Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090049871 | THERMAL CONTROL STRUCTURE AND GARMENT - A flexible thermally conductive structure. The structure generally includes a plurality of thermally conductive yarns, at least some of which are at least partially disposed adjacent to an elastomeric material. Typically, at least a portion of the plurality of thermally conductive yarns is configured as a sheet. The yarns may be constructed from graphite, metal, or similar materials. The elastomeric material may be formed from urethane or silicone foam that is at least partially collapsed, or from a similar material. A thermal management garment is provided, the garment incorporating a flexible thermally conductive structure. | 02-26-2009 |
20090087373 | Method and Apparatus for Producing a Carbon Based Foam Article Having a Desired Thermal-Conductivity Gradient - A carbon based foam article is made by heating the surface of a carbon foam block to a temperature above its graphitizing temperature, which is the temperature sufficient to graphitize the carbon foam. In one embodiment, the surface is heated with infrared pulses until heat is transferred from the surface into the core of the foam article such that the graphitizing temperature penetrates into the core to a desired depth below the surface. The graphitizing temperature is maintained for a time sufficient to substantially entirely graphitize the portion of the foam article from the surface to the desired depth below the surface. Thus, the foam article is an integral monolithic material that has a desired conductivity gradient with a relatively high thermal conductivity in the portion of the core that was graphitized and a relatively low thermal conductivity in the remaining portion of the foam article. | 04-02-2009 |
20100025009 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A thermal management system for operating near a temperature T. The system includes a sheet-like spacer having a plurality of passageways. A degassed working fluid is disposed as a liquid within the passageways of the spacer. A flexible and substantially impermeable sheet-like envelope forms a sealed compartment enclosing the spacer and the degassed working fluid at an absolute pressure that is approximately equal to the vapor pressure of the working fluid at equilibrium with liquid phase of the working fluid at the temperature T. The spacer, the working fluid and the envelope form a sheet-like thermal management system. In some embodiments the spacer is a flexible spacer and the envelope is a flexible envelope and the sheet-like thermal management system is a flexible sheet-like management system. In some embodiments the envelope is a rigid structure. | 02-04-2010 |
20120183116 | COMPOSITE NUCLEAR FUEL PELLET - A composite nuclear fuel pellet comprises a composite body including a UO2 matrix and a plurality of high aspect ratio particies dispersed therein, where the high aspect ratio particies have a thermal conductivity higher than that of the UO2 matrix. A method of making a composite nuclear fuel pellet includes combining UO2 powder with a predetermined amount of high aspect ratio particles to form a combined powder, the high aspect ratio particles having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the UO2 powder; mixing the combined powder in a solvent to disperse the high aspect ratio particles in the UO2 powder; evaporating the solvent to form a dry mixture comprising the high aspect ratio particles dispersed in the UO2 powder; pressing the dry mixture to form a green body; and sintering the green body to form the composite fuel pellet. | 07-19-2012 |
20120199330 | STAGED GRAPHITE FOAM HEAT EXCHANGERS - Shell-and-tube heat exchangers that utilize one or more foam heat transfer units engaged with the tubes to enhance the heat transfer between first and second fluids. The foam of the heat transfer units can be any thermally conductive foam material that enhances heat transfer. In an embodiment, a liquid distribution unit is employed that sprays a fluid to maximize the energy transfer through the use of large surface/volume ratio of the sprayed fluid. The spraying can be used in combination with or separately from the foam heat transfer units. Also, the tubes can be helically twisted around the liquid distribution unit so that the sprayed fluid impinges on the tubes. The shell-and-tube heat exchangers described herein are highly efficient, inexpensive to build, and corrosion resistant. The heat exchangers can be configured as an evaporator, a condenser, or for single phase cooling or heating thermal transfer applications. | 08-09-2012 |
20120199331 | SHELL-AND-TUBE HEAT EXCHANGERS WITH FOAM HEAT TRANSFER UNITS - Shell-and-tube heat exchangers that utilize one or more foam heat transfer units engaged with the tubes to enhance the heat transfer between first and second fluids. The foam of the heat transfer units can be any thermally conductive foam material that enhances heat transfer, for example graphite foam. These shell-and-tube heat exchangers are highly efficient, inexpensive to build, and corrosion resistant. The described heat exchangers can be used in a variety of applications, including but not limited to, low thermal driving force applications, power generation applications, and non-power generation applications such as refrigeration and cryogenics. The foam heat transfer units can be made from any thermally conductive foam material including, but not limited to, graphite foam or metal foam. In an embodiment, the heat exchanger utilizes tubes that are twisted around a central foam heat transfer unit. | 08-09-2012 |
20120199334 | HEAT EXCHANGER WITH FOAM FINS - Heat exchangers are described that employ fins made of a heat conducting foam material to enhance heat transfer. The foam fins can be used in any type of heat exchanger including, but not limited to, a plate-fin heat exchanger, a plate-frame heat exchanger or a shell-and-tube heat exchanger. The heat exchangers employing foam fins described herein are highly efficient, inexpensive to build, and corrosion resistant. The described heat exchangers can be used in a variety of applications, including but not limited to, low thermal driving force applications, power generation applications, and non-power generation applications such as refrigeration and cryogenics. The fins can be made from any thermally conductive foam material including, but not limited to, graphite foam or metal foam. | 08-09-2012 |
20130195708 | Metal-Bonded Graphite Foam Composites - A metal-bonded graphite foam composite includes a ductile metal continuous phase and a dispersed phase that includes graphite foam particles. | 08-01-2013 |
20140308594 | GRADIENT POROUS ELECTRODE ARCHITECTURES FOR RECHARGEABLE METAL-AIR BATTERIES - A cathode for a metal air battery includes a cathode structure having pores. The cathode structure has a metal side and an air side. The porosity decreases from the air side to the metal side. A metal air battery and a method of making a cathode for a metal air battery are also disclosed. | 10-16-2014 |