Awarded Patents
Publication number: 20230346997
Abstract: A cold plasma hand/object sanitizer to safely and effectively deliver plasma vapor for a variety of applications, including the sanitation of hands and objects. The device uses can be powered directly from any standard plug or can be battery-powered for portable applications. Low-cost and proven electronics can provide all device functions. The feeding gas is ambient air from the local environment but can also include seed gases if desired. The liquid used by the device can be water from any source but alternative liquids and additives can be used as desired. The use of room temperature plasma vapor technology could revolutionize surface and hand/object sanitation and could also be considered for the many promising applications for cold atmospheric plasmas.
Type: Application
Filed: July 22, 2021
Publication date: November 2, 2023
Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Inventors: Richard E. Wirz, Zhitong Chen
TRANSDERMAL COLD ATMOSPHERIC PLASMA-MEDIATED IMMUNE CHECKPOINT BLOCKADE THERAPY
Publication number: 20230010556
Abstract: A cold atmospheric plasma (CAP)-mediated ICB therapy/delivery device are disclosed herein that employs a patch having microneedles that are used to deliver the CAP transdermally along with an immune checkpoint inhibitor for enhancing transdermal treatment efficacy. The hollow-structured microneedle patch can facilitate the transportation of CAP through the skin, causing tumor cell death. The release of cancer antigens then promotes the maturation of dendritic cells in the tumor-draining lymph nodes, subsequently initiating the T cell-mediated immune response. Anti-PDL1 antibody (aPDL1), an immune checkpoint inhibitor (or other immune checkpoint inhibitors), released from the microneedle patch (in some embodiments) further augments the anti-tumor immunity. The transdermal combinational CAP and ICB therapy inhibits tumor growth for both primary tumors as well as distant tumors, with prolonged survival in the tumor-bearing mice. Such results should translate to other species.
Type: Application
Filed: December 10, 2020
Publication date: January 12, 2023
Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Inventors: Zhen Gu, Richard E. Wirz, Guojun Chen, Zhitong Chen
Patent number: 10935327
Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) component includes a shell having first and second ports, and at least a first set of thermally conductive sealed containers that contain a TES media for storing thermal energy. A first set of sealed tubes containing a first TES media are in a first section of the shell, and a second set of sealed tubes containing a different TES media are in a second section of the shell. Electric heating elements are immersed in at least some of the tubes, and may extend only from one end of the tube. In some embodiments more than one heating element is immersed in the TES media and positioned to enhance convective flow. In some embodiments electric heating elements are disposed externally on the sealed tubes. Some tubes are tapered or frustoconical, with heating elements provided in a larger-diameter portion of the tubes.
Type: Grant
Filed: February 28, 2017
Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
Inventors: Richard E. Wirz, Amey Barde, Karthik Nithyanandam
Modular thermal energy storage system
Patent number: 10859324
Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) system includes a plurality of closely packed TES modules, each TES module having a shell enclosing a plurality of sealed tubes that each contain a TES media. A computer-controlled flow control system includes a flow distributor, for example a flow distributor having a plenum configured to receive a heat transfer fluid (HTF), and a plurality of control valves controlled by the computer to controllably distribute the HTF from the plenum to the plurality of TES modules. Sensor data from the TES modules, for example temperature, pressure, and/or flow data, is provided to the computer. In some embodiments the plenum includes two or more compartments with separate HTF flow ports, which may be provided to the controller at different temperatures.
Type: Grant
Filed: February 28, 2017
Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
Inventors: Richard E. Wirz, Parker A. Wells
HIGH-EFFICIENCY ION DISCHARGE METHOD AND APPARATUS
Publication number: 20200072200
Abstract: An ion beam generator includes a discharge chamber with a backplate and tubular sidewalk A source of propellant, for example, Xenon gas is provided to the discharge chamber. First and second annular magnets are disposed on or near the backplate, and configured with alternating polarities such that a pair of ring-cusps form on the backplate, without any magnetic ring-cusp formation on the sidewalk A cathode assembly extends into the discharge chamber to provide primary electrons to ionize the propellant.
Type: Application
Filed: December 14, 2017
Publication date: March 5, 2020
Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Inventors: Richard E. Wirz, Ben Dankongkakul
Publication number: 20190072339
Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) component includes a shell having first and second ports, and at least a first set of thermally conductive sealed containers that contain a TES media for storing thermal energy. A first set of sealed tubes containing a first TES media are in a first section of the shell, and a second set of sealed tubes containing a different TES media are in a second section of the shell. Electric heating elements are immersed in at least some of the tubes, and may extend only from one end of the tube. In some embodiments more than one heating element is immersed in the TES media and positioned to enhance convective flow. In some embodiments electric heating elements are disposed externally on the sealed tubes. Some tubes are tapered or frustoconical, with heating elements provided in a larger-diameter portion of the tubes.
Type: Application
Filed: February 28, 2017
Publication date: March 7, 2019
Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Inventors: Richard E. Wirz, Amey Barde, Karthik Nithyanandam
MODULAR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM
Publication number: 20190072338
Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) system includes a plurality of closely packed TES modules, each TES module having a shell enclosing a plurality of sealed tubes that each contain a TES media. A computer-controlled flow control system includes a flow distributor, for example a flow distributor having a plenum configured to receive a heat transfer fluid (HTF), and a plurality of control valves controlled by the computer to controllably distribute the HTF from the plenum to the plurality of TES modules. Sensor data from the TES modules, for example temperature, pressure, and/or flow data, is provided to the computer. In some embodiments the plenum includes two or more compartments with separate HTF flow ports, which may be provided to the controller at different temperatures.
Type: Application
Filed: February 28, 2017
Publication date: March 7, 2019
Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Inventors: Richard E. Wirz, Parker A. Wells
Wind turbine blade with biplane section
Patent number: 9739259
Abstract: A hybrid turbine blade having a box beam assembly structure and method of designing such a hybrid turbine blade are disclosed. The box beam assembly provides the primary structure for supporting loads on the blade, and comprises oppositely positioned spar caps joined by oppositely positioned shear webs. For a portion of the blade, the box beam assembly further comprises a root buildup. In one embodiment, the shear webs comprise foam core sandwiched between two biaxial fiber-reinforced plastic laminates (FRP), the spar caps comprise uniaxial FRP laminates, and the root buildup comprises triaxial FRP laminates. The blades are designed using a novel inside-out method, wherein the box beam is first designed to support expected loads, and an aerodynamic surface is then designed to be supported by the box beam. The blade may be constructed in segments that are joined with connectors that engage the box beam structure.
Type: Grant
Filed: June 4, 2014
Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
Inventors: Perry M. Roth-Johnson, Richard E. Wirz
Patent number: 9228564
Abstract: An integrated wind turbine. Each turbine blade has a flexible skin. Openings in the leading edge lead to one or more inflation chambers for ram air inflation during operation. A pivotal connection with the support post allows the plurality of turbine blades to yaw such that the rotor plane remains substantially perpendicular to the wind direction. The wind turbine may also include self-deploying drag vanes that extend away from the flexible skin when the wind speed is greater than the speed of the airfoil.
Type: Grant
Filed: February 25, 2011
Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
Inventors: Richard E. Wirz, Sebastian Aspe
MAGNETICALLY SHIELDED MINIATURE HALL THRUSTER
Publication number: 20150128560
Abstract: Magnetically shielded miniature Hall thrusters are disclosed that use a unique magnetic field topology that prevents the magnetic field lines from intersecting the discharge channel walls in the acceleration region of the thruster. Instead, the lines of force originating from both the inner and outer pole pieces curve around the downstream edges of the discharge channel and follow the channel walls towards the anode. This unique field topology results in low electron temperature at the discharge channel walls while eliminating strong electric field components that would otherwise lead to high erosion rates and power deposition from ion acceleration into the channel walls.
Type: Application
Filed: October 4, 2014
Publication date: May 14, 2015
Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Inventors: Ryan W. Conversano, Dan M. Goebel, Richard E. Wirz
HIGH-DENSITY, HIGH-TEMPERATURE THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
Publication number: 20150060008
Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) system that uses an elemental material (e.g., elemental sulfur) as an energy storage material is disclosed. The energy storage material is separately stored from a heat transfer fluid. For example, the energy storage material can be sealed within one or more corrosion-resistant containers that are further contained within an outer shell. A heat transfer fluid flows through the shell via an inlet and an outlet, over and around the containers. A TES system may include an energy source that receives thermal energy intermittently, and a steam generator.
Type: Application
Filed: September 2, 2014
Publication date: March 5, 2015
Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Inventors: Richard E. Wirz, Antoine Philippe Pierre Stopin, Louis A. Tse, Adrienne G. Lavine, Hossein Pirouz Kavehpour, Reza Baghaei Lakeh, Benjamin I. Furst, Gabriela Bran, Miguel A. Garcia-Garibay
WIND TURBINE BLADE WITH BIPLANE SECTION
Publication number: 20140363303
Abstract: A hybrid turbine blade having a box beam assembly structure and method of designing such a hybrid turbine blade are disclosed. The box beam assembly provides the primary structure for supporting loads on the blade, and comprises oppositely positioned spar caps joined by oppositely positioned shear webs. For a portion of the blade, the box beam assembly further comprises a root buildup. In one embodiment, the shear webs comprise foam core sandwiched between two biaxial fiber-reinforced plastic laminates (FRP), the spar caps comprise uniaxial FRP laminates, and the root buildup comprises triaxial FRP laminates. The blades are designed using a novel inside-out method, wherein the box beam is first designed to support expected loads, and an aerodynamic surface is then designed to be supported by the box beam. The blade may be constructed in segments that are joined with connectors that engage the box beam structure.
Type: Application
Filed: June 4, 2014
Publication date: December 11, 2014
Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Inventors: Perry M. Roth-Johnson, Richard E. Wirz
ADVANCED AERODYNAMIC AND STRUCTURAL BLADE AND WING DESIGN
Publication number: 20130236327
Abstract: An airfoil having an inboard blade section (106) and an outboard blade section (108). The inboard blade section (106) has a mid-blade end (114), and the inboard blade section (106) includes a biplane wing (116). The multiplane wing (116) has a first blade (118) and a second blade (120). The first blade (118) has a first airfoil cross-section (122), and the second blade (120) has a second airfoil cross-section (132). The first blade (118) is generally parallel to the second blade (120). The outboard blade section (108) has a mid-blade end (148), and the outboard blade section (108) includes a monoplane wing (156) with a third airfoil cross-section (158). The mid-blade end (148) of the outboard blade section (108) is joined to the mid-blade end (114) of the inboard blade section (106).
Type: Application
Filed: February 25, 2011
Publication date: September 12, 2013
Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Inventor: Richard E. Wirz
Publication number: 20120328434
Abstract: An integrated wind turbine. Each turbine blade has a flexible skin. Openings in the leading edge lead to one or more inflation chambers for ram air inflation during operation. A pivotal connection with the support post allows the plurality of turbine blades to yaw such that the rotor plane remains substantially perpendicular to the wind direction. The wind turbine may also include self-deploying drag vanes that extend away from the flexible skin when the wind speed is greater than the speed of the airfoil.
Type: Application
Filed: February 25, 2011
Publication date: December 27, 2012
Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Inventors: Richard E. Wirz, Sebastian Aspe
Accelerator system and method of accelerating particles
Patent number: 7773362
Abstract: An accelerator system and method that utilize dust as the primary mass flux for generating thrust are provided. The accelerator system can include an accelerator capable of operating in a self-neutralizing mode and having a discharge chamber and at least one ionizer capable of charging dust particles. The system can also include a dust particle feeder that is capable of introducing the dust particles into the accelerator. By applying a pulsed positive and negative charge voltage to the accelerator, the charged dust particles can be accelerated thereby generating thrust and neutralizing the accelerator system.
Type: Grant
Filed: March 7, 2007
Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Inventor: Richard E. Wirz