Process Of Power Production Or System Operation Patents (Class 60/645)
  • Patent number: 11976574
    Abstract: A closed loop steam engine assembly includes a steam generator and a prime mover which is driven from steam produced by the generator. A compressor receives exhaust steam from the prime mover and compresses the steam to a liquid state which is stored in a reservoir downstream of the compressor. A feed pump delivers a portion of the compressed and heated liquid from the reservoir to the steam generator, while another portion of the liquid is delivered to an inlet of the compressor, where the liquid flashes to mist and combines with the incoming exhaust steam to help condense the exhaust steam to liquid with greater efficiency than the compressor alone. An oil/fluid separation device may segregate any oil contained in the exhaust stream and route the oil back to an oil inlet of the prime mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Inventor: Charles Tuckey
  • Patent number: 11905856
    Abstract: A geothermal district heating (DH) system includes a plurality of DH conduits each of the conduits extending to a corresponding heat consumer; means for delivering a DH-usable fluid through said plurality of DH conduits; a fluid circuit through which a geothermal fluid is flowable; and at least two heat exchangers, each of the heat exchangers configured to transfer heat directly or indirectly from the geothermal fluid to said DH-usable fluid with a total heat influx provided by the at least two heat exchangers to said DH-usable fluid that is sufficiently high to raise a temperature of the DH-usable fluid to a predetermined DH-usable temperature without need for any supplemental fossil fuel derived waste heat to be transferred to said DH-usable fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan Batscha
  • Patent number: 11827835
    Abstract: Method for retrofitting an existing heat transfer system comprising adding to said existing system a refrigerant consisting essentially of: (i) from about 25% to about 45% by weight of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a); (ii) from 25% to about 35% by weight of trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze(E)) and/or 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf); and (iii) from about 37% to about 46% by weight of a combination of difluoromethane (HFC-32) and pentafluoroethane (HFC-125), provided that the weight ratio of HFO-32:HFC-125 is from about 1.21:1 to about 0.8:1, wherein the refrigerant preferably is a non-flammable refrigerant having a GWP of 1350 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventors: Gustavo Pottker, Nilesh Purohit, Samuel Yana Motta, Kaimi Gao, Ankit Sethi, Ryan Hulse
  • Patent number: 11814964
    Abstract: A control system is provided for a turbine valve. The turbine valve has a first coil and a second coil to control or sense movement of a mechanical valve positioner. Two valve positioners are provided with each valve positioner having two drive circuits to drive the first and second coils. Switches are provided such that only one drive circuit is connected to each coil at a time. The control system may also include a hydraulic pilot valve section and a main hydraulic valve section. Feedbacks are used to determine a pilot valve error and a main valve error which are combined to determine a turbine valve error. The turbine valve error is repeatedly determined to minimize the error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Camilo Lopez, Mark Foltz, Steve Miller, Kevin Dowdell, Mark Wieland, Alan Majors
  • Patent number: 11788194
    Abstract: Provided in this disclosure is an electrolysis system using voltage in a purely physical process, without resorting to passing current through an electrolyte in a chemical process. The present invention includes a tri-coil design resonant cavity transformer that utilizes the dielectric properties of a material acting as part of a “closed loop” electrical (Resistor, Inductor, Capacitor) RLC circuit. The tri-coil transformer (or TCT) is tuned to the dielectric properties of a suitable material, which can be water, liquid metals, or even ambient air. The TCT can be a tri-coil resonating cavity transformer employing either a Maxwell or Helmholtz tri-coil design. The present invention entails a physical approach to electrolysis based on voltage and not amperage to dissociate a selected dielectric medium, an approach that is 180 degrees out of phase from traditional Faraday electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventor: McKane B. Lee
  • Patent number: 11686223
    Abstract: A system includes an electric generator, a power electronics system, a first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger. The electric generator includes a turbine wheel, a rotor, and a stator. The turbine wheel is configured to receive process gas and rotate in response to expansion of the process gas flowing through the electric generator. The rotor is configured to rotate with the turbine wheel. The electric generator is configured to generate electrical power upon rotation of the rotor within the stator. The power electronics system is configured to receive the electrical power from the electric generator and convert the electrical power to specified power characteristics. A heat transfer fluid receives waste heat from the power electronics system through the first heat exchanger. The heat transfer fluid transfers the received waste heat to the process gas through the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Sapphire Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Liu, James Ryan Yates
  • Patent number: 11629638
    Abstract: A method for operating a pumped thermal energy storage (“PTES”) system includes circulating a working fluid through a working fluid circuit, the working fluid having a mass flow rate and a specific heat capacity and balancing a product of the mass and the specific heat capacity of the working fluid on a high-pressure side of a recuperator and a low side of the recuperator as the working fluid circulates through the working fluid circuit. The PTES system includes a bypass in the working fluid circuit by which a first portion of the working fluid bypasses the high-pressure side of the recuperator while a second portion of the working fluid circulates through the high-pressure side of the recuperator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SUPERCRITICAL STORAGE COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Held
  • Patent number: 11578650
    Abstract: A system including: (i) a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”), wherein the PHES system is operable in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage (“HTS”) medium; (ii) an electric heater in thermal contact with the hot HTS medium, wherein the electric heater is operable to heat the hot HTS medium above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium in a thermodynamic cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MALTA INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Bollinger, Bao H. Truong
  • Patent number: 11524793
    Abstract: An aircraft with the capability of taxiing with main engines off uses the energy stored in a mechanical flywheel to power a propulsor(s) providing taxiing thrust. The flywheel can store energy generated by the propulsor operating as a wind turbine and/or by a power turbine in fluid coupling with the exhaust of a gas turbine engine and/or an expansion turbine operating with bleed and/or APU air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Embraer S.A.
    Inventors: Daniel Bueno Silveira Lima, Francisco Palazzo Neto, Raphael Felipe Gama Ribeiro, Sergio Gonçalves Da Costa, William Martins Alves
  • Patent number: 11414960
    Abstract: A water processing system (10) comprises a reactor (12) configured to receive a feed water input (FW). The reactor (12) is configured to convert the feed water input (FW) into a steam output (S) for use in a downstream operation. The processing system (10) is configured to utilise the thermal and/or mechanical energy of the feed water input (FW) to partially power the conversion of the feed water input (FW) to the steam output (S). The system (10) further comprises a heat generator arrangement operatively associated with the reactor (12), the heat generator arrangement supplying the remaining thermal energy required to convert the feed water input (FW) into the steam output (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventor: Hank James Sowers
  • Patent number: 11227698
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for identifying the unit causing a raw water leak in a condenser of a thermal power plant consisting of n units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Inventors: Christophe Bourgeois, Estelle Rioury
  • Patent number: 11162387
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the invention a heat pump includes first and second heat extraction units to extract heat from first and second heat sources in first and second temperature ranges, respectively, where the second temperature range is, on average, higher than the first temperature range. A fluid via defines a pathway through which the working fluid flows serially from the first heat extraction unit to the second heat extraction unit to the thermal storage unit. A pressure reduction stage is coupled to the via and serially disposed on the fluid circuit between the thermal store and the first heat extraction unit. In addition, either a compressor or a recuperator (or both) are coupled to the via and disposed on the fluid circuit between the first heat extraction unit and the second heat extraction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: PHOTON VAULT, LLC
    Inventor: Kentwell Lee McCormick
  • Patent number: 11136482
    Abstract: The invention provides a composition comprising 1,1-difluoroethene (R-1132a), difluoromethane (R-32), 2,3,3,3-tetra-fluoropropene (R-1234yf), optionally carbon dioxide (CO2, R-744), and, optionally, 1,1,2-trifluoroethene (R-1123).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: MEXICHEM FLUOR S.A DE C.V.
    Inventor: Robert E Low
  • Patent number: 11053206
    Abstract: Described herein is an hydrofluorocarboximidate of formula (I) where: RH is a linear or branched alkyl group comprising 1 or 2 carbon atoms and (a) Rf1 and Rf2 are independent-selected from a linear or branched perfluorinated alkyl group comprising 1-8 carbon atoms and optionally comprising at least one catenated atom selected from oxygen, nitrogen, or combinations thereof; or (b) Rf1 and Rf2 are connected to form a ring structure comprising a total of 4-8 carbon atoms and in addition to the nitrogen atom from the carboximidate the ring structure may optionally comprises at least one catenated atom selected from oxygen, nitrogen, or combinations thereof. A method of making the hydrofluorocarboximidate with improved yield is described as well as various uses for the hydrofluorocarboximidate of Formula (I).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Sean M. Smith
  • Patent number: 11035258
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method for controlling a thermodynamic cycle process apparatus, in particular an ORC apparatus, wherein the thermodynamic cycle process apparatus comprises an evaporator, an expansion machine, a condenser and a feed pump, and the expansion machine is coupled to an external apparatus in normal operation, and wherein the method comprises the following steps: measuring an exhaust steam pressure downstream of the expansion machine; and setting a volume flow of the feed pump in accordance with a computer-implemented control model of the thermodynamic cycle process apparatus according to the measured exhaust steam pressure and a target rotational speed of the expansion machine as input variables of the control model and with the volume flow of the feed pump as an output variable of the control model. The invention further refers to a corresponding thermodynamic cycle process apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ORCAN ENERGY AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schuster, Roy Langer, Jens-Patrick Springer, Fabian Weigand
  • Patent number: 11022070
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an ORC container comprising the following components: a container, in particular an ISO container, having arranged therein an ORC device for converting heat energy into electrical or mechanical energy, wherein the ORC device comprises a working medium; a heat introduction device provided on the ISO container and used for supplying heat energy from an aggregate container; and a spacer device arranged on the container, wherein the spacer device is suitable for providing an intermediate space between the ORC container and the aggregate container. The present invention additionally relates to a system comprising an ORC container and an aggregate container as well as to a method for installing such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: ORGAN ENERGY AG
    Inventors: Richard Aumann, Fabian Weigand
  • Patent number: 10982568
    Abstract: A pumping apparatus for a heat engine, includes an extraction line arranged to extract a fraction of liquid working fluid from a working circuit of a heat engine; an extraction line pump for pumping the extracted working fluid; an extraction line heat exchanger for vaporising the extracted working fluid; and a pressure-operated pump for pumping the working fluid around the working circuit, wherein the extraction line pump and the extraction line heat exchanger are arranged in series to convert the liquid working fluid to a pressurised motive gas; and wherein the pump is driven by the pressurized motive gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Spirax-Sarco Limited
    Inventors: Jeremy Miller, Obadah Zaher
  • Patent number: 10976081
    Abstract: A absorption chiller-heater includes a low temperature regenerator, a high temperature regenerator, a condenser, an evaporator, an absorber, and a heat exchanger, in which water is used as a refrigerant and a lithium bromide aqueous solution is used as an absorption liquid, and the absorption liquid contains a molybdate as a corrosion inhibitor, sodium sulfite or sodium bisulfite as a concentration improving agent, and an octyldimethylethylammonium salt or a lauryldimethylethylammonium salt as a dispersant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: CLEARIZE Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Hatoya, Takashi Hishinuma, Tsunenobu Yokosuka, Hidenori Inabe, Yoichi Hirata, Hitoshi Yashiro
  • Patent number: 10975279
    Abstract: A method is provided for converting heat from a heat source to mechanical energy. The method comprises heating a working fluid using heat supplied from the heat source; and expanding the heated working fluid to lower pressure of the working fluid and generating mechanical energy as the pressure of the working fluid is lowered. The method is characterized by using a working fluid comprising (2E)-1,1,1,4,5,5,5-heptafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)pent-2-ene (HFO-153-10mzzy). Also provided is a power cycle apparatus. The apparatus is characterized by containing a working fluid comprising HFO-153-10mzzy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: THE CHEMOURS COMPANY FC, LLC
    Inventors: Konstantinos Kontomaris, Robert Daniel Lousenberg
  • Patent number: 10968128
    Abstract: A process for the generation of power is disclosed. The process comprises receiving a wastewater stream containing organic matter and passing the wastewater stream to an anaerobic digester in which the organic matter contained therein is broken down to produce biogas. The liquid content of said wastewater stream is reduced before said stream enters the anaerobic digester by passing the wastewater stream through an osmotic power unit. The said stream is passed over one side of a semi-permeable membrane which permits the passage of water but not the passage of salts, an aqueous stream of higher salinity than said wastewater stream being passed over the other side of said membrane such that latent osmotic energy present in said aqueous stream of higher salinity is converted into electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED BIOMIMETIC A/S
    Inventor: Steen Søndergaard Nissen
  • Patent number: 10907509
    Abstract: Provided is a waste heat recovery power generation system, including: a compressor configured to compress a working fluid; a heat exchanger configured to recover waste heat from waste heat gas supplied from a waste heat source, the recovered waste heat heating the working fluid; a turbine configured to be driven by the working fluid heated by the recovered waste heat; and a recuperator configured to exchange heat between an output fluid of the turbine and an output fluid of the compressor to cool the output fluid of the turbine in which the output fluid of the compressor is branched into a first output fluid and a second output fluid of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jeong Ho Hwang, Eung Chan Lee, Seung Gyu Kang, Sang Sin Park, Cheol Rae Jeong
  • Patent number: 10851711
    Abstract: A temperature-following layer may be applied to a surface of components within an internal combustion engine. The temperature-following layer follows the temperature swing of adjacent gases (for example, in a combustion chamber). The temperature-following layer may be applied directly to a substrate, or the temperature-following layer may be an outer layer of a multi-layer thermal barrier coating. The multi-layer thermal barrier coating may include, for example, an insulating layer, a sealing layer bonded to the insulating layer, and a porous temperature-following layer disposed on the sealing layer. The sealing layer is substantially non-permeable and configured to seal against the insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Tobias A Schaedler, Sloan Smith, Christine M Lihn, Scott M Biesboer, Russell P Durrett, Peter P Andruskiewicz, IV
  • Patent number: 10815169
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for conversion of a stream comprising methane and ethane, comprising converting ethane from a stream comprising methane and ethane, in which stream the volume ratio of methane to ethane is of from 0.005:1 to 100:1, to a product having a vapor pressure at 0° C. lower than 1 atmosphere, resulting in a stream comprising methane and the product having a vapor pressure at 0° C. lower than 1 atmosphere; separating the product having a vapor pressure at 0° C. lower than 1 atmosphere from the stream comprising methane and the product having a vapor pressure at 0° C. lower than 1 atmosphere, resulting in a stream comprising methane; and chemically converting methane from the stream comprising methane, or feeding methane from the stream comprising methane to a network that provides methane as energy source, or liquefying methane from the stream comprising methane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Ronald Jan Schoonebeek, Alouisius Nicolaas Renée Bos, Guus Van Rossum, Michael Johannes Franciscus Maria Verhaak
  • Patent number: 10690011
    Abstract: There is provided a technique of a power generation system for performing power generation by introducing a cooling medium for cooling a plurality of semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses into a power generation part, wherein the system comprises a plurality of cooling medium passages, through which the cooling medium for cooling the semiconductor manufacturing apparatuses flows and connected to the power generation part. The system is configured to control an opening/closing part installed in each of the plurality of cooling medium passages based on a temperature of the cooling medium and to control inflow of the cooling medium from the plurality of cooling medium passages to the power generation part such that a temperature of the cooling medium flowing into the power generation part is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Kokusai Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naotoshi Yamamine, Hideo Ishizu
  • Patent number: 10529906
    Abstract: System for quantum energy storage can include a quantum information engine including topological insulator having at least one edge. A coherence capacitor can include nuclei of atoms within the topological insulator, and each nucleus can have a spin direction. An energy source can be electrically connected to the topological insulator and configured to supply a current along the at least one edge of the topological insulator. The current can interact with at least one nucleus of the nuclei to flip a spin direction of the at least one nucleus. Methods for quantum energy storage, systems and methods for storing and using quantum energy, quantum information engines, and quantum heat engines are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignees: Lockheed Martin Corporation, Sabanci University
    Inventors: Edward Henry Allen, Inanc Adagideli
  • Patent number: 10519355
    Abstract: A working fluid for heat cycle, a composition for a heat cycle system containing the working fluid, and a heat cycle system employing the composition are provided. The working fluid contains trifluoroethylene, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and difluoromethane. A proportion of the total amount of trifluoroethylene, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and difluoromethane based on the entire amount of the working fluid is higher than 90 mass % and at most 100 mass %. Based on the total amount of trifluoroethylene, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and difluoromethane, the proportion of trifluoroethylene is at least 10 mass % and less than 70 mass %, the proportion of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene is at most 50 mass %, and the proportion of difluoromethane is higher than 30 mass % and at most 75 mass %. The working fluid can replace R410A and has a low global warming potential and high durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: AGC Inc.
    Inventor: Masato Fukushima
  • Patent number: 10407603
    Abstract: Provided are compositions, preferably azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions including 1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene and chlorotrifluoropropene, particularly 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (HCFO-1233zd), and uses thereof of the compositions. The composition may be a heat transfer composition. The composition may be a blowing agent composition. The composition may be a solvent composition. The composition may be a sprayable composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: ARKEMA FRANCE
    Inventors: Wissam Rached, Laurent Abbas, Jean-Christophe Boutier
  • Patent number: 10234207
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for cooling a fluid by surface water includes more than one tubes for containing and transporting the fluid in its interior, the exterior of the tube being in operation at least partially submerged in the surface water so as to cool the tube to thereby also cool the fluid. The cooling apparatus also includes at least one light source for producing light that hinders fouling on at least part of the submerged exterior, and at least one optic unit for enhancing the distribution of anti-fouling light on the submerged exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Bart Andre Salters, Roelant Boudewijn Hietbrink
  • Patent number: 10228199
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for cooling a fluid by surface water includes at least on tube for containing and transporting the fluid in its interior, the exterior of the tube being in operation at least partially submerged in the surface water so as to cool the tube to thereby also cool the fluid. The cooling apparatus also includes at least one light source for producing light that hinders fouling on at least part of the submerged exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Bart Andre Salters, Roelant Boudewijn Hietbrink
  • Patent number: 10208737
    Abstract: Thermal energy recovery systems include a piston assembly including a primary cylinder adapted to receive vapor; a single-acting secondary cylinder/piston assembly extending from opposite ends of the primary cylinder; a primary piston disposed for displacement in the primary cylinder; first and second secondary pistons disposed for displacement in the secondary cylinder/piston; and a piston connecting member connecting the first and second secondary pistons to the primary piston. Alternatively, a secondary piston is of the type of a double-acting piston for a more compact reciprocating function to reduce piston friction losses. Metering valves regulate the vapor pressure being introduced into displacement volume chambers at a constant pressure. A working fluid pressure-tank/accumulator/transfer-conduit is in communication with the displacement volume chambers to help regulate pressure of the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Inventor: Walter B. Freeman
  • Patent number: 10131827
    Abstract: To provide a working fluid which has cycle performance sufficient as an alternative to R410A while the influence over global warming is sufficiently suppressed, which does not significantly increase the load to an apparatus as compared with a case where R410A is used, and which can be stably used continuously without any special measures, a composition for a heat cycle system contains the working fluid, and a heat cycle system employs the composition. A working fluid for heat cycle, wherein the global warming potential is less than 300; the product of the relative coefficient of performance and the relative refrigerating capacity is at least 0.820 relative to R410A in a standard refrigerating cycle under conditions of an evaporation temperature of 0° C., a condensing temperature of 40° C., a supercoiling degree of 5° C. and a degree of superheat of 5° C.; the relative compressor discharge gas pressure is at most 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: AGC INC.
    Inventors: Masato Fukushima, Hiroaki Mitsuoka, Mai Tasaka, Satoshi Kawaguchi, Katsuya Ueno, Toshiyuki Tanaka, Hidekazu Okamoto, Tetsuo Otsuka, Yoshinobu Kadowaki, Tatsuhiro Nogami, Daisuke Shirakawa, Hirokazu Takagi, Takeaki Arai
  • Patent number: 10087730
    Abstract: Systems and methods generate steam mixed with desired non-condensable gas concentrations using a direct steam generator. Injecting the steam into a reservoir may facilitate recovering hydrocarbons from the reservoir. Cooling an output of the direct steam generator produces water condensate, which is then separated from the non-condensable gas, such as carbon dioxide. Reducing pressure of the condensate subsequently heated by cross-exchange with effluent of the direct steam generator regenerates the steam with the carbon dioxide removed for the injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: XDI Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Latimer, Chris Copeland, Michelle Fiedler, David Lamont
  • Patent number: 10024198
    Abstract: A heat engine system and a method for cooling a fluid stream in thermal communication with the heat engine system are provided. The heat engine system may include a working fluid circuit configured to flow a working fluid therethrough, and a cooling circuit in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to flow the working fluid therethrough. The cooling circuit may include an evaporator in fluid communication with the working fluid circuit and configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid stream. The evaporator may be further configured to receive a second portion of the working fluid from the working fluid circuit and to transfer thermal energy from the fluid stream to the second portion of the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Held, Jason D. Miller
  • Patent number: 9982571
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement (1) and method for the utilization of waste heat comprising at least a waste heat exchanger (3, 3?, 3?), at least two turbines (6, 6?, 6?}, at least two recuperators (7, 7?, 7?), and at least a cooler unit (8, 9, 8?, 9?, 8?, 9?) in at least one fluid circuit. A pump and compressor (10, 10?, 10?) in one device is comprised, switchable between a pump and compressor function by a change of the rotational frequency of a rotor of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Vitaly Malinin, Viacheslav Schuchkin
  • Patent number: 9982178
    Abstract: Provided are compositions, preferably azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions including 1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene and chlorotrifluoropropene, particularly 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (HCFO-1233zd), and uses thereof of the compositions. The composition may be a heat transfer composition. The composition may be a blowing agent composition. The composition may be a solvent composition. The composition may be a sprayable composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ARKEMA FRANCE
    Inventors: Wissam Rached, Laurent Abbas, Jean-Christophe Boutier
  • Patent number: 9962664
    Abstract: A method for operating a steam power plant having a water-steam circuit, according to which method the process wastewater produced is collected from the water-steam circuit, in a separated manner according to the degree of contamination thereof, in a number of partial wastewater quantities is provided. At least a first partial wastewater quantity having a first degree of contamination and at least a second partial wastewater quantity having a second degree of contamination are formed in the process. The second degree of contamination is higher than the first degree of contamination. The first partial wastewater quantity and the second partial wastewater quantity are mixed together in such a manner that a combined process wastewater is produced, which is fed to a wastewater treatment plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ute Amslinger, Franziska Fleischmann, Wolfgang Glück, Marc Sattelberger, Werner Spies, Anke Söllner, Peter Widmann
  • Patent number: 9915177
    Abstract: System (2) for carrying out a gas based thermodynamic cycle in which a gas is compressed in at least one compressor (8) in one part of the cycle and is expanded in at least one expander (10) operating simultaneously in an upstream or downstream part of the cycle, wherein the change in absolute internal power with gas mass flow rate differs as between the compressor and the expander and wherein the system comprises a control system configured to make selective adjustments so as individually to control, either directly or indirectly, the respective gas mass flow rates through each of the compressor and expander. The system may be an energy storage system including a pumped heat energy storage system configured to provide independent graduated control of system pressure and output power by selective adjustment of the respective gas mass flow rates through each half-engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES INSTITUTE LLP
    Inventors: Jonathan Sebastian Howes, James Macnaghten, Rowland Geoffrey Hunt
  • Patent number: 9797274
    Abstract: A high-efficiency power generation system includes: at least one first heat exchanger, inside which is full of a liquid actuating medium with a low boiling point; a hydraulic power generator; a gas-liquid recycling device; a liquefying device and a control device. The present disclosure accomplishes a recirculation for an entire power generating procedure through two steps including vaporization and a recycle of the actuating medium with a low boiling point by liquefaction. A technical difficulty in the conventional art that huge costs for realizing recycle of the actuating medium by a compressor, a booster pump, etc. can be overcome. In addition, since the present disclosure generate power through the liquid pressure rather than the gas pressure, the conversion efficiency can be improved and the requirement for performance of material for the system can be lowered, so that the economical efficiency and practicability for the entire system are highly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Songwei Guo
  • Patent number: 9726046
    Abstract: A rotor high-and-low pressure power apparatus, comprises a heat collector, an insulating pipe, a gasification reactor, an atomizer, a cylinder, a triangular rotor, an inner gear ring, a gear, an output shall, a one-way an intake valve, a liquid storage tank, a pressure valve, an insulating layer, an automatic exhaust valve, a housing, a heat sink and an exhaust control valve. The triangular rotor is arranged within the housing. The inner gear ring and the gear matching with the inner gear ring are arranged at the center of the triangular rotor. The gear is fixed on the output shaft. The triangular rotor divides the cylinder into three independent and equal sections. The gear ratio of the inner gear ring and the gear is 3:2. The rotor provided with a rotor engine works three times per rotation. The ratio of horsepower to volume is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventor: Yuanjun Guo
  • Patent number: 9540963
    Abstract: A generator comprising: a heat differential module with a first, high temperature source configured for providing a work medium at high temperature, a second, low temperature source configured for providing a work medium at low temperature, and a heat mechanism in fluid communication with the first and second sources, configured for maintaining a temperature difference therebetween by at least one of: providing heat to the work medium at said first source, and removing heat from the work medium at said second source; a pressure module comprising a pressure medium which is in selective fluid communication with the work medium from the first, high temperature source and the work medium from the second, low temperature source, for alternately peifonning a heat exchange process with the high/low temperature work medium, to have its temperature fluctuate between a minimal operative temperature and a maximal operative temperature corresponding to the high and low temperature of the respective work medium; a convers
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GERSHON MACHINE LTD.
    Inventor: Gershon Harif
  • Patent number: 9534509
    Abstract: Device for improving the production of heat by cogeneration comprising a hot source producing steam which is expanded in a turbine the exhaust of which is connected to an air condenser (4) which removes heat, and comprising at least one second auxiliary condenser (5) in the form of a water condenser, the cooling liquid of this water condenser (5) being directed to a plant or equipment (B) in which its heat is extracted and used, then the liquid is returned to the water condenser; the water condenser (5) is incorporated into the air condenser (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT
    Inventor: Frédéric Duong
  • Patent number: 9316435
    Abstract: For a plant comprising a gas/air separation unit supplying a boiler and a boiler-fed unit for compression and/or purification of CO2, the quantity of fumes sent to the compression and/or purification unit is modified according to the sale price of the electricity generated and/or the cost of venting the fumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Nicolas Allard, Alain Guillard
  • Patent number: 9194299
    Abstract: An anti-torsion assembly for positioning and securing a thermally conforming liner within a fan containment case is provided. The anti-torsion assembly minimizes the amount of machining that must be done prior to assembly. The anti-torsion assembly comprises a torque block with outwardly-opposing side surfaces and a pair of L-brackets. Each L-bracket has a bracket surface that faces one of the outwardly-opposing side surfaces of the torque block. A wear pad is affixed to each bracket surface. The L-brackets are positioned onto the thermally conforming liner using a spacer having a spacer width within a predetermined tolerance. A method of assembling a fan case assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew G. Alarcon
  • Patent number: 9118226
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention disclosed herein generally provide heat engine systems and methods for generating electricity. In one configuration, a heat engine system contains a working fluid circuit having high and low pressure sides and containing a working fluid (e.g., sc-CO2). The system further contains a power turbine configured to convert thermal energy to mechanical energy, a motor-generator configured to convert the mechanical energy into electricity, and a pump configured to circulate the working fluid within the working fluid circuit. The system further contains a heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy from a heat source stream to the working fluid, a recuperator configured to transfer thermal energy from the low pressure side to the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit, and a condenser (e.g., air- or fluid-cooled) configured to remove thermal energy from the working fluid within the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Steven Kacludis, Stephen R. Hostler, Steve B. Zakem
  • Patent number: 9080765
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein include a system and a method. In a first embodiment, a system includes a controller configured to control power plant operations. The system further includes a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) monitor communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to receive inputs corresponding to the power plant operations. The system additionally includes an HRSG life prediction model configured to predict an operating life for an HRSG component. The HRSG monitor uses the HRSG life prediction model and the inputs to communicate a control action to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joel Donnell Holt, William Barrett Julian, Ashok Dattatraya Acharya
  • Patent number: 9045982
    Abstract: An engine with an active chamber, having at least one piston (2) mounted in a cylinder (1) in a sliding manner and driving a crankshaft (5) via a slider-crank device (3, 4) and operating according to a four-phase thermodynamic cycle includes: an isothermal expansion without work; a transfer—slight so-called quasi-isothermal expansion with work; a polytropic expansion with work; and an exhaust at ambient pressure, preferentially supplied by compressed air contained in a high-pressure storage tank (12), through a buffer capacity, called a working capacity (11), which is expanded at an average pressure, called a working pressure, in a working capacity, preferentially through a dynamic pressure-reducing device (13), wherein the active chamber is included in the engine cylinder, the cylinder volume being swept by the piston and divided into two separate parts, a first part forming the active chamber (CA) and a second part forming the expansion chamber (CD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: MOTOR DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL S.A.
    Inventors: Guy Negre, Cyril Negre
  • Publication number: 20150143793
    Abstract: A system for use in a combined cycle power plant including gas and steam turbines includes a single kettle boiler and a valve system. The valve system is operated such that feedwater from a first source passes into the kettle boiler during certain operating conditions, whereas feedwater from a second source passes into the kettle boiler during other operating conditions, wherein the first and second sources have feedwater under different pressures. Rotor cooling air extracted from a compressor section of the gas turbine is cooled with the feedwater in the kettle boiler, wherein at least a portion of the feedwater is evaporated in the kettle boiler by heat transferred to the feedwater from the rotor cooling air to create steam, wherein the valve system is operated to selectively deliver the steam to a first or second steam receiving unit depending on the operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Gerald J. Feller, John H. Copen
  • Patent number: 9038388
    Abstract: A method of operating a piston expander, including introducing live steam into a cylinder space via an inlet valve; expanding the live steam during a power stroke in which a piston moves from an upper dead center position to a lower dead center position; opening an outlet opening as soon as the piston is in the region of the lower dead center position; after the piston reaches the lower dead center position, conveying the expanded steam out of the outlet opening and into a steam discharge; and subsequently closing the outlet opening before the piston in an exhaust stroke reaches the lower dead center position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: MAN TRUCK & BUS OSTERREICH AG
    Inventor: Raimund Almbauer
  • Publication number: 20150135709
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for operating a plurality of independent, closed cycle power plant modules each having a vaporizer comprising the steps of serially supplying a medium or low temperature source fluid to each corresponding vaporizer of one or more first plant modules, respectively, to a secondary preheater of a first module, and to a vaporizer of a terminal module, whereby to produce heat depleted source fluid; providing a primary preheater for each vaporizer; and supplying said heat depleted source fluid to all of said primary preheaters in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Dany BATSCHA, David MACHLEV, Noa KALISH, Rachel HUBERMAN
  • Publication number: 20150128595
    Abstract: Method for modifying a solar thermal power plant operating on conventional oil based technology into a hybrid solar thermal power plant, wherein the method comprises: providing an oil based solar thermal power plant comprising a solar collection system with at least one radiation absorber tube containing a heat transfer oil to be heated by means of the solar collection system, providing an molten salts solar thermal power plant, wherein the molten salts solar thermal power plant comprises a solar collection system to heat a molten salts mixture coupling of the respective plants such that the hybrid solar thermal power plant is configured to heat medium temperature steam that is generated by the oil based solar power plant by means of the molten salts mixture thereby producing high temperature steam and subsequently supplying it to a steam turbine to generate electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Gaetano Iaquaniello, Daniela Capoferri, Fabrizio Fabrizi, Michael Epstein