Calnetix patents to find marine applications

The company, which recently outlined details of a waste heat recovery system developed with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has received patents for a bi-directional pumping and energy recovery device; a flywheel and battery-based power supply system; and a common monitoring and/or control system for a flywheel and battery-based power supply system.

The bi-directional pressure let-down and pumping device patent is held by vice president of business development Herman Artinian and director of business development and special programmes Venkateshwaran Krishnan. The device, according to Krishnan, provides “an integral solution using key components of Calnetix core technology to create a plug-and-play device for fluid control in processes, buildings and production facilities”.

“The self-contained cooling system provides for the machine’s operation independent of any auxiliaries. This can change the way liquid expansion and pumping is applied across industries,” Krishnan added.

The flywheel and battery-based power supply system uses an environmentally friendly flywheel system and chemical batteries to provide a medium-term energy storage solution for applications requiring back-up times of less than five minutes.

Co-holder of the patent, director of customer service Oliver Ulibas noted: “The system is designed to provide enough run-time to cover medium-term back-up power, such as starting multiple gensets during a power disturbance. The flywheel initially provides the power then seamlessly transitions to the batteries, eliminating reliance on large 15-30 minute chemical battery banks.”

The common flywheel/battery monitoring and control stem uses a single controller to monitor the flywheel system and the battery system as an integrated solution. It provides a single interface to determine status of both the flywheel and battery systems, noted holder of the patent and director of engineering Octavio Solis.

Calnetix now holds a total of 33 US patents. CEO and co-founder Vatche Artinian said: “Innovation and new technology development are the heart and soul of our company. Our talented and creative engineers are continually stretching the R&D boundaries and advancing the state-of-the-art in new, emerging technologies to the benefit of our OEM customers and partners.”