Wts LLC

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Windstrip LLC

Lema, Inc.

Plourde, Douglas

Abraham, John

Pakonen, Richard

Plourde, Brian

Naughton, Noel

Gikling, Andy

John Abraham

Brian Plourde

Richard Pakonen

Douglas R Plourde

Robert J Monson

Andy Gikling

Andrew Gikling

Joseph V Crimando

Joel E Farley

Matthew F Linder

Joel T Seipel

Noel Naughton

Douglas Plourde

A fluid-based system for use in heating and/or cooling. In particular, the system may have a fluid heating device, which may be a solar fluid heating device, configured to heat a fluid. Heat from the heated fluid may be transferred to one or more cooling subsystems or heating subsystems. A cooling subsystem may be an absorption cooling subsystem, for example, wherein heat may cause phase change of a refrigerant. A heating subsystem may include a storage tank through which heated fluid may be circulated to heat the storage tank. A system of the present disclosure may include multiple cooling and/or heating subsystems for cooling and or heating a variety of different environments, objects, or materials.

Solar heating for refrigeration and fluid heating devices

A fluid heating system may include a solar collection system configured for focusing sunlight on a focal axis, an elongated flow element arranged and configured for transporting fluid along the solar collection system at the focal axis, and a flow-control assembly comprising thermostatic valves configured to control the flow of the fluid in the elongated flow element such that pathogens present in the fluid are substantially inactivated before the fluid exits the fluid heating system. A method of operating a fluid heating system wherein the fluid heating system comprises a parabolic solar collector and a support structure may also be provided.

Fluid heating system

A digital fluid heating system may include a solar collection system configured for focusing sunlight on a focal axis, an elongated flow element arranged and configured for transporting fluid along the solar collection system at the focal axis, and a flow-control assembly comprising a digitally controlled valve configured to control the flow of the fluid in the elongated flow element such that pathogens present in the fluid are substantially inactivated before the fluid exits the fluid heating system and at a maximized flow rate under the given energy providing conditions. The system may also include one or more digital controls and communication systems for remote and/or automatic control.

Digital fluid heating system

A method of determining pathogen inactivation may include performing an energy balance on a fluid heating system. Performing an energy balance may include calculating temperatures of a fluid at a plurality of locations as the fluid flows through the fluid heating system. The method of determining pathogen inactivation may also include receiving inactivation kinetic data regarding a pathogen present in the fluid and determining pathogen inactivation amounts based on exposure to the temperatures. Performing an energy balance may include receiving a plurality of input parameters relating to the fluid heating system. The plurality of input parameters may relate to a solar collection system and an associated fluid control system. The solar collection system may include a parabolic mirror and the fluid control system may include an elongated flow element arranged along a focal axis of the parabolic mirror.

Method of calculating pathogen inactivation for a fluid heating system

The disclosure relates to a tracking device configured to track an object in space, such as the sun, as the object moves across the sky. The tracking device may further be configured to direct a payload toward the object or toward an angle relative to the object. The tracking device may continuously or intermittently determine the location of the moving object, and adjust the position of the payload accordingly. The tracking device may calculate the position of the moving object based on GPS information, such as triangulated coordinates of the tracking device, date, and time. Generally, the tracking device may be capable of tracking an object such as the sun from anywhere on the earth's surface. The tracking device may employ one or more actuation assemblies to position the payload toward or relative to the moving object. The one or more actuation assemblies may operate through linear motion.

Dual axis tracking method

A control valve assembly may include a housing, an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of thermostatic control valves biased toward a closed position and arranged within the housing between the inlet and the outlet. The thermostatic control valves may each be associated with separate respective flow paths between the inlet and the outlet and have different operating temperatures. The valves may be configured to open at their respective operating temperatures and remain open unless the fluid falls below their respective operating temperature such that when multiple thermostatic control valves are open the amount of fluid flowing through the control valve is equal to the addition of the amount of fluid flowing through each valve. The operating temperatures and the flow rates of the thermostatic control valves may be selected to limit the passage of pathogens through the control valve assembly. A degassing valve may also be provided.

Control valve assembly for a fluid heating system

Dual axis tracking device

One embodiment of a rotor blade for a vertical axis wind turbine comprises a central portion having a central axis and at least two blade members. The blade members each have a proximal end attached to the central portion, a high drag side and a low drag side that is opposite the high drag side. Each of the blade members also includes an uncovered vent comprising an opening through the blade member that provides an unobstructed path for airflow through the blade member. In one embodiment, a pair of fins are positioned adjacent the opening of the vent and extend from the high drag side of the blade member.

Rotor blade for vertical axis wind turbine

This disclosure relates to a device and system capable of producing electricity by using a temperature gradient and a dual-phase fluid to convert thermal energy into electrical energy. The system relies on a sealed enclosed volume that utilizes a thermal gradient to vaporize and condense a dual-phase fluid. The cycle of the fluid transforming between the two phases is used to turn a turbine to create electricity. The thermal gradient can be enhanced using energy input from the sun.

Dual-phase thermal electricity generator

The present disclosure includes various apparatus, system, and method embodiments for vehicle energy absorption. One embodiment includes an inflatable structure for impact of a vehicle thereon and one or more cords coupled to one or more deflation vents on the inflatable structure, where at least one of the one or more cords is an activation mechanism to activate the deflation vent upon impact of the vehicle.

Vehicle energy absorption

A variable orifice valve provides a changing orifice dimension based solely upon the temperature or other property of the fluidic medium, such as flow-rate of the fluidic medium passing through the valve, and is actuated via a thermally active wire or flow-rate activated spring, for example, immersed in the fluidic medium.

Growing community of inventors

Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

John Abraham