Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Bugler

Thomas W. Bugler 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: 20240102739
    Abstract: Spiral finned elliptical tube closed circuit coolers and evaporative refrigerant condensers in which the air flow entering the unit is directed to flow across the tubes in a direction that is parallel to the tube axes and generally perpendicular to the fins produce a completely unexpected gain in capacity of 25% compared to comparable units in which the air flow is directed across/perpendicular to the tube axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventor: Thomas W. Bugler
  • Patent number: 11933542
    Abstract: Large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condenser having heat exchanger panels independently loaded into and supported in a heat exchange frame section. A bottom bonnet runs along the bottom length of each heat exchanger panel for delivering steam to the bottom end of condenser tubes in the heat exchange panel and for receiving condensate formed in those same tubes. The tops of the tubes are connected to a top bonnet. Uncondensed steam and non-condensables are drawn into the top bonnet from the condenser tubes. A steam distribution manifold is suspended from the heat exchange section frame perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heat exchange panels and beneath a center point of the heat exchange panels and delivers steam to each heat exchange panel via a single steam inlet located at a center point of each bottom bonnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber, Toby Athron, Wayne Sexton, Ben Hildebrandt
  • Patent number: 11788792
    Abstract: A large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condenser. A bottom bonnet runs along the bottom length of the heat exchanger bundle for delivering steam to the bottom end of the condenser tubes and for receiving condensate formed in those same tubes. The tops of the tubes are connected to a top bonnet. Uncondensed steam and non-condensables flow into the top bonnet from the condenser tubes. Each cell of the ACC is fed by steam distribution manifold suspended from and directly below the bundle support framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber
  • Publication number: 20230251038
    Abstract: Large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condenser having heat exchanger bundles constructed with an integral secondary section positioned in the center of the heat exchanger, flanked by identical primary condenser sections. A bottom bonnet runs along the bottom length of the heat exchanger bundle, connected to the bottom side of the bottom tube sheet, for delivering steam to the bottom end of the primary condenser tubes and for receiving condensate formed in those same tubes. The tops of the tubes are connected to a top bonnet. Uncondensed steam and non-condensables flow into the top bonnet from the primary condenser tubes and flow toward the center of the heat exchanger bundle where they enter the top of the secondary condenser section tubes. Non-condensables and condensate formed in the secondary section tubes enter a secondary bottom bonnet inside the primary bottom bonnet and are withdrawn from the secondary bottom bonnet via outlet nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber
  • Patent number: 11719494
    Abstract: A new heat exchange tube fin design in which a plurality of arrowhead shapes are pressed into or embossed onto each fin, the arrowhead shape defined by two intersecting wedge sections. The pressed arrowhead shapes are grouped into nested pairs, and one of the arrowheads in a pair is pressed as a positive relative to the fin plane and the other of the pair is pressed as a negative relative to the fin plane. The arrowhead pairs are placed in rows parallel to the air flow direction and arrowhead pairs in one row are preferably staggered relative to the arrowhead pairs in the adjacent row along the fin in the air flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Evapco Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber, Aaron Reilly
  • Publication number: 20230243592
    Abstract: Large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condenser having heat exchanger panels independently loaded into and supported in a heat exchange frame section. A bottom bonnet runs along the bottom length of each heat exchanger panel for delivering steam to the bottom end of condenser tubes in the heat exchange panel and for receiving condensate formed in those same tubes. The tops of the tubes are connected to a top bonnet. Uncondensed steam and non-condensables are drawn into the top bonnet from the condenser tubes. A steam distribution manifold is suspended from the heat exchange section frame perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heat exchange panels and beneath a center point of the heat exchange panels and delivers steam to each heat exchange panel via a single steam inlet located at a center point of each bottom bonnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber, Toby Athron, Wayne Sexton, Ben Hildebrandt
  • Publication number: 20230228492
    Abstract: Large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condenser having heat exchanger panels independently loaded into and supported in a heat exchange frame section. A bottom bonnet runs along the bottom length of each heat exchanger panel for delivering steam to the bottom end of condenser tubes in the heat exchange panel and for receiving condensate formed in those same tubes. The tops of the tubes are connected to a top bonnet. Uncondensed steam and non-condensables are drawn into the top bonnet from the condenser tubes. A steam distribution manifold is suspended from the heat exchange section frame perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heat exchange panels and beneath a center point of the heat exchange panels and delivers steam to each heat exchange panel via a single steam inlet located at a center point of each bottom bonnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber, Toby Athron, Wayne Sexton, Ben Hildebrandt
  • Patent number: 11512900
    Abstract: A large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condenser having heat exchanger panels independently loaded into and supported in a heat exchange frame section. A bottom bonnet runs along the bottom length of each heat exchanger panel for delivering steam to the bottom end of condenser tubes in the heat exchange panel and for receiving condensate formed in those same tubes. The tops of the tubes are connected to a top bonnet. Uncondensed steam and non-condensables are drawn into the top bonnet from the condenser tubes. A steam distribution manifold is suspended from the heat exchange section frame perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heat exchange panels and beneath a center point of the heat exchange panels and delivers steam to each heat exchange panel via a single steam inlet located at a center point of each bottom bonnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber, Toby Athron, Wayne Sexton, Ben Hildebrandt
  • Patent number: 11499782
    Abstract: A large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condenser. A bottom bonnet runs along the bottom length of the heat exchanger bundle for delivering steam to the bottom end of the condenser tubes and for receiving condensate formed in those same tubes. The tops of the tubes are connected to a top bonnet. Uncondensed steam and non-condensables flow into the top bonnet from the condenser tubes. Each cell of the ACC is fed by steam distribution manifold suspended from and directly below the bundle support framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber
  • Publication number: 20210325114
    Abstract: Large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condenser having heat exchanger panels independently loaded into and supported in a heat exchange frame section. A bottom bonnet runs along the bottom length of each heat exchanger panel for delivering steam to the bottom end of condenser tubes in the heat exchange panel and for receiving condensate formed in those same tubes. The tops of the tubes are connected to a top bonnet. Uncondensed steam and non-condensables are drawn into the top bonnet from the condenser tubes. A steam distribution manifold is suspended from the heat exchange section frame perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heat exchange panels and beneath a center point of the heat exchange panels and delivers steam to each heat exchange panel via a single steam inlet located at a center point of each bottom bonnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber, Toby Athron, Wayne Sexton, Ben Hildebrandt
  • Publication number: 20210302102
    Abstract: Large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condenser having heat exchanger bundles constructed with an integral secondary section positioned in the center of the heat exchanger, flanked by identical primary condenser sections. A bottom bonnet runs along the bottom length of the heat exchanger bundle, connected to the bottom side of the bottom tube sheet, for delivering steam to the bottom end of the primary condenser tubes and for receiving condensate formed in those same tubes. The tops of the tubes are connected to a top bonnet. Uncondensed steam and non-condensables flow into the top bonnet from the primary condenser tubes and flow toward the center of the heat exchanger bundle where they enter the top of the secondary condenser section tubes. Non-condensables and condensate formed in the secondary section tubes enter a secondary bottom bonnet inside the primary bottom bonnet and are withdrawn from the secondary bottom bonnet via outlet nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber
  • Patent number: 11131507
    Abstract: A hybrid heat exchanger apparatus having a heat exchanger device with a hot fluid flowing therethrough includes a cooling water distribution system and an air flow mechanism for causing ambient air to flow across the heat exchanger device. The cooling water distribution system distributes evaporative cooling water onto the heat exchanger device to wet only a portion of the heat exchanger device while allowing a remaining portion of the heat exchanger device to be dry. The air flow mechanism causes ambient air to flow across the heat exchanger device to generate hot humid air from the ambient air flowing across the wet portion of the heat exchanger device and hot dry air from the ambient air flowing across the remaining dry portion of the heat exchanger device. Methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, III, Davey J. Vadder
  • Publication number: 20210116187
    Abstract: A new heat exchange tube fin design in which a plurality of arrowhead shapes are pressed into or embossed onto each fin, the arrowhead shape defined by two intersecting wedge sections. The pressed arrowhead shapes are grouped into nested pairs, and one of the arrowheads in a pair is pressed as a positive relative to the fin plane and the other of the pair is pressed as a negative relative to the fin plane. The arrowhead pairs are placed in rows parallel to the air flow direction and arrowhead pairs in one row are preferably staggered relative to the arrowhead pairs in the adjacent row along the fin in the air flow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber, Aaron Reilly
  • Patent number: 10982904
    Abstract: A large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condenser having heat exchanger panels independently loaded into and supported in a heat exchange frame section. A bottom bonnet runs along the bottom length of each heat exchanger panel for delivering steam to the bottom end of condenser tubes in the heat exchange panel and for receiving condensate formed in those same tubes. The tops of the tubes are connected to a top bonnet. Uncondensed steam and non-condensables are drawn into the top bonnet from the condenser tubes. A steam distribution manifold is suspended from the heat exchange section frame perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heat exchange panels and beneath a center point of the heat exchange panels and delivers steam to each heat exchange panel via a single steam inlet located at a center point of each bottom bonnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber, Toby Athron, Wayne Sexton, Ben Hildebrandt
  • Patent number: 10907900
    Abstract: Large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condenser. A bottom bonnet runs along the bottom length of the heat exchanger bundle for delivering steam to the bottom end of the condenser tubes and for receiving condensate formed in those same tubes. The tops of the tubes are connected to a top bonnet. Uncondensed steam and non-condensables flow into the top bonnet from the condenser tubes. Each cell of the ACC is fed by steam distribution manifold suspended from and directly below the bundle support framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber
  • Patent number: 10823513
    Abstract: A new heat exchange tube fin design in which a plurality of arrowhead shapes are pressed into or embossed onto each fin, the arrowhead shape defined by two intersecting wedge sections. The pressed arrowhead shapes are grouped into nested pairs, and one of the arrowheads in a pair is pressed as a positive relative to the fin plane and the other of the pair is pressed as a negative relative to the fin plane. The arrowhead pairs are placed in rows parallel to the air flow direction and arrowhead pairs in one row are preferably staggered relative to the arrowhead pairs in the adjacent row along the fin in the air flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber, Aaron Reilly
  • Publication number: 20200333078
    Abstract: Large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condenser having heat exchanger panels independently loaded into and supported in a heat exchange frame section. A bottom bonnet runs along the bottom length of each heat exchanger panel for delivering steam to the bottom end of condenser tubes in the heat exchange panel and for receiving condensate formed in those same tubes. The tops of the tubes are connected to a top bonnet. Uncondensed steam and non-condensables are drawn into the top bonnet from the condenser tubes. A steam distribution manifold is suspended from the heat exchange section frame perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heat exchange panels and beneath a center point of the heat exchange panels and delivers steam to each heat exchange panel via a single steam inlet located at a center point of each bottom bonnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber, Toby Athron, Wayne Sexton, Ben Hildebrandt
  • Publication number: 20200132377
    Abstract: Spiral finned elliptical tube closed circuit coolers and evaporative refrigerant condensers in which the air flow entering the unit is directed to flow across the tubes in a direction that is parallel to the tube axes and generally perpendicular to the fins produce a completely unexpected gain in capacity of 25% compared to comparable units in which the air flow is directed across/perpendicular to the tube axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas W. Bugler
  • Publication number: 20200080785
    Abstract: Large scale field erected air cooled industrial steam condenser having heat exchanger bundles constructed with an integral secondary section positioned in the center of the heat exchanger, flanked by identical primary condenser sections. A bottom bonnet runs along the bottom length of the heat exchanger bundle, connected to the bottom side of the bottom tube sheet, for delivering steam to the bottom end of the primary condenser tubes and for receiving condensate formed in those same tubes. The tops of the tubes are connected to a top bonnet. Uncondensed steam and non-condensables flow into the top bonnet from the primary condenser tubes and flow toward the center of the heat exchanger bundle where they enter the top of the secondary condenser section tubes. Non-condensables and condensate formed in the secondary section tubes enter a secondary bottom bonnet inside the primary bottom bonnet and are withdrawn from the secondary bottom bonnet via outlet nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bugler, Jean-Pierre Libert, Mark Huber
  • Patent number: 10288352
    Abstract: Spiral finned elliptical tube closed circuit coolers and evaporative refrigerant condensers in which the air flow entering the unit is directed to flow across the tubes in a direction that is parallel to the tube axes and generally perpendicular to the fins produce a completely unexpected gain in capacity of 25% compared to comparable units in which the air flow is directed across/perpendicular to the tube axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas W. Bugler