Patents by Inventor Werner Escher

Werner Escher 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: 10508347
    Abstract: A photovoltaic apparatus comprising: at least one photovoltaic surface electrically connected to a set of photovoltaic electrodes; and a chemical reactor electrically connected to the set of photovoltaic electrodes. The chemical reactor enables N pairwise fluid contacts among k chemical fluids, with k?2 and N?4 and comprises: a reaction layer extending in a plane subtended by two directions; N chemical cells, each including two circuit portions, designed for enabling circulation of two of the k chemical fluids, respectively, the two circuit portions intersecting each other, thereby enabling one pairwise fluid contact for the two of the k chemical fluids; and a fluid distribution circuit comprising: k sets of inlet orifices sequentially alternating along lines parallel to one of the two directions; and k sets of outlet orifices sequentially alternating along lines parallel to the inlet orifices, and wherein, each circuit portion connects an inlet orifice to an outlet orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Patrick Ruch
  • Patent number: 10320328
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a photovoltaic thermal hybrid system having a hybrid solar receiver with a photovoltaic module, operatively coupled to the system to deliver an electrical output power for a power user, a thermal collector distinct from the photovoltaic module, wherein the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector are movably mounted in the system, a collector thermal storage thermally connected to the thermal collector to store heat collected at the thermal collector, and a positioning mechanism adapted to move the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector. The method includes instructing the positioning mechanism to move the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector to change a ratio of an intensity of radiation received at the photovoltaic module to an intensity of radiation received at the thermal collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES COPORATION, EGYPT NANOTECHNOLOGY CENTER
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Bruno Michel, Stephan Paredes, Rami Ghannam
  • Patent number: 10138209
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for purifying an ionic liquid comprising dialkylimidazolium ions by means of stripping, wherein water vapor is used at a particular temperature. The process according to the invention is characterized in that the decomposition of the ionic liquid is minimized during the procedure of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Bahlmann, Olivier Zehnacker, Markus Lütkehaus, Benjamin Willy, Werner Escher, Xinming Wang, Rolf Schneider, Christoph Hiller, Stefan Münzner
  • Publication number: 20180320280
    Abstract: A photovoltaic apparatus comprising: at least one photovoltaic surface electrically connected to a set of photovoltaic electrodes; and a chemical reactor electrically connected to the set of photovoltaic electrodes. The chemical reactor enables N pairwise fluid contacts among k chemical fluids, with k?2 and N?4 and comprises: a reaction layer extending in a plane subtended by two directions; N chemical cells, each including two circuit portions, designed for enabling circulation of two of the k chemical fluids, respectively, the two circuit portions intersecting each other, thereby enabling one pairwise fluid contact for the two of the k chemical fluids; and a fluid distribution circuit comprising: k sets of inlet orifices sequentially alternating along lines parallel to one of the two directions; and k sets of outlet orifices sequentially alternating along lines parallel to the inlet orifices, and wherein, each circuit portion connects an inlet orifice to an outlet orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Patrick Ruch
  • Patent number: 10066306
    Abstract: A chemical reactor and method for operation. The reactor enables N pairwise fluid contacts among k chemical fluids, with k?2 and N?4 and comprises: a reaction layer extending in a plane subtended by two directions; N chemical cells, each including two circuit portions, designed for enabling circulation of two of the k chemical fluids, respectively, the two circuit portions intersecting each other, thereby enabling one pairwise fluid contact for the two of the k chemical fluids; and a fluid distribution circuit comprising: k sets of inlet orifices sequentially alternating along lines parallel to one of the two directions, for respectively dispensing k chemical fluids to the reaction layer; and k sets of outlet orifices sequentially alternating along lines parallel to the inlet orifices, for respectively collecting k chemical fluids from the reaction layer, and wherein, each circuit portion connects an inlet orifice to an outlet orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Patrick Ruch
  • Publication number: 20170355682
    Abstract: The present invention encompasses a novel method for synthesizing highly pure salts of the general formula Q+A?, wherein the starting materials are reacted in the presence of water, and wherein Q+ is and wherein A? is
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Benjamin WILLY, Olivier ZEHNACKER, Rolf SCHNEIDER, Xinming WANG, Werner ESCHER, Stefan MÜNZNER, Christoph HILLER
  • Publication number: 20170355681
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for purifying an ionic liquid comprising dialkylimidazolium ions by means of stripping, wherein water vapour is used at a particular temperature. The process according to the invention is characterized in that the decomposition of the ionic liquid is minimized during the procedure of the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Matthias BAHLMANN, Olivier ZEHNACKER, Markus LÜTKEHAUS, Benjamin WILLY, Werner ESCHER, Xinming WANG, Rolf SCHNEIDER, Christoph HILLER, Stefan MÜNZNER
  • Patent number: 9630862
    Abstract: A desalination system (1) for producing a distillate from a feed liquid includes: a steam raising device (2) having a liquid section (5) and a steam section (6) which are separated by a membrane system (7); a membrane distillation device (3) having a first steam section (11) and a liquid section (12) which are separated by a wall (14) and having a second steam section (13) which is separated from the liquid section (12) by a membrane system (15); and a heat exchange device (4) having a first liquid section (21) and a second liquid section (22), which are separated by a wall (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Javier V. Goicochea, Ahmed S. G. Khalil, Bruno Michel, Chin Lee Ong, Stephan Paredes
  • Publication number: 20160322933
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a photovoltaic thermal hybrid system having a hybrid solar receiver with a photovoltaic module, operatively coupled to the system to deliver an electrical output power for a power user, a thermal collector distinct from the photovoltaic module, wherein the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector are movably mounted in the system, a collector thermal storage thermally connected to the thermal collector to store heat collected at the thermal collector, and a positioning mechanism adapted to move the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector. The method includes instructing the positioning mechanism to move the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector to change a ratio of an intensity of radiation received at the photovoltaic module to an intensity of radiation received at the thermal collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Bruno Michel, Stephan Paredes, Rami Ghannam
  • Publication number: 20160289095
    Abstract: A desalination system (1) for producing a distillate from a feed liquid includes: a steam raising device (2) having a liquid section (5) and a steam section (6) which are separated by a membrane system (7); a membrane distillation device (3) having a first steam section (11) and a liquid section (12) which are separated by a wall (14) and having a second steam section (13) which is separated from the liquid section (12) by a membrane system (15); and a heat exchange device (4) having a first liquid section (21) and a second liquid section (22), which are separated by a wall (23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Javier V. Goicochea, Almed S.G. Khalil, Bruno Michel, Chin Lee Ong, Stephan Paredes
  • Patent number: 9437766
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a photovoltaic thermal hybrid system having a hybrid solar receiver with a photovoltaic module, operatively coupled to the system to deliver an electrical output power for a power user, a thermal collector distinct from the photovoltaic module, wherein the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector are movably mounted in the system, a collector thermal storage thermally connected to the thermal collector to store heat collected at the thermal collector, and a positioning mechanism adapted to move the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector. The method includes instructing the positioning mechanism to move the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector to change a ratio of an intensity of radiation received at the photovoltaic module to an intensity of radiation received at the thermal collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, EGYPT NANOTECHNOLOGY CENTER
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Bruno Michel, Stephan Paredes, Rami Ghannam
  • Patent number: 9416031
    Abstract: A desalination system (1) for producing a distillate from a feed liquid includes: a steam raising device (2) having a liquid section (5) and a steam section (6) which are separated by a membrane system (7); a membrane distillation device (3) having a first steam section (11) and a liquid section (12) which are separated by a wall (14) and having a second steam section (13) which is separated from the liquid section (12) by a membrane system (15); and a heat exchange device (4) having a first liquid section (21) and a second liquid section (22), which are separated by a wall (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Javier V. Goicochea, Ahmed S. G. Khalil, Bruno Michel, Chin Lee Ong, Stephan Paredes
  • Patent number: 9219183
    Abstract: A photovoltaic thermal hybrid solar receiver includes a thermal collector, extending in a first plane and comprising an aperture; and a photovoltaic module, configured for electrical output power delivery, comprising a photo-active area that extends in a second plane at a distance from the first plane, the photo-active area being vis-à-vis the aperture, a projection of the aperture perpendicularly to the second plane corresponding to the photo-active area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, EGYPT NANOTECHNOLOGY CENTER
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Bruno Michel, Stephan Paredes, Rami Ghannam
  • Patent number: 9153722
    Abstract: A chip module cooling device includes two fluid circuits corresponding to inlet and outlet fluid circuits, respectively, wherein each comprises orifices and channel portions forming a tree structure, wherein branches represent the orifices, and nodes represent the channel portions, a branch linking a node to one child node only, wherein several nodes having a same parent node are sibling nodes and extends through L levels of the tree structure, with L?3, and in fluidic connection with the other of the two fluid circuits, via channel portions corresponding to leaf nodes. For each fluid circuit, channel portions corresponding to sibling nodes are parallel to each other, and are not parallel to a channel portion corresponding to a parent node of the sibling nodes; and wherein channel portions of one of the fluid circuits are parallel to and interdigitated with channel portions of the other one of the fluid circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Bruno Michel, Stephan Paredes
  • Publication number: 20150259812
    Abstract: A chemical reactor and method for operation. The reactor enables N pairwise fluid contacts among k chemical fluids, with k?2 and N?4 and comprises: a reaction layer extending in a plane subtended by two directions; N chemical cells, each including two circuit portions, designed for enabling circulation of two of the k chemical fluids, respectively, the two circuit portions intersecting each other, thereby enabling one pairwise fluid contact for the two of the k chemical fluids; and a fluid distribution circuit comprising: k sets of inlet orifices sequentially alternating along lines parallel to one of the two directions, for respectively dispensing k chemical fluids to the reaction layer; and k sets of outlet orifices sequentially alternating along lines parallel to the inlet orifices, for respectively collecting k chemical fluids from the reaction layer, and wherein, each circuit portion connects an inlet orifice to an outlet orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Patrick Ruch
  • Patent number: 9066460
    Abstract: Cooled electronic assemblies and methods of fabrication are provided. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a coolant-cooled electronic module with one or more electronic component(s), and one or more coolant-carrying channel(s) integrated within the module, and configured to facilitate flow of coolant through the module for cooling the electronic component(s). In addition, the assembly includes a coolant manifold structure detachably coupled to the electronic module. The manifold structure facilitates flow of coolant to the coolant-carrying channel(s) of the electronic module, and the coolant manifold structure and electronic module include adjoining surfaces. One surface of the adjoining surfaces includes a plurality of coolant capillaries or passages. The coolant capillaries are sized to inhibit, for instance, via surface tension, leaking of coolant therefrom at the one surface with decoupling of the coolant manifold structure and electronic module along the adjoining surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Evan G. Colgan, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Werner Escher, Ingmar Meijer, Stephen Paredes, Gerd Schlottig, Jeffrey A. Zitz
  • Publication number: 20150166371
    Abstract: A desalination system (1) for producing a distillate from a feed liquid includes: a steam raising device (2) having a liquid section (5) and a steam section (6) which are separated by a membrane system (7); a membrane distillation device (3) having a first steam section (11) and a liquid section (12) which are separated by a wall (14) and having a second steam section (13) which is separated from the liquid section (12) by a membrane system (15); and a heat exchange device (4) having a first liquid section (21) and a second liquid section (22), which are separated by a wall (23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Javier V. Goicochea, Ahmed S.G. Khalil, Bruno Michel, Chin Lee Ong, Stephan Paredes
  • Patent number: 8937810
    Abstract: Cooled electronic assemblies, and a method of decoupling a cooled electronic assembly, are provided. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a coolant-cooled electronic module with one or more electronic components and one or more coolant-carrying channels integrated within the module and configured to facilitate flow of coolant through the module for cooling the electronic component(s). In addition, the assembly includes a coolant manifold structure detachably coupled to the electronic module. The manifold structure, which includes a coolant inlet and outlet in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying channel(s) of the electronic module, facilitates flow of coolant through the coolant-carrying channel, and thus cooling of the electronic component(s). Coolant-absorbent material is positioned at the interface between the electronic module and the manifold structure to facilitate absorbing any excess coolant during a stepwise detaching of the manifold structure from the electronic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Brunschwiler, Evan G. Colgan, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Werner Escher, Ingmar G. Meijer, Stephan Paredes, Gerd Schlottig, Martin Witzig, Jeffrey A. Zitz
  • Publication number: 20140198452
    Abstract: Cooled electronic assemblies and methods of fabrication are provided. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a coolant-cooled electronic module with one or more electronic component(s), and one or more coolant-carrying channel(s) integrated within the module, and configured to facilitate flow of coolant through the module for cooling the electronic component(s). In addition, the assembly includes a coolant manifold structure detachably coupled to the electronic module. The manifold structure facilitates flow of coolant to the coolant-carrying channel(s) of the electronic module, and the coolant manifold structure and electronic module include adjoining surfaces. One surface of the adjoining surfaces includes a plurality of coolant capillaries or passages. The coolant capillaries are sized to inhibit, for instance, via surface tension, leaking of coolant therefrom at the one surface with decoupling of the coolant manifold structure and electronic module along the adjoining surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas J. BRUNSCHWILER, Evan G. COLGAN, Michael J. ELLSWORTH, JR., Werner ESCHER, Ingmar MEIJER, Stephen PAREDES, Gerd SCHLOTTIG, Jeffrey A. ZITZ
  • Publication number: 20140078672
    Abstract: Cooled electronic assemblies, and a method of decoupling a cooled electronic assembly, are provided. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a coolant-cooled electronic module with one or more electronic components and one or more coolant-carrying channels integrated within the module and configured to facilitate flow of coolant through the module for cooling the electronic component(s). In addition, the assembly includes a coolant manifold structure detachably coupled to the electronic module. The manifold structure, which includes a coolant inlet and outlet in fluid communication with the coolant-carrying channel(s) of the electronic module, facilitates flow of coolant through the coolant-carrying channel, and thus cooling of the electronic component(s). Coolant-absorbent material is positioned at the interface between the electronic module and the manifold structure to facilitate absorbing any excess coolant during a stepwise detaching of the manifold structure from the electronic module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas J. BRUNSCHWILER, Evan G. COLGAN, Michael J. ELLSWORTH, JR., Werner ESCHER, Ingmar G. MEIJER, Stephan PAREDES, Gerd SCHLOTTIG, Martin WITZIG, Jeffrey A. ZITZ