| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 060508000 | FLUID WITHIN EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER HEATED OR COOLED | 35 |
| 20080202114 | Micro Heat Engine And Method Of Manufacturing - The present invention relates generally to micro heat engines (MHEs) and methods of manufacture. More particularly, the present invention relates to an MHE including a substrate having a sealed microchannel for operatively containing a liquid droplet within the microchannel and a thermal bridge for providing a heat source or heat sink to the microchannel. The MHFE also includes a piezoelectric sensor responsive to a pressure change within the microchannel to induce voltage across the piezoelectric sensor and a power output. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20090107137 | Integral power element - A thermal actuator and component part wherein the guide tube of the thermal actuator is integral with the component part. The cup containing the thermally responsive wax is crimped over a flange on the end of the guide tube. An actuating piston is positioned in the guide tube. The component part has a portion having a larger external diameter than the external diameter of the cup. The thermal actuator and component part are assembled by enclosing a split die member about the component part and integral guide tube member, placing the split die member with the component part and tube member into a lower tool member and advancing an upper tool member containing the cup toward the die member to cause the wall of the cup member to be crimped around the flange. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20100050628 | HIGH EFFICIENCY POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT THERMODYNAMIC SYSTEM - Devices and methods for moving a working fluid through a controlled thermodynamic cycle in a positive displacement fluid-handling device ( | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100095667 | Rotary Steam Engine - A rotary steam engine of a simple constitution capable of efficiently obtaining mechanical energy not only from a heat source of a high temperature but also from various heat sources in a low-temperature state such as the exhaust heat of an internal combustion engine. The engine has a rotor | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100192565 | Rotary Energy Conversion Device With Reciprocating Pistons - A rotary heat engine has a cylindrical engine block containing a rotor with four equally spaced pistons and corresponding cylinders extending radially in the rotor. The pistons are pivotally connected to connecting rods that are in turn connected to a shaft at an inner end of each connecting rod. The engine block has a cover thereon and the block can have heating and cooling locations that create heating and cooling chambers within the rotor, thereby causing the pistons to reciprocate and causing the rotor to rotate within the engine block. The pistons reciprocate within the rotor while the rotor rotates within the engine block. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100275590 | THERMOHYDRAULIC METHOD FOR INCREASING THE PRESSURE OF DIVERSE WORKING FLUIDS AND APPLICATION THEREOF - A thermohydraulic pressure increase method and application thereof such as, required primarily in the field of energy management, in mechanical engineering, and in chemical plant engineering achieves volume change work by way of waste heat in a thermal process and applies the work to a hydraulic process, for example, in order to then drive presses or generators in stationary industrial systems. A hydraulic pump, which is driven by a motor disadvantageously requiring premiums forms of energy, such as electricity, diesel, or gasoline, is used conventionally to achieve the pressure increase. Some working fluids very drastically change the density thereof close to and above the critical point as the temperature rises, and transition into the gaseous state and under high pressure multiply the volume thereof if additional energy is supplied without density leaps at temperatures far below 100° C. If the substance-specific system pressure and the system temperature can be adjusted to a hydraulic process, the waste heat can be used for volume change work. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20130067905 | Heat Exchanger for Engine - A heat exchanger for an engine is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes a vortex tube and a gas return path. Expansion media tubes, which have a working fluid therein, are located between the vortex tube and the gas return path. Hot gases in the vortex tube, along with warm gases in the return path, heat the working fluid. In one embodiment, the working fluid, is delivered to a cylinder in which it expands, so as to move a piston. In one embodiment, the working fluid is fuel. In one embodiment, after the working fluid expands in the cylinder, it is recovered and burned in a combustion chamber, which is in, fluid communication with the vortex tube. In one embodiment, the working fluid is water. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130074488 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FOAM-BASED HEAT EXCHANGE DURING ENERGY STORAGE AND RECOVERY USING COMPRESSED GAS - In various embodiments, foam is compressed to store energy and/or expanded to recover energy. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130139500 | DEAD-VOLUME MANAGEMENT IN COMPRESSED-GAS ENERGY STORAGE AND RECOVERY SYSTEMS - In various embodiments, coupling losses between a cylinder assembly and other components of a gas compression and/or expansion system are reduced or eliminated via valve-timing control. | 06-06-2013 |
| 20130152576 | Closed Cycle System for Recovering Waste Heat - A closed cycle system for waste heat recovery is provided. The system comprises: a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from an external heat source to a working fluid; an expander fluidly connected to an outlet of the heat exchanger and configured to expand the working fluid and produce mechanical energy; a recuperator fluidly connected to an outlet of the expander and configured to remove heat from the working fluid; a condensing unit fluidly connected to an outlet of the recuperator and configured to condense the working fluid; and a pump fluidly connected to an outlet of the condensing unit and configured to pump the condensed working fluid back to the recuperator, wherein the recuperator is fluidly connected to the heat exchanger such that the working fluid follows a closed path. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20140007569 | ISOTHERMAL MACHINES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A compressor or expander has a variable-volume chamber with a heat exchanger located inside the chamber. The heat exchanger can have a helical structure and may be connected between walls of the chamber that move relative to one another during compression or expansion. The heat exchanger comprises a passage containing a heat exchange fluid. The heat exchange fluid may add heat to or remove heat from a gas being expanded or compressed. Embodiments may provide isothermal or near isothermal compression or expansion. | 01-09-2014 |
| 20140053544 | HEAT ENGINE SYSTEM FOR POWER AND HEAT PRODUCTION - A heat engine system comprises a first heat exchanger, an expander, a second heat exchanger and a valve assembly. The first heat exchanger is in fluid communication with a heat source for heating a working fluid therein. The expander is downstream the first heat exchanger and is in fluid communication therewith for receiving the heat working fluid. The second heat exchanger is downstream the expander and in fluid communication therewith for cooling down the working fluid received therefrom. The valve assembly is in fluid communication with the second heat exchanger and the expander for providing for selectively injecting the expander with cooled working fluid from the second heat exchanger. | 02-27-2014 |
| 20140130490 | DEAD-VOLUME MANAGEMENT IN COMPRESSED-GAS ENERGY STORAGE AND RECOVERY SYSTEMS - In various embodiments, coupling losses between a cylinder assembly and other components of a gas compression and/or expansion system are reduced or eliminated via valve-timing control. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140238011 | TWO-STAGE HYDRAULIC ENGINE - A two-stage thermal hydraulic engine utilizes the expansion and contraction of a working fluid to convert heat energy to mechanical or electrical energy. The transfer of heat to and from the working fluid occurs in at least two process heat exchangers and may be aided by thin twisted strips of a thermally conductive material that are in contact with the working fluid. The engine does not require the working fluid to undergo a phase change to operate. The subsequent expansion of the working fluid is used to drive pistons contained within at least two triplex hydraulic cylinders. The pistons may be alternately and sequentially driven to pump a fluid with a laminar flow and at a constant pressure. The cylinders may include a self-lubrication system. | 08-28-2014 |
| 20140290238 | THERMAL EXPANSION DRIVE DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS - Thermal expansion drive devices and related methods are provided herein. A thermal expansion drive device can include a driven shaft that is configured to rotate and multiple dual heat exchanger units centered around the driven shaft. The multiple dual heat exchanger units are configured to drive rotation of the driven shaft through the creation of a gravitational imbalance in the thermal expansion drive device as portions of the multiple dual heat exchanger units are heated and cooled. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140345269 | FLUID EXPANSION ENGINE - A hot fluid expansion engine has a plurality of actuator modules arranged in a star configuration around a central shaft. Each module includes a drive piston defining a working chamber of variable volume in the first enclosure; a movable displacement piston subdividing a second enclosure into a low temperature chamber of variable volume and a high temperature chamber of variable volume with the high temperature chamber communicating with a unit of a fluid heater device and the low temperature chamber communicating with the working chamber; and a fluid circulation circuit extending between the fluid heater device and the working chamber. The drive piston and the displacement piston of each actuator module are connected to the central shaft via respective first and second eccentric transmission devices suitable for imparting reciprocating motion in translation to each of the pistons with a phase lag of 90°. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20150059333 | ENERGY CONVERSION AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUS - Methods and apparatus ( | 03-05-2015 |
| 20160010587 | DRIVE DEVICE | 01-14-2016 |
| 060509000 | Special motive fluid | 4 |
| 20110113772 | Plasmic transition process motor - An internal expansion engine having a housing. Secured to the housing is a cylinder defining an expansion chamber. A piston is provided within the cylinder defining a wall of the expansion chamber. A charge of noble gas is provided within the expansion chamber. A magnetic field generator and fadio frequency power generator is provided around the expansion chamber and an initiator system is located within the expansion chamber. The magnetic field generator, radio frequency power generator and initiator system coact to cause the noble gas to expand, pushing against the piston and generating work. The actions of the engine are monitored and controlled by an intelligent electronic control system that provides all switching needed to operate the engine and communicate with outside elements providing external control of information sources. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20130025272 | SYSTEM USING UNUTILIZED HEAT FOR COOLING AND/OR POWER GENERATION - A process for generating refrigeration, electricity or work utilizing a sorption system is disclosed. The sorption system includes a sorbent material and a fluid, in which the sorbent material and fluid in combination have a pressure index of at least 1.2. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130167524 | PLASMIC TRANSITION PROCESS MOTOR - An internal expansion engine having a housing. Secured to the housing is a cylinder defining an expansion chamber. A piston is provided within the cylinder defining a wall of the expansion chamber. A charge of noble gas is provided within the expansion chamber. A magnetic field generator and radio frequency power generator is provided around the expansion chamber and an initiator system is located within the expansion chamber. The magnetic field generator, radio frequency power generator and initiator system coact to cause the noble gas to expand, pushing against the piston and generating work. The actions of the engine are monitored and controlled by an intelligent electronic control system that provides all switching needed to operate the engine and communicate with outside elements providing external control of information sources. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130333373 | COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM UTILIZING TWO-PHASE FLOW TO FACILITATE HEAT EXCHANGE - A compressed-air energy storage system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a reversible mechanism to compress and expand air, one or more compressed air storage tanks, a control system, one or more heat exchangers, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, a motor-generator. The reversible air compressor-expander uses mechanical power to compress air (when it is acting as a compressor) and converts the energy stored in compressed air to mechanical power (when it is acting as an expander). In certain embodiments, the compressor-expander comprises one or more stages, each stage consisting of pressure vessel (the “pressure cell”) partially filled with water or other liquid. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices to exchange air and liquid with the cylinder chamber(s) thereof. Suitable valving allows air to enter and leave the pressure cell and cylinder device, if present, under electronic control. | 12-19-2013 |
| 060511000 | Fluid mingling (e.g., condensation) | 1 |
| 20110000205 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONVERTING THERMAL ENERGY INTO MECHANICAL ENERGY - When converting thermal into mechanical energy by a working medium containing a mixture of at least two materials having different boiling and condensation points, which is fed to a condenser, and is condensed therein, the condenser condensation pressure may increase and the efficiency for generating the mechanical energy thus decreases because the mixture of materials is separated into a liquid phase and a vapor phase upstream of the condenser. To prevent this, the liquid phase of the working medium is mixed with the vapor phase of the working medium before or while the working medium is condensed, thus once again creating a homogeneous mixture of materials which condenses at a lower pressure than the separated working medium, thereby preventing loss of efficiency. This can be applied to the use of thermal energy from low-temperature sources such as geothermal fluids, industrial waste heat, or waste heat from internal combustion engines. | 01-06-2011 |
| 060512000 | Having means within the working chamber to effect the pressure of fluid therein | 8 |
| 20080250784 | MULTI-PIECE PISTON FOR A FREE PISTON MACHINE - The concentricity and coaxiality of a central bore through a piston for a free piston Stirling machine is improved with a piston that has a sleeve with a core constructed from at least two, separate, axially-engaging core components sealed within the sleeve. During fabrication, a central bore is machined through each of the core components. The piston is assembled by heating the sleeve and cooling the core components, inserting the core components into the sleeve and then allowing the sleeve to cool and the core components to warm. This drives the core components into sealed engagement with each other and with the sleeve and aligns the central bore coaxially with the outer cylindrical surface of the sleeve. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20090100832 | Piston Steam Engine With Internal Flash Vaporization Of A Work Medium - The invention relates to a piston steam engine having flash vapourisation. Said inventive piston steam engine can be operated with various working mediums and at different temperatures. The liquid working medium is successively injected into individual prechambers of the vapour machine cylinder. The inlet temperature of said working medium is adapted to the expansion step in the working cycle of the machine in relation to the respective point in time of injection | 04-23-2009 |
| 20110258999 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR OPTIMIZING HEAT TRANSFER WITHIN A COMPRESSION AND/OR EXPANSION DEVICE - Systems, methods and devices for optimizing heat transfer within a device or system used to compress and/or expand a gas, such as air, are described herein. For example, systems, methods and devices for optimizing the heat transfer within an air compression and expansion energy storage system are described herein. A compressor and/or expander device can include one or more of various embodiments of a heat transfer element that can be disposed within an interior of a cylinder or pressure vessel used in the compression and/or expansion of a gas, such as air. Such devices can include hydraulic and/or pneumatic actuators to move a fluid (e.g., liquid or gas) within the cylinder or pressure vessel. The heat transfer element can be used to remove heat energy generated during a compression and/or expansion process. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20120297761 | Method of conversion of heat into fluid power and device for its implementation - Method of conversion of heat into fluid power includes pumping of the working liquid into a hydropneumatic accumulator with gas compression, subsequent gas expansion with displacement of the working liquid from the other accumulator as well as supply of heat to the gas by transferring the gas through the hotter heat exchanger and removal of heat from the gas by transferring the gas through another, colder heat exchanger performed so that the average temperature of the gas during expansion is higher than that during compression, wherein the gas is transferred between different accumulators through said heat exchangers. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20130098027 | COMPRESSED GAS ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM - Embodiments relate generally to energy storage systems, and in particular to energy storage systems using compressed gas as an energy storage medium. In various embodiments, a compressed gas storage system may include a plurality of stages to convert energy into compressed gas for storage, and then to recover that stored energy by gas expansion. In certain embodiments, a stage may comprise a reversible compressor/expander having a reciprocating piston. Pump designs for introducing liquid for heat exchange with the gas, are described. Gas flow valves featuring shroud and/or curtain portions, are also described. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20140109566 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR OPTIMIZING HEAT TRANSFER WITHIN A COMPRESSION AND/OR EXPANSION DEVICE - Systems, methods and devices for optimizing heat transfer within a device or system used to compress and/or expand a gas, such as air, are described herein. For example, systems, methods and devices for optimizing the heat transfer within an air compression and expansion energy storage system are described herein. A compressor and/or expander device can include one or more of various embodiments of a heat transfer element that can be disposed within an interior of a cylinder or pressure vessel used in the compression and/or expansion of a gas, such as air. Such devices can include hydraulic and/or pneumatic actuators to move a fluid (e.g., liquid or gas) within the cylinder or pressure vessel. The heat transfer element can be used to remove heat energy generated during a compression and/or expansion process. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140250880 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF HEAT REMOVAL WITHIN A COMPRESSION AND/OR EXPANSION DEVICE OR SYSTEM - Systems, methods and devices for optimizing heat transfer within a device or system used to compress and/or expand a gas, such as air, are described herein. In some embodiments, a compressed air device and/or system can include an actuator such as a hydraulic actuator that can be used to compress a gas within a pressure vessel. An actuator can be actuated to move a liquid into a pressure vessel such that the liquid compresses gas within the pressure vessel. In such a compressor/expander device or system, during the compression and/or expansion process, heat can be transferred to the liquid used to compress the air. The compressor/expander device or system can include a liquid purge system that can be used to remove at least a portion of the liquid to which the heat energy has been transferred such that the liquid can be cooled and then recycled within the system. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20150052886 | NANOFUEL ENGINE APPARATUS AND NANOFUEL - A nanofuel engine including receiving nanofuel (including moderator, nanoscale molecular dimensions & molecular mixture) internally in an internal combustion engine that releases nuclear energy, is set forth. A nanofuel chemical composition of fissile fuel, passive agent, and moderator. A method of obtaining transuranic elements for nanofuel including: receiving spent nuclear fuel (SNF); separating elements from SNF, including a stream of elements with Z>92, fissile fuel, passive agent, fertile fuel, or fission products; and providing elements. A method of using transuranic elements to create nanofuel, including: receiving, converting, and mixing the transuranic elements with a moderator to obtain nanofuel. A method of operating a nanofuel engine loaded with nanofuel in spark or compression ignition mode. A method of cycling a nanofuel engine, including compressing nanofuel; igniting nanofuel; capturing energy released in nanofuel, which is also the working fluid; and using the working fluid to perform mechanical work or generate heat. | 02-26-2015 |
| 060514000 | Concurrent fluid supply and vaporization | 2 |
| 20090173069 | Water Explosion Engine, Method, and Device - The invention relates to a method for producing superheated steam in an engine in which highly compressed water is injected into a very hot medium located in the engine, resulting in explosion-like evaporation. Said process is to take place in a specially developed rotational-translational engine in order to utilize a maximum of the thrust of the steam. The engine is to comprise at least two cylinders which have a circular cross-sectional shape ( | 07-09-2009 |
| 20130152577 | COMPRESSION VAPOR ENGINE - A compression vapor engine which, being at its core a cylinder and piston, the latter attached to a rotary wheel, moves the piston to compress air, thereby heating it; introduces water to the compressed air, converting it from liquid to vapor, water to steam; and uses the expanding steam to move the piston reciprocally: all organized as a reciprocal cylinder-piston engine creating continuing rotary movement which can be made to do work. | 06-20-2013 |
| 060515000 | Having control means for heating or cooling means | 2 |
| 20100058755 | Closed loop scroll expander engine - An engine comprising a closed circulating system containing a working fluid, the system comprising; means to raise the pressure of said working fluid from a low cycle pressure to a high cycle pressure by use of at least one variable displacement pump; means to add heat to said fluid substantially at said high cycle pressure to raise it to its high cycle temperature substantially above its critical temperature; means to expand said fluid by use of at least one scroll expander to do useful work; means to cool said fluid substantially at said low cycle pressure to a low cycle temperature by a regenerator and a condenser; and means to power said at least one variable displacement pump from said at least one scroll expander. With the working fluid in the closed circulating system able to have temperatures and entropies associated with a Rankine, Brayton, or supercritical cycle. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of scroll expanders is used to obtain a low weight, small package device that is capable of producing a variety of power outputs. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20110167813 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENERGY STORAGE AND RECOVERY USING RAPID ISOTHERMAL GAS EXPANSION AND COMPRESSION - The invention relates to systems and methods for rapidly and isothermally expanding and compressing gas in energy storage and recovery systems that use open-air hydraulic-pneumatic cylinder assemblies, such as an accumulator and an intensifier in communication with a high-pressure gas storage reservoir on a gas-side of the circuits and a combination fluid motor/pump, coupled to a combination electric generator/motor on the fluid side of the circuits. The systems use heat transfer subsystems in communication with at least one of the cylinder assemblies or reservoir to thermally condition the gas being expanded or compressed. | 07-14-2011 |
