Patents by Inventor Ralph Greif

Ralph Greif 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).

  • Organic flash cycles for efficient power production
    Patent number: 9284857
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to an Organic Flash Cycle (OFC). In one aspect, a modified OFC system includes a pump, a heat exchanger, a flash evaporator, a high pressure turbine, a throttling valve, a mixer, a low pressure turbine, and a condenser. The heat exchanger is coupled to an outlet of the pump. The flash evaporator is coupled to an outlet of the heat exchanger. The high pressure turbine is coupled to a vapor outlet of the flash evaporator. The throttling valve is coupled to a liquid outlet of the flash evaporator. The mixer is coupled to an outlet of the throttling valve and to an outlet of the high pressure turbine. The low pressure turbine is coupled to an outlet of the mixer. The condenser is coupled to an outlet of the low pressure turbine and to an inlet of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventors: Tony Ho, Samuel S. Mao, Ralph Greif
  • ORGANIC FLASH CYCLES FOR EFFICIENT POWER PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20130341929
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to an Organic Flash Cycle (OFC). In one aspect, a modified OFC system includes a pump, a heat exchanger, a flash evaporator, a high pressure turbine, a throttling valve, a mixer, a low pressure turbine, and a condenser. The heat exchanger is coupled to an outlet of the pump. The flash evaporator is coupled to an outlet of the heat exchanger. The high pressure turbine is coupled to a vapor outlet of the flash evaporator. The throttling valve is coupled to a liquid outlet of the flash evaporator. The mixer is coupled to an outlet of the throttling valve and to an outlet of the high pressure turbine. The low pressure turbine is coupled to an outlet of the mixer. The condenser is coupled to an outlet of the low pressure turbine and to an inlet of the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Tony Ho, Samuel S. Mao, Ralph Greif
  • Controllable capillary pump
    Publication number: 20070154327
    Abstract: A controllable capillary pump utilizing groupings of capillary tubes. Since individual capillary tubes produce different flow rates depending on their diameter, length and cross-sectional shape, it is possible to control the flow rate by providing different groups of capillary tubes. These groups may be included on a rotating cylinder so that a selection may be made merely by rotating the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chia-Hung Liu, Ming-Tsang Lee, Ralph Greif, Costas Grigoropoulos, Hyung Park, Frank Hsu, Chun-Hung Lin