Honeywell International Inc.

Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Southwest Research Institute

Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated

Terrafore Technologies, LLC

Other

Gas Research Institute

Terrafore, Inc.

Anoop Kumar Mathur

Soumitri N Kolavennu

Tariq Samad

Ramakrishna S Budampati

Hai D Pham

Dharmashankar Subramanian

Sanjay Parthasarathy

James D Oxley

Wendy Foslien-Graber

Rajan Babu Kasetty

Wendy K Foslien

Jan Jelinek

Suresh Advani

Wendy Foslien Graber

Roderic C Don

David R Kaufman

Steven D Gabel

Vipin Gopal

Karl Steiner

Simon Bickerton

Ercument Murat Sozer

Jianliang Zhao

Donald Taracks

Ward J MacArthur

Donald H Spethman

Ravi S Gopinath

Donald C Turck

Seshan Srirangarajan

Robert K Aasen

A method of optimizing thermocline zone within a thermal storage system including a plurality of storage tanks fluidly coupled to one another m series, to effectively form a single tank having an equivalent height of the combined height of the plurality of storage tanks. The method including identifying a thermocline zone, computing an average temperature (Tave) of the thermocline zone, directing thermal storage fluid from a bottom of an initial storage tank through a heat source heat exchanger, and terminating fluid flow from the bottom of the initial storage tank and directing thermal storage fluid from a bottom of a first subsequent storage tank when a temperature of the thermal storage fluid exiting the bottom of the initial storage tank reaches Tave.

Thermocline thermal energy storage in multiple tanks

Methods of encapsulating a phase change material in a capsule including suspending a particle of the phase change material in an air stream, coating an entire surface of the suspended particle with at least one layer of a sacrificial compound, coating an entire surface of the layer of the sacrificial compound with at least one layer of a second material, and encapsulating the phase change material within a shell formed by the second material. The step of encapsulating comprising heating the particle coated with the sacrificial compound and the second material, thermally decomposing the sacrificial compound, and vaporizing the sacrificial, wherein the sacrificial compound has a decomposition temperature less than a phase change temperature of the phase change material and a phase change temperature of the second material.

Thermal energy storage system comprising encapsulated phase change material

The present disclosure relates to a method of encapsulating microcapsules containing relatively high temperature phase change materials and the microcapsules so produced. The microcapsules are coated with an inorganic binder, film former and an inorganic filler. The microcapsules may include a sacrificial layer that is disposed between the particle and the coating. The microcapsules may also include an inner coating layer, sacrificial layer and outer coating layer. The microcapsules are particularly useful for thermal energy storage in connection with, e.g., heat collected from concentrating solar collectors.

Encapsulation of high temperature molten salts

An apparatus includes an image recorder configured to record video images. The apparatus also includes a display screen configured to present the video images to a user and to create notations overlying one or more of the video images based on user input. The apparatus further includes a transceiver configured to stream the video images over a wireless mesh network and to transmit data associated with the notations over the wireless mesh network. The apparatus could also include components for providing cryptographic keys to wireless nodes joining the wireless mesh network, a sensor for detecting or measuring one or more characteristics, and/or an asset tracker for transmitting or receive signals for identifying a location of the apparatus. The apparatus could further include at least one voice unit supporting bidirectional voice communications and/or a site survey unit for identifying signal strengths associated with detected wireless nodes.

Personnel field device for process control and other systems and related method

Monitoring systems and methods for monitoring one or more parameters within process equipment are disclosed. A monitoring system for wirelessly monitoring the process equipment can include a number of wireless sensors disposed within a fluid or gas process stream for monitoring various aspects of the fluid or gas medium such as temperature or pressure. Each of the wireless sensors can include a transmitter that can be used to wirelessly transmit sensor signals to a receiver in communication with a central monitoring unit. The wireless sensors can be placed directly within the fluid or gas medium, allowing accurate measurements to be taken within the process stream.

Wireless monitoring in process applications

Methods for optimizing a thermocline in a thermal energy storage fluid within a thermal energy storage tank are disclosed. The methods comprise identifying a thermocline region in the fluid, adding thermal energy to a fluid stream extracted from the thermocline region, and returning the fluid stream to the tank at a plurality of locations above the thermocline region. The methods further comprise regulating the temperature of the fluid returned to the tank at a set point temperature by modulating the flow rate of the fluid stream and by changing the location from where the fluid is extracted from the tank.

Thermal energy storage system comprising optimal thermocline management

Different components in a wireless transceiver are powered using different power supplies. For example, one or more first tasks in the wireless transceiver can be powered with a Galvanic cell, and one or more second tasks in the wireless transceiver can be powered with a fuel cell. The one or more first tasks could represent higher-current or intermittent tasks, and the one or more second tasks could represent lower-current or continuous tasks. The one or more first tasks could include transmission of a radio frequency (RF) signal, which may involve RF signal modulation or RF signal amplification. The one or more second tasks could include RF signal tuning, RF signal reception, RF signal demodulation, analog-to-digital conversion, digital-to-analog conversion, digital signal processing, operation of a controller, illumination of a display, operation of an audio speaker, operation of a microphone, or operation of a keypad.

System and method for optimizing power supplies in a wireless transceiver

Wireless configuration tools for communicating with and configuring wireless device systems. An illustrative tool makes use of a software defined radio (SDR) to communicate in multiple formats, modes, or frequencies, with multiple wireless device systems that may otherwise be incompatible. In some embodiments, the tool determines what type and how many wireless systems are to be configured prior to configuration of any of the systems. The tool may then adjust how each system is configured to reduce intra-system as well as inter-system interference. Methods for performing such functions are also included.

Wireless application installation, configuration and management tool

A wireless communications system comprising a number of node devices and a base station, and having a routing calculator, wherein the system is operating with a first routing map, the routing calculator gathers data relating to communications between node devices and determines whether route improvement is indicated and, if so, the routing calculator generates an improved routing solution, and instructions are relayed via the first routing map to the node devices for implementing a new routing map generated from the optimized routing solution. Also, a method of operating a wireless communication system, including a base station and a number of node devices the method comprising determining whether system improvement is indicated, if so, generating an improved system configuration, distributing data related to the improved system configuration to the node devices, and replacing the current communication configuration with the improved system configuration.

Wireless routing implementation

Wireless communications methods and systems. Metrics for measuring performance of a wireless system are generated and compared to metrics generated with an idealized simulation of the system. If the actual system performance falls below a predetermined level, the system may be reconfigured to improve performance using a centralized or decentralized method for such configuration.

Wireless routing systems and methods

A control system and method for achieving economic operation of CHP systems. A plurality of factors, including power source prices and operational needs, are assessed using multiple strategies. The solutions achieved by each strategy are compared, and the best performing strategy is selected. The solution can then be implemented. The assessment of factors and strategies can be updated periodically. A further embodiment includes a method of designing a CHP system using similar methods applied to simulated or estimated future loads and costs.

Methods and apparatuses for control of building cooling, heating and power co-generation systems

The present invention pertains to the installation and positioning of the receivers of a wireless tracking system. In such a system, a wireless beaconing device transmits a signal that can be detected by a plurality of wireless receivers positioned at various known locations. Each wireless receiver records information derived from the signal from which it can make an estimate of the distance or relative position of the beaconing device. A controller correlates the information received from the multiple receivers and uses it to estimate the location of the individual. In such systems, the accuracy of the estimated position of the beaconing device depends on the accuracy to which the positions of the receivers are known. A technique is disclosed in which an installer carries a tracking device that can track the person's position and/or movements. The installer starts at a base location and resets the tracking device to cause the tracking device to record this position as the base position. The installer then walks to the location where the first receiving device will be installed while the tracking device tracks his or her movement or position. At the first installation location, the installer causes the tracking device to record this position as the position of the first receiver installed. The process is repeated for each receiver to be installed.

Method and apparatus for installing and/or determining the position of a receiver of a tracking system

A sensor placement algorithm uses process data to determine the optimal distribution of sensors in a distributed parameter manufacturing system. An automatic classification procedure maps any problems in the process to a predetermined set of process disturbances. A control procedure uses process data to determine the best control action that will ensure good system response. Methods for sensor placement, automatic decision tree classification, corrective action control and the apparatus to effectuate these respective methods are integrated into a design methodology.

Sensor placement and control design for distributed parameter systems

An novel recipe that embodies a higher level description than currently used in the industry is described. The novel recipe is referred to herein as an 'advanced recipe.' A traditional recipe consists of a general set of instructions called a 'recipe' which is used to make a product. An advanced recipe integrates the intent behind these set of instructions. A novel knowledge management system for capturing, integrating, and using broad knowledge is also described below. Some embodiments of the knowledge management system enable modification of recipes for maximizing the overall processing objectives. An example embodiment of the knowledge management system comprises a Knowledge Builder, a Structured Knowledge Repository, and a Decision Maker.

Growing community of inventors

Shoreview, MN, United States of America

Anoop Kumar Mathur