Patents by Inventor Richard Edward Wirz

Richard Edward Wirz 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: 20230098749
    Abstract: Apparatus and systems describe a plasma source to generate cold plasma solution for use in hospital, home, office, and other locations. The plasma source employs air, gas, and/or vapor discharging in a high voltage electric field, which interact to obtain plasma solution for oral health. The plasma source may include power supply, plasma generator, liquid container, liquid aerosolizer/vaporizer or liquid disturber, reservoir, collector, and intelligent control center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Richard Edward Wirz, Zhitong Chen
  • Patent number: 11009261
    Abstract: A reservoir for containing a fluid includes a cylindrical wall sized to engage a shaft bored into ground, a bottom end cap fixed to a lower end of the cylindrical wall and a top end cap fixed to an upper end of the cylindrical wall. The top end cap is concave such that the top end cap extends below a top end of the cylindrical wall. The bottom end cap, the top end cap, and the cylindrical wall define a subterranean chamber. A plug made of a composite material is on the top end cap, with a lower face disposed on the concave top end cap and a peripheral face engaging the shaft. At least one pressure port extends downwardly into the shaft and through the plug and the top end cap, defining a fluid path to the subterranean chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Keith Lovegrove, Adrienne Gail Lavine, Richard Edward Wirz, Hamarz Aryafar, Chen Chen
  • Publication number: 20200256587
    Abstract: A reservoir for containing a fluid includes a cylindrical wall sized to engage a shaft bored into ground, a bottom end cap fixed to a lower end of the cylindrical wall and a top end cap fixed to an upper end of the cylindrical wall. The top end cap is concave such that the top end cap extends below a top end of the cylindrical wall. The bottom end cap, the top end cap, and the cylindrical wall define a subterranean chamber. A plug made of a composite material is on the top end cap, with a lower face disposed on the concave top end cap and a peripheral face engaging the shaft. At least one pressure port extends downwardly into the shaft and through the plug and the top end cap, defining a fluid path to the subterranean chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Keith Lovegrove, Adrienne Gail Lavine, Richard Edward Wirz, Hamarz Aryafar, Chen Chen
  • Patent number: 10641524
    Abstract: Thermochemical energy storage (TCES) for concentrating solar power (CSP) systems provides higher energy density than sensible energy storage systems. An ammonia-based TCES system dissociates endothermically into hydrogen and nitrogen. The stored energy is released when supercritical hydrogen and nitrogen react exothermically to synthesize ammonia. Prior ammonia synthesis systems are unable to produce temperatures consistent with modern power blocks requiring a working fluid, for example steam or carbon dioxide, to be heated to greater than 600° C., for example about 650° C. An ammonia synthesis system heats steam from, for example 350° C. to 650° C. under pressure of about 26 MPa. The hydrogen and nitrogen are preheated with a flow of supercritical fluid prior to the synthesis step to provide reaction rates sufficient to heat power block working fluid to the desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Adrienne Gail Lavine, Richard Edward Wirz, Hamarz Aryafar, Chen Chen, Keith Lovegrove
  • Publication number: 20180180325
    Abstract: Thermochemical energy storage (TCES) for concentrating solar power (CSP) systems provides higher energy density than sensible energy storage systems. An ammonia-based TCES system dissociates endothermically into hydrogen and nitrogen. The stored energy is released when supercritical hydrogen and nitrogen react exothermically to synthesize ammonia. Prior ammonia synthesis systems are unable to produce temperatures consistent with modern power blocks requiring a working fluid, for example steam or carbon dioxide, to be heated to greater than 600° C., for example about 650° C. An ammonia synthesis system heats steam from, for example 350° C. to 650° C. under pressure of about 26 MPa. The hydrogen and nitrogen are preheated with a flow of supercritical fluid prior to the synthesis step to provide reaction rates sufficient to heat power block working fluid to the desired temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Adrienne Gail Lavine, Richard Edward Wirz, Hossein Pirouz Kavehpour, Hamarz Aryafar, Gabriela Alejandra Bran-Anleu, Chen Chen, Gopinath Warrier, Dante Adam Simonetti, Keith Lovegrove, Joshua Jordan, Jonathon Kennedy