in a first heat exchanger, thereby forming cooled air; heat exchanging the cooled air with liquid methane, in a second heat exchanger, such that the cooled air becomes liquid air and the liquid methane becomes methane; heat exchanging the liquid air with natural gas from a pipeline, in a third heat exchanger, such that the natural gas cools to a cold compressed natural gas and the liquid air becomes air in a gaseous state; discharging the air in a gaseous state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: David Vandor, Ralph Greenberg
  • Publication number: 20060254287
    Abstract: A method of transporting or storing a natural gas. The method comprises: compressing and chilling the natural gas; changing a state of the natural gas into a cold compressed state; pumping the natural gas to an appropriate transportation pressure or storage pressure and maintaining the natural gas in the cold compressed state. A system for the transportation of a cold compressed natural gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventors: Ralph Greenberg, David Vandor
  • Patent number: 4732597
    Abstract: A method for the separation of gaseous mixtures such as air and for producing medium purity oxygen, comprising compressing the gaseous mixture in a first compressor to about 3.9-4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Albert J. Jujasz, James A. Burkhart, Ralph Greenberg