Motor-type Expander Patents (Class 62/402)
  • Patent number: 11674760
    Abstract: A method of regulating a temperature associated with a heat exchanger assembly of a turbine engine, the method includes, in a single cycle: measuring the temperature of an air stream at the outlet from a heat exchanger; receiving a setpoint temperature for the air stream at the outlet from the heat exchanger; estimating a theoretical temperature for the air stream at the outlet from the heat exchanger as a function of an estimate of the shutter position of a controlled valve bleeding off a cooling air stream for the heat exchanger; determining a correction current from the difference between the measured temperature and the theoretical temperature; and determining a control current for the shutter from the difference between the measured temperature and the setpoint temperature and the correction current determined during the preceding cycle, the shutter position being determined from the control and correction currents determined during the preceding cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Cedrik Djelassi, Pierre Cabrera
  • Patent number: 11628939
    Abstract: An environmental control system of a vehicle includes a ram air circuit including a ram air shell having a ram air heat exchanger positioned therein, a dehumidification system arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit, a first compression device arranged in fluid communication with the dehumidification system, the first compression device including a first compressor, and a second compression device arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit. The second compression device includes a second compressor. A first medium is provided to the first compressor and to the second compressor in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aiden Coutin, Tony Ho
  • Patent number: 11613363
    Abstract: A method of operating an environmental control system of an aircraft includes providing a first medium to the environmental control system including a compressor and a turbine. The first medium is provided to the compressor and the turbine sequentially. A second medium is provided to the environmental control system. In a first mode of operation, the first medium and the second medium mix within the turbine and in a second mode of operation the second medium bypasses the turbine such that the first medium and the second medium mix downstream from the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Louis J. Bruno
  • Patent number: 11536164
    Abstract: A closed-loop Brayton cycle system utilizes supercritical carbon dioxide as the working fluid for the system to achieve higher efficiencies than can be achieved with traditional open-loop gas turbine engines. A bleed channel is used to direct a flow of cooling fluid to cool the turbine blades during operation of the system, preventing damage to the turbine blades during operation of the system. The bleed channel includes a bleed inlet fluidly coupled between a first recuperator and a second recuperator and a bleed outlet fluidly coupled to the turbine blades. The bleed channel is configured to direct the flow of cooling fluid to the turbine blades at a desired temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen H. Taylor, Ram Ranjan
  • Patent number: 11492127
    Abstract: An air cycle machine includes a compressor in fluid communication with a load cooling heat exchanger, a first valve and a first turbine connecting the compressor to the load cooling heat exchanger, and a second valve and a second turbine. The second valve and the second turbine connect the compressor to the load cooling heat exchanger and connected in parallel with the first valve and the first turbine between the compressor and the load cooling heat exchanger. Air cycle machine systems and methods of controlling air flow through air cycle machines are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Alan Retersdorf
  • Patent number: 11485499
    Abstract: A system for cooling aircraft components includes a compressor configured to receive air bled from a gas turbine engine and compress the received air. Additionally, the system includes a heat exchanger configured to receive the compressed air from the compressor and cool the compressed air; a turbine configured to receive the cooled air from the heat exchanger, with the cooled air expanding as the cooled air flows through the turbine. Furthermore, the system includes a defroster configured to receive the expanded air from the turbine, with the defroster further configured to capture frozen particulate matter from the expanded air. As such, at least a portion of the cooled air from the heat exchanger is routed to the defroster to melt the captured frozen particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey Douglas Rambo
  • Patent number: 11415344
    Abstract: An air cycle machine includes a housing, a duct, a bypass valve, and a plug. The duct extends from and connects two different portions of the housing and includes a first port and a second port. The first port is attached to the first inlet of the housing. The second duct is attached to the second inlet of the housing. The bypass valve is inserted into one of the first port and second port of the duct. The plug is inserted into the other of the first port and second port that the bypass valve is not inserted into. Both the first port and the second port are capable of receiving and forming a sealing interface with both of the bypass valve and the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick Peacos, III, Donald E. Army
  • Patent number: 11408338
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion system, including a turbojet and a heat exchanger system including a main heat exchanger, a hot air supply pipe and regulating valve, a high pressure pipe bleeding high pressure stage hot air through a first valve, an intermediate pressure pipe bleeding intermediate pressure stage hot air through a second valve, a pipe transferring hot air to an air management system, a main supply pipe supplying fan duct cold air including a main regulating valve, an evacuation pipe expelling air to the outside, a sub heat exchanger, wherein the supply pipe from the regulating valve goes through the sub heat exchanger, a sub supply pipe supplying cold air from the main supply pipe, a sub evacuation pipe expelling air to the fan duct, a temperature sensor measuring hot air temperature exiting the main heat exchanger, and a controller controlling the valves according to the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: AIRBUS SAS, AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS, AIRBUS OPERATIONS S.L.
    Inventors: Bruno Medda, Esteban Martino-Gonzalez, Thomas Stevens, Julien Cayssials, Juan Tomas Prieto Padilla, Adeline Soulie, Didier Poirier, Pierre-Alain Pinault, Diego Barron Vega
  • Patent number: 11260979
    Abstract: An aircraft environmental control system comprising a bleed air or compressed ambient air input and a RAM air input, heat exchanger means for receiving bleed air from the bleed air input and RAM air from the RAM air input and using RAM air to cool the bleed air, and means for providing the cooled bleed air to an interior of the aircraft; the system further comprising means for feeding back exhaust air emitted from the interior of the aircraft to combine with the RAM air to further cool the bleed air or compressed ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yonghua Zhu, Catherine Thibaud, Mathieu Le Cam, Erica Zavaglio, Giovanni Franzini
  • Patent number: 11156388
    Abstract: Cryogenic refrigeration device comprising a working circuit intended to cool a working fluid circulating in the said circuit, the working circuit comprising, arranged in series in a loop: a compression portion, a cooling portion, a portion with valve(s), an expansion portion and a reheating portion, in order to subject the working fluid to a recuperative working cycle comprising compression, then cooling, then expansion and then reheating to prepare for a new cycle, wherein the compression portion comprises at least one compressor having a linear piston driven by a linear motor, the expansion proportion comprises at least one expander with a linear piston, the portion with valve(s) comprises at least one regulating valve linearly actuated by a linear motor and controlled in order to supply or extract the working fluid from the at least one expansion piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Fabien Durand
  • Patent number: 11148813
    Abstract: An environmental control system includes an airflow source, and an air cycle machine in flow communication with the airflow source, and through which an airflow from the airflow source is directed. The air cycle machine includes a compressor and a turbine. A liquid load heat exchanger is located in flow communication with the turbine such that airflow downstream of the turbine exchanges thermal energy with a liquid flow at the liquid load heat exchanger to cool the liquid flow. A liquid load reheater is located upstream of the turbine and upstream of the liquid load heat exchanger. The liquid load reheater is configured such that a thermal energy exchange between the airflow prior to the airflow entering the turbine and the liquid flow prior to the liquid flow entering the liquid load heat exchanger occurs at the liquid load reheater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brian R. Shea
  • Patent number: 11130389
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a compressor, an air conditioning system and a vehicle. The compressor comprises a compression cavity, and further comprises a flash cavity capable of flashing a liquid refrigerant, and a communicating passage that communicates a flash cavity gas outlet of the flash cavity and an enthalpy increasing gas supply port of the compression cavity; the flash cavity is provided with an inlet and a liquid outlet, the inlet of the flash cavity is configured to be communicated with an outlet of a condenser, and the liquid outlet of the flash cavity is configured to be communicated with an inlet of an evaporator. The air conditioning system comprises the compressor, the evaporator, the condenser, a flasher, and various pipelines for connecting the entire system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: GREE GREEN REFRIGERATION TECHNOLOGY CENTER CO., LTD. OF ZHUHAI
    Inventors: Yun Liu, Yusheng Hu, Caixia Shan, Xiaoli Kang
  • Patent number: 11125243
    Abstract: A two-wheel air cycle machine includes a tie rod defining an axis, a turbine mounted on the tie rod, and a compressor mounted on the tie rod and having a rotor portion and a disk portion with at least one aperture. The air cycle machine further includes a compressor inlet fluidly connecting the compressor and an inlet air source, at least one thrust bearing disposed between the turbine and the compressor, and a compressor end shaft coaxial with the tie rod and abutting the compressor disk portion. The compressor end shaft includes a radially-extending seal disk portion and an axially-extending shaft portion having at least one shaft aperture. The at least one disk aperture and the at least one shaft aperture are fluidly connected by a compressor disk cavity defined by a gap between the tie rod and the compressor disk portion. The at least one disk aperture, the compressor disk cavity, and the at least one shaft aperture at least partially define a compressor inlet flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl A. Colson, Brent J. Merritt
  • Patent number: 11104442
    Abstract: An environmental control system of an aircraft includes a compressing device having a compressor configured to receive a flow of a first medium and a turbine configured to receive the flow of the first medium from the compressor and a flow of a second medium. The turbine is arranged downstream from the compressor along a flow path of the first medium. A dehumidification system is arranged in fluid communication with the turbine and a bypass valve is operable configured to divert the flow of the first medium around the turbine and at least a portion of the dehumidification system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Louis J. Bruno
  • Patent number: 11105343
    Abstract: The present invention relates in general to the field of fluid reaction surfaces, and more specifically, to a fluid-foil impeller and method of use. One aspect of the fluid-foil impeller utilizes a plurality of fluid-foil discs that may be of uniform and/or variable thickness and configured to rotate rapidly in series to produce propulsion. Each fluid-foil disc comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, a chord and a fixed pitch. The fluid-foil impeller may further include a standard or Venturi shroud that is designed to encompass the plurality of fluid-foil discs. The plurality of fluid-foil discs are configured to act in cooperation with the shroud to reduce losses incurred from turbulence and the conversion of mechanical work to fluid movement. Fluid may be acted upon by the plurality of fluid-foil discs and/or shroud, singly or in an array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Smith Flow Dynamics, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Kosmicki, Perry D. Smith, Jacob B. Smith, Julianne S. Smith
  • Patent number: 11085673
    Abstract: An environmental control system of an aircraft includes a ram air circuit including a ram air shell having a heat exchanger positioned therein and a dehumidification system arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit. A plurality of expansion devices is arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit and the dehumidification system. At least one of the expansion devices is a simple cycle expansion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Donald E. Army, Louis J. Bruno, Sherif M. Kandil, Matthew Pess, Robert C. Roy, Eric Surawski, Joseph Turney, Lawrence E. Zeidner, Paul M. D'Orlando
  • Patent number: 11067096
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a turbomachine assembly, which includes a shaft, a radial gas expander supported on the shaft between a first bearing and a second bearing, and a compressor supported on the shaft in overhung position adjacent to one or the other of the first and second bearings. The compressor includes a plurality of movable inlet nozzles and the radial gas expander includes a plurality of movable guide vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Srl
    Inventors: Matteo Berti, Paolo Delturco, Matteo Dall'ara, Alberto Scotti Del Greco
  • Patent number: 11066999
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a main compressor section having a downstream most location, and a cooling air tap at a location upstream of the downstream most location. A main turbine section, each of the main turbine section and the main compressor section are mounted within a housing, and each have rotatable components. A first heat exchanger is connected to the cooling air tap. The first heat exchanger is also connected to receive fuel to be supplied to a combustor in the gas turbine engine, and such that the fuel may cool the cooling air in the first heat exchanger. A boost compressor is connected to receive air downstream of the first heat exchanger and connected to deliver the cooling air to at least one of the rotatable components in at least one of the compressor and turbine sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph J. Sodaro, Thomas G. Phillips, Edmund E. Rochford
  • Patent number: 11053010
    Abstract: An environmental control system of an aircraft includes a ram air circuit including a ram air shell having at least one heat exchanger positioned therein, a dehumidification system arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit, and a compressing device arranged in fluid communication with the ram air circuit and the dehumidification system. The compression device includes a compressor and a first turbine coupled to one another via a shaft. During operation of the first turbine, work is extracted from a first medium within the first turbine to power the compressor. At an outlet of the first turbine, a temperature of the first medium is above freezing and at least a portion of the moisture within the first medium is condensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis J. Bruno, Thomas M. Zywiak
  • Patent number: 11035381
    Abstract: A blower includes an impeller housing, an impeller rotatably secured to the housing and an electric motor. The motor has a motor housing with a central portion and a radially extending portion extending from the central portion, a venturi chamber adjacent the motor housing and opposed to the impeller housing, a stator secured to the central portion of the motor housing, a rotor rotatably secured to the central portion of the housing, and at least one heat generating electrical component secured to the radially extending portion of the motor housing. The impeller housing has a first air pressure therein and the motor housing has a second air pressure therein different that the first air pressure. The venturi housing and the motor housing define a passageway therebetween whereby the difference in air pressure generates air flow within the motor housing to cool the at least one heat generating electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: REGAL BELOIT AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Jon Kreidler, Rafal Pawel Rohoza, Edward L Drye, C Scott Eagleton, Mark Lyon Klopp, Michael Allen Marks
  • Patent number: 11014677
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cooling circuit for cooling a heat load in an aircraft system, having: a compressor; a turbine connected to the compressor by a shaft, the turbine configured to drive the compressor via the shaft when RAM air pressure into a turbine inlet is above a first threshold; and a motor connected to the shaft configured to drive the compressor when RAM air pressure at the turbine inlet is below the first threshold to cause the compressor to draw air into the turbine inlet, through the turbine, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the heat load, the compressor, and out of a compressor outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory L. DeFrancesco, Tony Ho
  • Patent number: 10926884
    Abstract: An aircraft is provided. The aircraft includes a pressurized volume and an air conditioning system. The air conditioning system operates in a first mode or a second mode. The first mode includes when a first medium and a second medium and are mixed and provided to the pressurized volume. The second mode includes when only the first medium is provided to the pressurized volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis J. Bruno, Diane G. Drew
  • Patent number: 10815890
    Abstract: Methods and devices for cooling systems (700) are provided that are in fluid communication with bleed air from a jet engine compressor. The cooling system can include: a first precooler (210) receiving bleed air from the jet engine compressor; a heat exchanger (730) downstream from the first precooler (210); a cooling system compressor (220) downstream from the first precooler (210), wherein the heat exchanger (730) and the cooling system compressor (220) are in separate flow paths from the first precooler (210); a cooling system precooler (230) downstream from the cooling system compressor (220); a VGT cooling system turbine (240) downstream from the cooling system precooler (230); and a discharge conduit (245) downstream from the cooling system turbine (240) and the heat exchanger (730). A bypass line (290) for bypassing the turbine can also be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin Richard Leamy, Benjamin Paul Breig, Michael Jay Epstein, Javier Armando Parrilla, Matthew John Hurt, Thomas Edward Brinson, Andrew James Fleming, George Eugene Wilmot
  • Patent number: 10808618
    Abstract: Methods and devices for cooling systems (100, 700) are provided that are in fluid communication with bleed air from a jet engine compressor. The cooling systems include: a first precooler (210) receiving bleed air from the jet engine compressor; a heat exchanger (730) downstream from the first precooler (210); a cooling system compressor (220) downstream from the first precooler (210), wherein the heat exchanger (730) and the cooling system compressor (220) are in separate flow paths from the first precooler (210); a cooling system precooler (230) downstream from the cooling system compressor (220); a cooling system turbine (240) with variable guide vanes—VGT—and downstream from the cooling system precooler (230); and a discharge conduit (245) downstream from the cooling system turbine (240) and the heat exchanger (730). A bypass line (290) can also be included that bypasses the cooling system turbine (240).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Richard Leamy, Benjamin Paul Breig, Michael Jay Epstein, Javier Armando Parrilla, Matthew John Hurt, Thomas Edward Brinson, Andrew James Fleming, George Eugene Wilmot, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10773817
    Abstract: A ram air system for an aircraft having an engine and a fuselage with an outer mold line. The ram air system includes an engine air pathway having an opening in the outer mold line defining an engine inlet. The engine air pathway is configured to supply operating air for combustion in the engine. An auxiliary air pathway includes a first intake disposed inside the outer mold line in the engine inlet and a second intake disposed externally to the engine air pathway. The auxiliary air pathway is configured to draw in cooling air to cool ancillary aircraft components from at least one of the first intake and the second intake based on the airspeed of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter A. Brennen, Chris K. Lee, Peter Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10745139
    Abstract: An environmental control system of an aircraft includes at least one heat exchanger and a compression device arranged in fluid communication with the at least one heat exchanger. The compression device includes a plurality of components including a first component and a second component coupled by a shaft. A first bleed port is arranged in fluid communication with the first component and a second bleed port, distinct from the first bleed port, is arranged in fluid communication with the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan Retersdorf, Tony Ho
  • Patent number: 10704567
    Abstract: A compressor module for compressing gas composed of a compressor element with a housing with integrated compressor element cooler; a motor and a gas cooler for cooling the compressed gas originating from the compressor element. The gas cooler includes a primary section through which the gas to be cooled can be guided and a secondary section that is in heat-exchanging contact with the primary section. A first cooling circuit can guide a coolant through the secondary section of the gas cooler or through a section thereof and a second cooling circuit can guide a coolant through the compressor element cooler. The first cooling circuit and the second cooling circuit are joined together in series or in parallel and are guided to a common output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP
    Inventors: Wim Meeusen, Thomas De Bontridder
  • Patent number: 10646804
    Abstract: A flow conditioning device for conditioning a wet gas stream having a plurality of liquid droplets and a gas flow is presented. The flow conditioning device includes a first segment including a first convergent section configured to break the plurality of liquid droplets from a first size to a second size. Further, the flow conditioning device includes a second segment coupled to the first segment and including a second convergent section configured to break the plurality of liquid droplets from the second size to a third size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: NUOVO PIGNONE TECNOLOGIE SRL
    Inventors: Jitendra Kumar Gupta, Rene Du Cauze de Nazelle, Carlo Maria Martini, Massimiliano Cirri, II
  • Patent number: 10619650
    Abstract: A fan and compressor housing for an air cycle machine includes a fan inlet disposed around a center axis of the housing and having a fan inlet mounting flange, a compressor outlet having a compressor outlet mounting flange, and a compressor inlet having a compressor inlet mounting flange. The fan inlet mounting flange has a pinhole disposed thereon configured to receive a pin from a fan inlet diffuser housing and a fan inlet counterbore configured to receive a mating component from the fan inlet diffuser housing. The compressor outlet mounting flange has a compressor outlet counterbore configured to receive a first mating component from a condenser/reheater. The compressor inlet mounting flange has a compressor inlet counterbore configured to receive a second mating component from the condenser/reheater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Chrabascz, Seth E. Rosen
  • Patent number: 10533501
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a main compressor section. A booster compressor includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet receives airflow from the main compressor section and the outlet provides airflow to a pneumatic system. A recirculation passage is between the inlet and the outlet. A flow splitter valve controls airflow between the outlet and the inlet through the recirculation passage for controlling airflow to the pneumatic system based on airflow output from the booster compressor. A bleed air system for a gas turbine engine and a method of controlling engine bleed airflow are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen H. Taylor, Charles E. Lents, Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, Jesse M. Chandler
  • Patent number: 10478828
    Abstract: Provided is a solvent separation method and a solvent separation apparatus that make it possible to efficiently retrieve the thermal energy possessed by an exhaust atmosphere released in a solvent-removal step to suppress reductions in a temperature of the exhaust atmosphere. In the solvent separation method and the solvent separation apparatus, a vaporized solvent is removed from a gas while heat exchange between the gas within a condensation part and the gas within a dust-collection part is conducted by using a heat exchange part that is placed between the condensation part that introduces the gas into a first direction and the dust-collection part that introduce the gas into a second direction opposite to the first direction the gas discharged from a downstream side of the condensation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Nagai, Masanori Minamio, Toshiro Kanda, Masahiro Kawata, Yasuyuki Takano
  • Patent number: 10451086
    Abstract: A fan and compressor housing for an air cycle machine includes a fan inlet disposed around a center axis of the housing and having a fan inlet mounting flange, a compressor outlet having a compressor outlet mounting flange, and a compressor inlet having a compressor inlet mounting flange. The fan inlet mounting flange has a pinhole disposed thereon configured to receive a pin from a fan inlet diffuser housing and a fan inlet counterbore configured to receive a mating component from the fan inlet diffuser housing. The compressor outlet mounting flange has a compressor outlet counterbore configured to receive a first mating component from a condenser/reheater. The compressor inlet mounting flange has a compressor inlet counterbore configured to receive a second mating component from the condenser/reheater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Chrabascz, Seth E. Rosen
  • Patent number: 10384799
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for generating auxiliary power in an aircraft, comprising the step consisting of: starting up an auxiliary power unit (6) of the aircraft by supplying compressed air to the auxiliary power unit (6) from a supercharger (7), and transferring non-propulsive energy from the auxiliary power unit (6) to the aircraft. The invention also concerns a system (5) for generating auxiliary power in an aircraft and an aircraft implementing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN POWER UNITS
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Rideau
  • Patent number: 10315775
    Abstract: An aircraft duct structure includes a first duct through which exhaust air from a front-side equipment compartment flows, and a second duct through which exhaust air from a rear-side equipment compartment flows. The first duct has a terminal end part where the exhaust air inside the second duct flows into the exhaust air inside the first duct at a substantially right angle, and a flow straightening plate located inside the terminal end part. The terminal end part has a jet opening which faces, across a clearance, an air pressure regulating port where an air pressure regulating valve is disposed. The inside of the terminal end part is divided by the flow straightening plate into an upper region and a lower region. The exhaust air inside the first duct and the exhaust air inside the second duct merge together in the upper region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoshi Morishita, Yoichi Uefuji, Toshiyuki Ishida, Gento Ichikawa, Yasunari Tanaka, Fumio Kondo
  • Patent number: 10309303
    Abstract: A generator arrangement includes a generator and a pneumatic turbine. The pneumatic turbine is operably connected to the generator. A gas turbine engine compressor section is in fluid communication with the pneumatic turbine through a bleed air conduit to provide pressurized air to the pneumatic turbine for applying mechanical rotation to the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Bayles, Todd A. Spierling, Louis J. Bruno, Harold W. Hipsky
  • Patent number: 10113558
    Abstract: A fan housing for an air cycle machine includes a fan exit flow passage and a ring disposed around a center axis of the fan housing and disposed around the fan exit flow passage. The ring includes a first end disposed axially opposite a second end and a guide surface facing radially inward relative the center axis and formed between the first end and the second end. The ring also includes a shelf disposed radially inward from the guide surface. The shelf includes a stop surface extending radially and disposed axially between the second end and the guide surface. The shelf also includes a shelf surface facing radially outward relative the center axis and extending axially between the first end and the stop surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sunstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Chrabascz, Seth E. Rosen
  • Patent number: 10024557
    Abstract: A heat exchange system includes a core of cross flow passages having a reheater, and a condenser that is downstream of and directly interfaces the reheater. A first water extractor is downstream of the condenser, wherein the first water extractor turns a first fluid from the first pass of the condenser back towards the condenser and produces a second fluid that flows into the second pass of the condenser. A second water extractor is downstream the condenser, wherein the second water extractor turns a third fluid from the second pass of the condenser towards the reheater; and produces a fourth fluid that flows into the reheater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Marco A. Zazueta, Mark Fewell, Michael Faust, James L. Nguyen, Benjamin Hernandez
  • Patent number: 9970280
    Abstract: A system and method captures and processes flare gas so that the gas is usable as compressed natural gas (“CNG”). The flare gas is pressurized by a combination of a booster compressor and a CNG compressor. While interstage and between the booster compressor and the CNG compressor, the gas is treated to remove moisture and to separate out higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. The moisture is removed by contacting the interstage gas with a hygroscopic agent within a dehydration unit. The moisture free hydrocarbon fluid is expanded, and/or externally cooled and directed to a knock out drum. Higher molecular weight hydrocarbons are separated from the fluid in the knock out drum. Gas from the knock out drum is compressed in the CNG compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas Inc.
    Inventor: Rajesh Athirathnam
  • Patent number: 9964120
    Abstract: A fan shroud for an air cycle machine includes a tubular body extending axially between a first end and a second end of the shroud along a center axis of the fan shroud. A flange extends radially outward from the tubular body of the shroud at the first end of the shroud. At least one mounting hole extends through the flange. A sight hole extends through the flange and is positioned radially inward from the at least one mounting hole relative the center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Chrabascz, Seth E. Rosen
  • Patent number: 9926080
    Abstract: A system, which includes a plurality of heat exchangers and a compressing device, is configured to prepare in parallel a medium bled from a low-pressure location of an engine and flowing through a plurality of heat exchangers into a chamber. The compressing device is in communication with the plurality of heat exchangers and regulates a pressure of the medium flowing through the plurality of heat exchangers. The compressing device is bypassed based on the preparing in parallel the medium for the chamber, which in turn enables the compressing device to windmill. Therefore, the system employs at least one mechanism to prevent components of the compressing device from windmilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis J. Bruno, Thomas M. Zywiak, Harold W. Hipsky, Christina W. Millot, Donald E. Army, Jr., Paul M. D'Orlando, Erin G. Kline
  • Patent number: 9856755
    Abstract: A power plant system including a fossil fuel fired power plant (6) for the generation of electricity, a carbon dioxide capture and compression system (5, 13), and an external heat cycle system has at least one heat exchanger (1,2,3) for the heating of the flow medium of the external heat cycle system. The heat exchanger (1,2,3) is connected to a heat flow from the CO2 capture plant (5) or a CO2 compression unit (13). A return flow from the heat exchanger (1,2,3) is led to the CO2 capture and compression system (5,13) or to the power plant (6). The power plant system allows an increase in overall efficiency of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Drouvot, Hongtao Li, Jörg Dietzmann
  • Patent number: 9718553
    Abstract: A cooling system for an aircraft includes a first cooling circuit having a first evaporator and a second evaporator, and a second cooling circuit having a third evaporator and a fourth evaporator. One of the first and second cooling circuits includes a first set of valves arranged to direct refrigerant through a first cooling sub-circuit, a second cooling sub-circuit, or both the first and second cooling sub-circuits based on ambient conditions. Two of the evaporators are installed on a first side of the aircraft, and the other two of the four evaporators are installed on a second side of the aircraft opposite the first side, and the first and second cooling circuits reject heat, via a heat exchanger, from their respective cooling circuit to air passing into an engine of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North America Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Vaisman, Douglas J. Snyder, Patrick C. Sweeney
  • Patent number: 9359949
    Abstract: A distributed bleed system temperature management scheme utilizes a distributed, closed loop temperature protection function. By allowing consumer systems to limit the consumer flow to meet a specified bleed system outlet temperature (which may be different for each consumer or group of consumers), each system can be penalized according to their level of importance. The closed loop approach allows optimization of the performance reduction instead of relying on conservative assumptions as is done with conventional systems. In some embodiments, each consumer system may have a different temperature limit at which the consumed flow is limited to maintain a given bleed system exit temperature. The temperature setpoints may be separated by a minimum temperature, based on sensor and controls tolerances, to ensure that the flow limiting functions do not interact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jason Olivarez, Giorgio Isella
  • Patent number: 9346555
    Abstract: An on board inert gas generation system receives cabin air, or air from another relatively low pressure source, passing a portion thereof through an energy recovery turbine to ambient to extract power which is used to provide all, or part of, the energy required to drive a positive displacement compressor to compress another portion of cabin air to increase the pressure thereof to be suitable for supply to an air separation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: EATON LIMITED
    Inventor: Alan Massey
  • Patent number: 9297566
    Abstract: A control system for a refrigeration appliance is provided. The control system uses a linear model that is designed to minimize or remove excess enthalpy from one or more compartments and/or features of the appliance. At least one variable speed compressor is operated at a speed that will remove excess enthalpy within a desired time period while also operating at an optimized speed for energy efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bahman Abbasi, Keith Wesley Wait
  • Patent number: 9272787
    Abstract: A valve control system includes a valve connected to regulate flow of a medium provided to an output and a sensor connected to monitor a feedback value associated with the medium. A controller modulates the valve based on a comparison of a reference value to the feedback value provided by the sensor. The controller detects saturation of the valve if the error between the monitored feedback value and reference value exceeds a threshold. In response to detected saturation, the controller reduces the reference value to a value less than the monitored feedback value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Lyndsay Morgan Couture, Erin G. Kline, Jeffrey Ernst, Antonio G. Daniele, Hong Liang
  • Patent number: 9267514
    Abstract: An air cycle machine has a housing which holds a compressor section, and a turbine section having an expansion area, and a fan section disposed outside of the housing. A shaft, which attaches to and is coaxial with the compressor section, the turbine section and the fan section, is supported by an air journal bearing and an air thrust bearing. The shaft has a hollow core for porting cooling air from the air journal bearing and the air thrust bearing, and a tube that extends into said expansion area and communicates cooling air from the turbine expansion area to the thrust bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl A Colson, Seth E. Rosen, Eric Chrabascz
  • Patent number: 9243548
    Abstract: A first stage turbocharger configured to receive an ambient intake air stream. A compressor of the first stage turbocharger coupled to a first intercooler. The first intercooler coupled to a turboexpander stage. The turbine of the turboexpander discharging an expanded air stream to an intake manifold of an engine. The expanded airstream having a temperature of less than the ambient intake air stream, thereby reducing enabling operation of the engine under high load conditions while maintaining reduced emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Thomas Michael Lavertu
  • Patent number: 9127570
    Abstract: Provided is a machine unit layout system that simplifies the layout of a compressor unit and an expander unit and is extremely effective in terms of not only the reliability of the entire machine but also maintainability. Two separate compressors, a low-pressure-side compressor and a high-pressure-side compressor (11A, 11b), are disposed on either side of a steam turbine (10). Two separate expanders, a low-pressure-side expander and a high-pressure-side expander (12A, 12B), are disposed outside the low-pressure-side and high-pressure-side compressors (11A, 11b). The steam turbine (10), the low-pressure-side and high-pressure-side compressors (11A, 11b), and the low-pressure-side and high-pressure-side expanders (12A, 12B) are coupled by rotor shafts comprising a single shaft. The torque distribution between rotator shafts is optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Nagao, Yasushi Mori, Masahiro Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Miyata
  • Patent number: 9121417
    Abstract: An energy storage system that includes a compressor for compressing a gas, a thermal energy storage for cooling the gas coming from the compressor to a given temperature by heating a thermal storage medium to store thermal energy and a reservoir for storing the compressed gas. The energy system also includes a heat recuperator for further cooling the gas coming from the compressor and thermal energy storage below the given temperature by heating the gas supplied to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Gianfranco Ludovico Guidati