IP Library Granted Patent US 10,876,797
Granted Patent B2
US 10,876,797 · App. 16/377,963 · Granted Dec 29, 2020

Heat transfer system

Inventors: Ivan Townsend (Kennedy Space Center, FL); Philip Metzger (Kennedy Space Center, FL); Robert Mueller (Kennedy Space Center, FL); Jason Menzies (Kennedy Space Center, FL); James Mantovani (Kennedy Space Center, FL)
Assignee: Craig Technical Consulting, Inc.
F28D15/00F28F23/00F28D2021/0021
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,876,797
App. No.
16/377,963
Granted
Dec 29, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for heat transfer including a compressor, a regolith inlet, a first storage hopper, and a load. The compressor is in fluid communication with a closed loop system. The regolith inlet is in fluid communication with the closed loop system. The first storage hopper is adapted to carry an amount of regolith and is in fluid communication with the regolith inlet. The load is in fluid communication with the closed loop system between a compressor inlet a compressor outlet.

Claims (54)

1. A system for heat transfer comprising:

a compressor in fluid communication with a closed loop system;

a regolith inlet in fluid communication with the closed loop system;

a first storage hopper adapted to carry an amount of regolith and in fluid communication with the regolith inlet; and

a load in fluid communication with the closed loop system between a compressor inlet a compressor outlet.

2. The system for heat transfer according to claim 1 further comprising:

a cyclonic separator in fluid communication with the closed loop system between an outlet of the load and the compressor inlet.

3. The system for heat transfer according to claim 2 wherein the first storage hopper is in fluid communication with an outlet of the cyclonic separator.

4. The system for heat transfer according to claim 2 further comprising:

an energy harvest system in fluid communication with an outlet of the cyclonic separator.

5. The system for heat transfer according to claim 4 wherein the energy harvest system comprises:

a second storage hopper in direct fluid communication with the outlet of the cyclonic separator.

6. The system for heat transfer according to claim 5 , wherein the second storage hopper is insulated.

7. The system for heat transfer according to claim 5 wherein the energy harvest system comprises:

a valve in direct fluid communication with an outlet of the second storage hopper.

8. The system for heat transfer according to claim 4 wherein the energy harvest system comprises:

an energy transfer device adapted to convert a heat energy of the amount of regolith to another form of energy.

9. The system for heat transfer according to claim 4 wherein the energy harvest system comprises:

a helical tube coil.

10. The system for heat transfer according to claim 1 further comprising:

a fine particle filter in fluid communication with the closed loop system.

11. The system for heat transfer according to claim 1 further comprising:

a seven-pass tube bank in fluid communication with the closed loop system.

12. The system for heat transfer according to claim 11 wherein the seven-pass tube bank is located within the load.

13. The system for heat transfer according to claim 1 wherein the regolith inlet comprises a venturi eductor.

14. The system for heat transfer according to claim 1 wherein the regolith inlet comprises a volumetric feeder.

15. A system for heat transfer comprising:

a compressor in fluid communication with a closed loop system;

a regolith inlet in fluid communication with the closed loop system;

a first storage hopper adapted to carry an amount of regolith and in fluid communication with the regolith inlet;

a load in fluid communication with the closed loop system between a compressor inlet a compressor outlet;

a cyclonic separator in fluid communication with the closed loop system between an outlet of the load and the compressor inlet; and

an energy harvest system in fluid communication with an outlet of the cyclonic separator.

16. The system for heat transfer according to claim 15 wherein the first storage hopper is in fluid communication with an outlet of the cyclonic separator.

17. The system for heat transfer according to claim 15 wherein the energy harvest system comprises:

a second storage hopper in direct fluid communication with the outlet of the cyclonic separator;

a valve in direct fluid communication with an outlet of the second storage hopper; and

an energy transfer device adapted to convert a heat energy of the amount of regolith to another form of energy.

18. The system for heat transfer according to claim 17 wherein the second storage hopper is insulated.

19. The system for heat transfer according to claim 15 further comprising:

a seven-pass tube bank in fluid communication with the closed loop system.

20. A system for heat transfer comprising:

a compressor in fluid communication with a closed loop system;

a regolith inlet in fluid communication with the closed loop system;

a load in fluid communication with the closed loop system between a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet;

a cyclonic separator in fluid communication with the closed bop system between an outlet of the load and the compressor inlet;

a first storage hopper adapted to carry an amount of regolith and in fluid communication with the regolith inlet and an outlet of the cyclonic separator;

an energy harvest system in fluid communication with an outlet of the cyclonic separator, wherein the energy harvest system comprises:

an insulated storage hopper in direct fluid communication with the outlet of the cyclonic separator,

a valve in direct fluid communication with an outlet of the insulated storage hopper,

an energy transfer device adapted to convert a heat energy of the amount of regolith to another form of energy, and

a helical tube coil;

a fine particle filter in fluid communication with the closed loop system; and

a seven-pass tube bank in fluid communication with the closed loop system and located within the load.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 4, 2021
From: CRAIG TECHNOLOGIES AEROSPACE SOLUTIONS, INC. D/B/A/ SIDUS SPACE
To: SIDUS SPACE, INC.
Reel/Frame 057684/0947 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 19, 2021
From: CRAIG TECHNOLOGIES AEROSPACE SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: CRAIG TECHNOLOGIES AEROSPACE SOLUTIONS, INC. D/B/A/ SIDUS SPACE
Reel/Frame 056908/0918 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2021
From: CRAIG TECHNICAL CONSULTING, INC.
To: CRAIG TECHNOLOGIES AEROSPACE SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 055662/0874 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2020
From: TOWNSEND, IVAN
To: CRAIG TECHNICAL CONSULTING, INC.
Reel/Frame 054408/0297 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62654959 · Apr 9, 2018
Related Publication 20190310024A1 · Oct 10, 2019