Vortex Tube, E.g., Ranque Patents (Class 62/5)
  • Patent number: 11493239
    Abstract: A method for efficiently reducing the energy required to convert natural gas from a natural gas pressure letdown facility at high pressure and pipeline/wellhead temperature to liquid natural gas in close proximity to/collocation with a natural gas pressure letdown/regulation facility using Non-Freezing Vortex Tubes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,231) in arrangement with indirect contact heat exchangers. The Non-Freezing Vortex Tubes separate the inlet natural gas into hot flow and cold flow outlet natural gas flows. One portion of the natural gas flow from the high-pressure transmission line/gas wellhead is directed through the Non-Freezing Vortex Tube and the cold outlet flow of the natural gas is directed to the indirect contact heat exchanger(s) to act as the cooling medium. The liquid natural gas plant's required natural gas flow is directed at the existing pipeline/wellhead gas pressure through the heat exchanger and cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Universal Vortex, Inc.
    Inventors: Lev Tunkel, Ross Gale
  • Patent number: 11421918
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a rotary pressure exchanger fluidly coupled to a low pressure branch and a high pressure branch. The rotary pressure exchanger is configured to receive the refrigerant at high pressure from the high pressure branch, to receive the refrigerant at low pressure from the low pressure branch, and to exchange pressure between the refrigerant at high pressure and the refrigerant at low pressure, and wherein a first exiting stream from the rotary pressure exchanger includes the refrigerant at high pressure in the supercritical state or the subcritical state and a second exiting stream from the rotary pressure exchanger includes the refrigerant at low pressure in the liquid state or the two-phase mixture of liquid and vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Energy Recovery, Inc.
    Inventor: Azam Mihir Thatte
  • Patent number: 11400322
    Abstract: A temperature-control device for heating and/or cooling gases or gas mixtures. The temperature-control device includes at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet and at least one vortex tube. The vortex tube(s) each have a vortex tube inlet, a hot air outlet and a cold air outlet. The at least one air inlet is connectable with at least one vortex tube inlet of the at least one vortex tube. The at least one air outlet can be connected at least in one flow direction with at least one hot air outlet and at least one cold air outlet of the vortex tube(s). At least one control element selectively adjusts the amount of air flow between the at least one hot air outlet and the at least one air outlet or between the at least one cold air outlet and the at least one air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SATA GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Brose, Marco Schönemann
  • Patent number: 11306947
    Abstract: A temperature control system in an aircraft passenger service unit is disclosed. In embodiments, the system includes a swirl chamber configured to receive an inlet air stream, and a vortex tube configured to receive the inlet air stream from the swirl chamber and separate the inlet air stream into a warmer air stream and a cooler air stream. In embodiments, the system further includes a nozzle configured to direct a temperature-controlled air stream into a passenger space of an aircraft; wherein the nozzle is configured to be selectably adjusted in order to selectively blend the warmer air stream and the cooler air stream in order to generate the temperature-controlled air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Abbas A. Alahyari
  • Patent number: 11291942
    Abstract: The invention discloses a condenser for a bioreactor exhaust, comprising: an inlet (1) adapted to be fluidically connected to a bioreactor exhaust port (2), a cooling chamber (3; 103) fluidically connected to the inlet and via a filter device (4) to an outlet (5), a cooling conduit (6; 106) in contact with the cooling chamber, a heating conduit (7) in contact with the filter device and a vortex tube (8) arranged to convey a cold gas stream through the cooling conduit and to convey a hot gas stream through the heating conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Cytiva Sweden AB
    Inventors: Eric Faldt, Thomas Falkman, Patric Fricking, Patrick Jonsson, Tomas Agren
  • Patent number: 11149991
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a heating and cooling apparatus having a moisture removal function for testing electrical characteristics of a semiconductor element using a probe system, in which the heating and cooling apparatus is configured to be capable of hot and cold measurement of a wafer or a flat panel display product and to be capable of efficiently removing water droplets generated at the time of cooling by adding a vortex tube to a thermo-stream provided in a probe head of the probe system and configuring the vortex tube to be interlocked with a moisture removal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Yang Yoon Seon
  • Patent number: 10982898
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for the liquefaction of natural gas to produce a LNG product. The methods and systems use an apparatus for separating a flash gas from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream to produce a LNG product and recovering refrigeration from the flash gas. The apparatus includes a shell casing enclosing a heat exchange zone comprising a coil wound heat exchanger, and a separation zone. The heat exchange zone is located above and in fluid communication with the separation zone. Flash gas is separated from the LNG product in the separation zone and flows upwards from the separation zone into the heat exchange zone where refrigeration is recovered from the separated flash gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Fei Chen, Christopher Michael Ott, Annemarie Ott Weist, Mark Julian Roberts
  • Patent number: 10954013
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to the distribution of a flushing gas during a packaging process. More specifically, the invention relates to a system and method for cooling and distributing a flushing gas during such a process that utilizes the gas' lower temperature and increased density to both maintain the flushing gases' placement within a packaging container and displace any undesirable gases there-from.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: David Nowaczyk
  • Patent number: 10940337
    Abstract: A temperature control device for heating and/or cooling gases or gas mixtures, in particular for use in the respiratory protection sector. The temperature control device has a housing, a compressed air input, a supply output and a vortex tube with an air inlet, a hot air outlet and a cold air outlet. The vortex tube is installable in at least two final assembly arrangements. In a first arrangement, there is a fluid-conducting connection between the cold air outlet of the vortex tube and the supply output of the temperature control device and, in a second arrangement, there is a fluid-conducting connection between the hot air outlet of the vortex tube and the supply output of the temperature control device. By this configuration, the temperature control device is both a device for heating and cooling respiratory air from mainly the same components with little additional outlay on production and little additional effort during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SATA GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jens Brose, Marco Schönemann
  • Patent number: 10883778
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is disclosed which includes a pressure vessel with an inlet for air, an outlet for air, and a bundle of pipes housed within the pressure vessel for a thermo-vector fluid. A gas/solid separator is provided within the pressure vessel for separating particles drawn by the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Ansaldo Energia Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Cyrille Bricaud, Daniel Ponca, Stephan Strueken, Marcos Escudero Olano
  • Patent number: 10866015
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for a cooling fan that has a vortex tube, an air turbine, and one or more fan blades. The vortex tube is capable of being supplied with compressed air and splitting the compressed air into a cold stream and a hot stream. The cold stream can spins said air turbine with attached fan blades, causing said fan blades to spin and blow cold air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: James Thomas Clements
  • Patent number: 10533901
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a sight tube extending along a longitudinal axis of the imaging system and configured to extend through an access port. The sight tube includes a wall extending about the longitudinal axis and defining a cavity. The imaging system also includes a plurality of cooling channels extending through the sight tube. The plurality of cooling channels are configured to direct cooling fluid through the sight tube for cooling the imaging system. The plurality of cooling channels are formed in the sight tube such that at least one cooling channel of the plurality of cooling channels extends in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Guanghua Wang, Nirm Velumylum Nirmalan, Mohamed Sakami, Thomas Charles Adcock, Jeffrey Jay Porubcan, James William Sears, Naveenan Thiagarajan, Bernard Bewlay, Jason Edward Dees, James DeLancey
  • Patent number: 10525615
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for drying thermoplastic resin prior to molding into plastic parts comprises a continuous loop liquid circuit for furnishing liquid at a prescribed temperature to a mold in which the plastic parts are fabricated; a continuous loop air circuit for passing heated dry air through a hopper containing the thermoplastic resin thereby drying the thermoplastic resin to a prescribed level of dryness; and a coupling thermally connecting the two circuits for heat transfer from the liquid to the drying air; the liquid is selected from the group comprising water and ethylene glycol; microprocessor control facilitates generation and retention of custom water temperature and resin dryness/temperature optionally based on machine learning principles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Novatec, Inc.
    Inventors: Conrad Bessemer, Thomas Trevor Bludis, James Zinski, Mark Haynie
  • Patent number: 10435294
    Abstract: A para-orthohydrogen conversion device comprises a vortex tube. The vortex tube may include an inlet disposed at a first end of the vortex tube, a catalyst disposed on the interior wall of the vortex tube, a first outlet comprising an opening on the perimeter of a second end of the vortex tube, a stopper disposed at the center of the second end of the vortex tube, and a second outlet disposed on the first end of the vortex tube. A method includes converting parahydrogen to orthohydrogen via the catalyst and rotational force as hydrogen gas moves through the vortex tube such that cooled parahydrogen-rich gas or liquid hydrogen accumulates near the center of the vortex tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Washington State Universiy
    Inventors: Jacob William Leachman, Carl Dale Bunge
  • Patent number: 9976972
    Abstract: A thermal control apparatus adapted for use with a pressurized air supply for controlling temperature of a component includes a vortex tube having an inlet adapted for connection with the pressurized air supply, a cold air outlet, and a hot air outlet, and a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the cold air outlet of the vortex tube, the heat exchanger being in thermal contact with the component and thereby controlling the temperature of the component. The heat exchanger further includes a post-heat-exchange exhaust air outlet in fluid communication with an exhaust air inlet adapted to direct the exhaust air along an outside of the vortex tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: THERMO GAMMA-METRICS PTY LTD
    Inventors: Bryan John Crosby, Simon Liemar
  • Patent number: 9933208
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating a liquefiable gas mixture consisting of a plurality of components, comprising at least one first component (K1) and one second component (K2), wherein, under an increased pressure p1, the first component (K1) has a melting point T*K1 that is higher than the melting point T*K2 of the second component (K2). In order to realise a configuration that is as compact as possible, it is provided in accordance with the invention that the method comprises the following steps: converting the gas mixture to a liquid state at a temperature T0 and a pressure p0, wherein T*K2<T0?T*K1 and p0<p1 applies, and wherein the first component (K1) is present in an initial concentration (C0); producing a pressure gradient in the liquefied gas mixture, wherein the increased pressure p1 prevails at least in a limited spatial region (3) of the liquefied gas mixture, and freeze separation of the first component (K1) occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Alfred Fuchs
  • Patent number: 9625097
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing a pressure of compressed natural gas and for delivering natural gas are disclosed. A regulator comprising a vortex tube may be used to reduce the pressure of compressed natural gas while a temperature thereof is also reduced. The temperature reduction associated with a pressure drop in the compressed natural gas is achieved by throttling the gas at constant enthalpy from 3,000 psig to 150 psig through the regulator. At least one heat exchanger may be utilized to increase the temperature of the compressed natural gas to a temperature suitable for injection delivery. A pressure-reducing regulator may be used to further reduce a pressure of the gas to about 45 psig for delivery to an end-user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Questar Gas Company
    Inventors: Todd Allan Bayliff, Troy David Sorensen, Michael Lowell Gill, Richard Joseph Kiser, II, Kelly D. Pace, Lee R. Mettmann
  • Patent number: 9593862
    Abstract: An air disruption system for an enclosure includes an air delivery system, at least one plenum including an inlet fluidically connected to the air delivery system and at least one outlet, and a controller operatively connected to the air delivery system. The controller is configured and disposed to selectively cause one or more discrete amounts of air to pass into the at least one plenum and flow through the outlet creating a localized air disruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alston Ilford Scipio, Dale Joel Davis, Sanji Ekanayake, Massoud Parisay
  • Patent number: 9308121
    Abstract: A self-contained helical air distribution system for the body of an individual which can distribute air over both the chest and back of the individual, the system including a battery operated blower fan in communication with the plenum and manifold, the manifold having a plurality of tubular distribution conduits, each conduit having a capped end, the conduits extending over the chest and back of the body, the conduits formed with a spiral helix cut allowing the tubular conduits to react to the motion of the human body, the spiral helix cuts reacting to such movement, thereby allowing air to selectively escape from the expansion of these cuts providing a cooling and evaporate effect. With slight adaptation the air distribution system can distribute heated air and also be used to control the ambient temperature about inanimate objects, such as computers, electronic instruments, windshields, and car seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Inventor: Roger Clemente
  • Patent number: 9242207
    Abstract: A vortex tube includes a main body, an inlet coupled to the main body and into which compressed air is introduced, an air circulating chamber installed in the main body, a passage channel through which the air introduced through the inlet passes forwards, a vortex generator configured to enable the air to spin in the air circulating chamber, a cold air-outlet through which cold air is discharged outside from the air circulating chamber, and a hot air-outlet through which hot air is discharged outside from the air circulating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Kyungdo Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Chun-bae Park
  • Patent number: 9140221
    Abstract: A fuel recovery system for a machine is disclosed. The fuel recovery system may have a tank configured to store a liquid fuel. The fuel recovery system may also have an accumulator fluidly connected to the tank and configured to receive gaseous fuel formed in the tank. The fuel recovery system may further have a compressor fluidly connected to the accumulator and configured to compress the gaseous fuel. In addition, the fuel recovery system may have a separator fluidly connected to the compressor and the tank. The separator may be configured to receive the compressed gaseous fuel, and separate the compressed gaseous fuel into a first flow of gaseous fuel at a first temperature and a second flow of gaseous fuel at a second temperature. In addition, the separator may be configured to direct the second flow to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Gamache Foege
  • Publication number: 20150143819
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices relating to a mechanism which can be used in gas cooling devices, pneumatic motors, turbines and other pressurized gas devices. A rotatable rotor is provided along with a number of hollow conduits that radially radiate from an exit port at the center of the rotor. The pressurized gas is injected into the mechanism at the inlet port(s). The gas enters the conduits and travels from the inlet port(s) to the exit port(s). In doing so, the gas causes the rotor to rotate about its central axis while the gas cools. This results in a colder gas at the exit port(s) than at the inlet port(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Jeliazko Polihronov, Anthony G. Straatman
  • Publication number: 20150068629
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing process, a swirling device, and a thermal management process are disclosed. The three-dimensional printing process includes distributing a material to a selected region, selectively laser melting the material, and forming a swirling device from the material. The swirling device is printed by selective laser melting. The thermal management process includes providing an article having a swirling device printed by selective laser melting, and cooling a portion of the article by transporting air through the swirling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Srikanth Chandrudu KOTTILINGAM, Victor John MORGAN, Benjamin Paul LACY, John Wesley HARRIS, Jr., David Edward SCHICK
  • Publication number: 20150059364
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a device capable of setting ambient air pressure into motion and maintaining a vortex. The apparatus uses a vacuum pump to set it into motion to generate a plurality of converging and diverging portions of high and low pressure regions. The high velocity air stream enters the vortex generating zone. It also provides the ability to inject water into the vortex tube to lower the temperature of the air within the vortex tube to via into evaporation. The outer vortex and inner vortex functions by converting the random molecular motion of the molecules to water molecules to absorb the latent heat. Gas Dynamics, the branch of fluid dynamics concerned with the study of motion of gases, relates the kinetic motion of a gas molecules to its absolute temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: MAYNARD LAMBERT VAN VALKENBURGH, Donald Lee Adle
  • Patent number: 8887525
    Abstract: A heat exchanger may be associated with a heat transfer system to promote flow of heat energy from a heat source to a multi-phase fluid. The heat exchanger may be associated with an expansion portion. The fluid may be a refrigerant to which nano-particles may be added. Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in an air-conditioning system as well as a water heating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Pax Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Jayden David Harman, Thomas Gielda
  • Publication number: 20140260335
    Abstract: Processes and devices for recovering natural gas liquid from a hydrocarbon containing gas are provided by introduction of compressed air to a vortex tube. The vortex tube generates a cold air stream that is introduced into a heat exchanger. A hydrocarbon containing gas of higher temperature than the cold air stream is introduced into the heat exchanger, so that the cold air stream in the heat exchanger cools the hydrocarbon containing gas to condense natural gas vapors in the hydrocarbon containing gas to liquid hydrocarbons. In this manner, liquid hydrocarbons and dry hydrocarbon containing gas are obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Leed Fabrication Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Casey L. BEELER
  • Patent number: 8833088
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing a pressure of compressed natural gas and for delivering natural gas are disclosed. A regulator comprising a vortex tube may be used to reduce the pressure of compressed natural gas while a temperature thereof is also reduced. The temperature reduction associated with a pressure drop in the compressed natural gas is achieved by throttling the gas at constant enthalpy from 3,000 psig to 150 psig through the regulator. At least one heat exchanger may be utilized to increase the temperature of the compressed natural gas to a temperature suitable for injection delivery. A pressure-reducing regulator may be used to further reduce a pressure of the gas to about 45 psig for delivery to an end-user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Questar Gas Company
    Inventors: Todd Allan Bayliff, Troy David Sorensen, Michael Lowell Gill, Richard Joseph Kiser, II, Kelly D. Pace, Lee R. Mettmann
  • Patent number: 8820114
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooling system that utilizes a supersonic cooling cycle. The cooling system includes accelerating a compressible working fluid, and may not require the use of a conventional mechanical pump. The cooling system accelerates the fluid to a velocity equal to or greater than the speed of sound in the compressible fluid selected to be used in the system. A phase change of the fluid due at least in part to a pressure differential cools a working fluid that may be utilized to transfer heat from a heat intensive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: PAX Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Serguei Charamko, Kristian Debus, Tom Gielda
  • Patent number: 8820095
    Abstract: A vortex-based temperature control system comprises a test chamber configured to receive a test article therein, a sensor disposed within the test chamber for detecting a temperature within the test chamber, a first vortex tube coupled to the test chamber for providing a heating airflow to the test chamber, and a second vortex tube coupled to the test chamber for providing a cooling airflow to the test chamber. The system also comprises a temperature controller coupled to the sensor and configured to control an airflow delivered to the first and second vortex tubes to obtain a desired temperature setting within the test chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Lessig, Kevin Cronk, Brian O'Malley, Matt Swain, Ramesh Sundaram
  • Publication number: 20140216063
    Abstract: An example cooling system for a computer includes a canister that holds a compressed fluid and a gas cooling device having an inlet port and a chilled gas outlet port. In addition, the cooling system includes a valve that couples between the canister and the inlet port of the gas cooling device, the valve selectively couples the compressed fluid to the inlet port. Further, the cooling system includes a pressure regulator that coupled between the canister and the inlet port of the gas cooling device, wherein the pressure regulator selectively regulates the flow rate of gas to the inlet port of the gas cooling device. Still further, the cooling system includes a chilled gas duct system that couples to the chilled gas outlet port, the chilled duct system configured to direct the chilled gas to be incident upon at least one heat generating element of the computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Donald P. WILLIAMS
  • Publication number: 20140216062
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus (10) suitable for cooling hot condensate in a piping. The apparatus comprises the use of a vortex tube (103) together with liquid such as water. A container (101) is provided to hold the liquid where the vortex tube is disposed inside the container (101). A pipe coil (133) for conveying the hot condensate is provided around the tube (104). The apparatus (10) will generate mist for cooling the hot condensate in the piping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: PETROLIAM NASIONAL BERHAD (PETRONAS)
    Inventors: Mohd Fauzi Abidin, Mohd Zurix B. Hamed, Mohd Fakhurrazi Mohd Salleh
  • Publication number: 20140123978
    Abstract: A vortex tube with an arcuate hot leg. A vortex tube include a vortex chamber couple to a first tube, a cold leg, to carry a cold air stream and a second tube, the hot leg, to cause the separation of hot and cold air. The hot leg bends in an arc to allow a longer and more efficient hot leg in reduced linear space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Mathew E. Bancroft, Adam S. Lawlor, Elizabeth A. Gordon, Adrian P. Taylor, William C. Hamill
  • Patent number: 8616010
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling an enclosure provided. The enclosure has at least one opening for receiving cool air and discharging heated air. The apparatus includes a vortex tube with a first end for discharging warm air and a second end for discharging cool air. The apparatus further includes an inlet between the ends of the vortex tube for directing compressed air tangentially into the interior of the vortex tube. A first housing covers the first end of the vortex tube and creates a space through which warm air is channeled to the exterior. The vortex tube is connected by an attachment to the opening of the enclosure so that the vortex tube can discharge cool air into the interior of the enclosure. The apparatus further includes an air outlet conduit at an end of the attachment to facilitate discharge of heated air for the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Nexflow Air Products Corp.
    Inventor: Lou Bakos
  • Patent number: 8613201
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing a pressure of compressed natural gas and for delivering natural gas are disclosed. A regulator comprising a vortex tube may be used to reduce the pressure of compressed natural gas while a temperature thereof is also reduced. The temperature reduction associated with a pressure drop in the compressed natural gas is achieved by throttling the gas at constant enthalpy from 3,000 PSIG to 150 PSIG through the regulator. At least one heat exchanger may be utilized to increase the temperature of the compressed natural gas to a temperature suitable for injection delivery. A pressure-reducing regulator may be used to further reduce a pressure of the gas to about 45 PSIG for delivery to an end-user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Questar Gas Company
    Inventors: Todd Allan Bayliff, Troy David Sorensen, Michael Lowell Gill, Richard Joseph Kiser, II, Kelly D. Pace, Lee R. Mettmann
  • Patent number: 8607579
    Abstract: Embodiments of a heat transfer apparatus, and related methods, involve at least one boundary wall defining a first flow path through a neck portion, a first heat source external to and in thermal communication with the boundary wall, and a working fluid (e.g., a first fluid component with a second fluid component entrained therein). The neck portion may be shaped such that at least a portion of the second fluid component impinges upon at least a portion of the boundary wall as the working fluid flows therethrough, whereby heat is transferred from the first heat source to the working fluid through the boundary wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Machflow Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur R. Williams, Charles Agosta
  • Patent number: 8528360
    Abstract: A method for cooling a natural gas stream (CxHy) and separating the cooled gas stream into various fractions having different boiling points, such as methane, ethane, propane, butane and condensates, comprises: cooling the gas stream (1,2); and separating the cooled gas stream in an inlet separation tank (4); a fractionating column (7) in which a methane lean rich fluid fraction (CH4) is separated from a methane lean fluid fraction (C2+Hz); feeding at least part of the methane enriched fluid fraction from the inlet separation tank (4) into a cyclonic expansion and separation device (8), which preferably has an isentropic efficiency of expansion of at least 80%, such as a supersonic or transonic cyclone; and feeding the methane depleted fluid fraction from the cyclonic expansion and separation device (8) into the fractionating column (7) for further separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Twister B.V.
    Inventors: Marco Betting, Jacob Michiel Brouwer, Pascal van Eck, Cornelis Antonie Tjeenk Willink
  • Patent number: 8522859
    Abstract: A phase change material (PCM) heat exchanger device comprising heat exchanger cells (1a, 1b) operating on the regenerative countercurrent principle, one or more phase change material (PCM) accumulators (2, 3) provided in the heat exchanger cells and one or more vortex tubes (6, 7, 8). When the directions of the air, gas and liquid flows are cyclically reversed in the apparatus, energy is recovered into the heat exchanger cell and the PCM accumulator, and during the subsequent cycle, the energy is released from the heat exchanger cell and PCM accumulator. While one heat exchanger cell and PCM accumulator is being charged, the other heat exchanger cell and PCM accumulator is simultaneously discharged. Warm air exits a first outlet port while cold air exits a second outlet port of the one or more vortex tubes. The fluid flows heat or cool the heat exchanger cells and associated PCM accumulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: MG Innovations Corp.
    Inventors: Kari Moilala, Michael Gasik
  • Publication number: 20130167557
    Abstract: A power plant includes a compressor configured to compress inlet air for combustion. The power plant also includes an air separation unit configured to receive and remove nitrogen from an air supply. The power plant further includes a fluid manipulator operably coupled to the air separation unit and the compressor, wherein the fluid manipulator is configured to receive nitrogen removed from the air separation unit at an inlet pressure and an inlet temperature and produce a modified pressure and a modified temperature of the nitrogen prior to selectively delivering the nitrogen to the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kihyung Kim, Barrett David Gardiner, Diego Fernando Rancruel
  • Publication number: 20130111926
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for a vehicle, may include an electric air compression pump generating compressed air using battery power of the vehicle, a main compressed air tank storing the compressed air generated by the electric air compression pump, a compressed air control valve fluid-connected to the main compressed air tank and controlling the compressed air to be discharged to a radiator when a temperature of cooling water flowing through the radiator exceeds a predetermined value, and an air amplification induction device disposed in front of the radiator and fluid-connected to the compressed air control valve, wherein the air amplification induction device induces compressed air discharged from the compressed air control valve, along an inner circumference of the air amplification induction device, such that the compressed air discharged from the compressed air control valve may be injected to the radiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seunggi KIM
  • Patent number: 8402773
    Abstract: A two-stage cooling system configured to cool an interior of an enclosure includes a cabinet, a first vortex tube secured within the cabinet, and a second vortex tube secured within the cabinet. The cabinet defines a venting chamber. The first and second vortex tubes each include a hot pipe within the venting chamber and a cool gas delivery pipe extending outwardly from the cabinet. The first and second cool gas delivery pipes are configured to deliver cold gas to the interior of the enclosure. A separate thermostat may be operatively attached to each vortex tube and extend outwardly from the cabinet to be positioned within the interior of the enclosure. Additionally, first and second dampening sleeves may be secured around at least a portion of the first and second hot pipes, respectively, such that the dampening sleeves dampen noise produced by the vortex tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works
    Inventor: Steven E. Broerman
  • Patent number: 8365540
    Abstract: A heat exchanger may be associated with a heat transfer system to promote flow of heat energy from a heat source to a multi-phase fluid. The heat exchanger may be associated with an expansion portion. The fluid may be a refrigerant to which nano-particles may be added. Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in an air-conditioning system as well as a water heating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Pax Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Jayden David Harman, Thomas Gielda
  • Patent number: 8359872
    Abstract: A heat exchanger may be associated with a heat transfer system to promote flow of heat energy from a heat source to a multi-phase fluid. The heat exchanger may be associated with an expansion portion. The fluid may be a refrigerant to which nano-particles may be added. Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in an air-conditioning system as well as a water heating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Pax Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Jayden David Harman, Thomas Gielda
  • Patent number: 8353168
    Abstract: A supersonic cooling system operates by pumping liquid. Because the supersonic cooling system pumps liquid, the compression system does not require the use of a condenser. The compression system utilizes a compression wave. An evaporator of the compression system operates in the critical flow regime where the pressure in an evaporator tube will remain almost constant and then ‘jump’ or ‘shock up’ to the ambient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Pax Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Jayden Harman, Thomas Gielda
  • Patent number: 8333080
    Abstract: A supersonic cooling system operates by pumping liquid. Because supersonic cooling system pumps liquid, the compression system does not require the use a condenser. Compression system utilizes a compression wave. The evaporator of compression system operates in the critical flow regime where the pressure in an evaporator tube will remain almost constant and then ‘jump’ or ‘shock up’ to the ambient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Pax Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Jayden Harman, Thomas Gielda
  • Patent number: 8307885
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus for an electronic device. In the present invention, a coolant passing through a condenser 10 is introduced into and s filled in a compensator 15. The coolant passing through the compensator 15 is introduced into a vaporizer 20 and vaporized through heat exchange with an auxiliary heat source H2 provided outside of the vaporizer. In addition, a vaporizing unit 22 made of a porous material is provided in the vaporizer 20. The coolant passing through the vaporizer 20 and a liquid coolant supplied from the condenser 10 are mixed in a vortex generating unit 30 to form a coolant spray, and the coolant spray moves along a spiral trajectory to be formed into a vortex. Meanwhile, the coolant spray of a vortex is injected to be in close contact with the inner wall of an evaporator 50 to be heat-exchanged with a main heat source H1 positioned outside of the evaporator, thereby cooling the main heat source H1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignees: LG Electronics Inc., Korea University Industrial & Academic Collaboration Foundation
    Inventors: Ye-Yong Kim, Young-Don Choi
  • Patent number: 8186174
    Abstract: An electronic device cabinet includes a first temperature control system positioned to direct a conditioned airflow into a first electronic device storage zone of the cabinet and a second temperature control system positioned to direct a conditioned airflow into a second electronic device storage zone of the cabinet. The first temperature control system includes a first plurality of vortex tubes having a compressed air inlet and a first cooling air outlet that guides cooling air into the first device storage zone. The second temperature control system includes a second plurality of vortex tubes having a compressed air inlet and a second cooling air outlet that guides cooling air into the second device storage zone. A controller selectively delivers compressed air to respective ones of the first and second temperature control systems upon sensing a demand for cooling in corresponding ones of the first and second electronic device storage zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Don A. Gilliland, Cary M. Huettner, Max J. C. Koschmeder
  • Publication number: 20120060514
    Abstract: A tube picking mechanism is designed for use in an automated, ultra-low temperature (e.g. ?80° C. or ?135° C.) or cryogenic (e.g., about ?140° C. to ?196° C.) storage and retrieval system that stores biological or chemical samples. The samples are contained in storage tubes held in SBS footprint storage racks that are normally stored within an ultra-low temperature or cryogenic freezer compartment. The tube picking mechanism includes a tube picking chamber that is maintained at about ?80° C., about ?135° C. or at cryogenic temperatures in cryogenic applications. Active electrical and mechanical components are maintained in a compartment above and separate from the refrigerated, ultra-low temperature or cryogenic compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: HAMILTON STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Julian Warhurst, Bruce Zandi, Alexander Carbone, Frank Hunt, Robert Cloutier, James O'Toole, Elizabeth Alexander
  • Publication number: 20120038120
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a system for cooling a load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Allen J. Bartlett, William Johnson, Mark Collins, Sergei Syssoev, James A. O'Neil, Michael J. Eacobacci
  • Patent number: 8099966
    Abstract: Disclosed is an air conditioning system for an aircraft which utilizes high pressure bleed air. The bleed air is pressure controlled and introduced into a vortex cooler which can be operated in two modes using a valve. In a first mode, the bleed air is divided into cold and hot streams. The cold stream is directed into the cabin for cooling purposes. The hot stream is released from the aircraft in a manner that it pulls ambient air across a heat exchanger. In a second mode, the bleed air is not divided, but passes through the vortex cooler as a common stream. The second mode is more commonly used in colder ambient air conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Mossberg, Charles B. Beuning
  • Publication number: 20110252815
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling an enclosure provided. The enclosure has at least one opening for receiving cool air and discharging heated air. The apparatus includes a vortex tube with a first end for discharging warm air and a second end for discharging cool air. The apparatus further includes an inlet between the ends of the vortex tube for directing compressed air tangentially into the interior of the vortex tube. A first housing covers the first end of the vortex tube and creates a space through which warm air is channelled to the exterior. The vortex tube is connected by an attachment to the opening of the enclosure so that the vortex tube can discharge cool air into the interior of the enclosure. The apparatus further includes an air outlet conduit at an end of the attachment to facilitate discharge of heated air for the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: NEX FLOW AIR PRODUCTS CORP.
    Inventor: Lou Bakos