MR. THOMAS DAVIS, P.T.
Physical Therapy at Sunday Dr, Raleigh, NC

5571232, Nov 5, 1996

Jun 2, 1995

8/459776

Thomas L. Davis - Raleigh NC
Alexander O. Hobbs - Cary NC
Barney P. Roberts - Wake Forest NC

Carolina Power & Light Company - Raleigh NC

F25D 300

62 59

A flooded thermal energy storage tank holds an agglomerated ice mass that is fully submerged in water by a counterbuoyant top. The thermal energy stored in the tank is used to satisfy a cyclical thermal cooling load that is uncoupled from the power supply that produces the ice for the tank. A water supply loop for supplying cold water to the thermal load assures that the relatively colder water in the tank is supplied by withdrawing the water from an upper location within the ice mass. The supply loop also assures that water returned from the load to the tank is recooled by the ice mass in a thermodynamically efficient manner. The essential symmetry of the ice mass is retained during repetitive ice mass melting and rebuilding in an operational cycle to assure continual stability of the ice mass and tank top.

5537813, Jul 23, 1996

Mar 7, 1995

8/399534

Thomas L. Davis - Raleigh NC
John P. Shell - Raleigh NC
Todd W. Beadle - Wilkesboro NC
Keith S. McAllister - Raleigh NC
Alexander O. Hobbs - Cary NC

Carolina Power & Light Company - Raleigh NC

F02G 300

60 3905

The operational capacity and efficiency of a combustion turbine is increased by treating the turbine inlet air to increase its density. The inlet air treatment is achieved in a columnar tower with the inlet air being drawn in at the top of the tower. Treatment water is injected into the tower at a downward velocity greater than that of the inlet air to establish a vertically descending, two-phase co-current flow of inlet air and treatment water. The system utilizes the natural phenomenon of drag-induced pressure boost to the air achieved by the difference in the relative velocities of the inlet air and the treatment water in the co-current flow. By utilizing a cold treatment water, for example at 32. degree. -40. degree. F. , the tower creates a direct contact heat transfer situation that cools the inlet air, thereby further increasing its density. The invention serves to increase the operational capacity and efficiency of existing or new peaking combustion turbines at a cost per kW that is substantially less than that of installing new peaking combustion turbine capacity, while also permitting enhanced load following capabilities for the electric utility's control center.

5046551, Sep 10, 1991

Jun 25, 1990

7/543169

Thomas L. Davis - Raleigh NC
Robert N. Elliott - Raleigh NC
Joseph A. Gregory - Angier NC

Carolina Power & Light Company - Raleigh NC
North Carolina Alternative Energy Corporation - Research Triangle Park NC

F28F 700

165 45

Disclosed is a long term thermal energy production, storage and reclaim system that benefits the electric utility and its customers by shifting electricity usage from a spiked, high power, direct acting basis operated largely during seasonal peak demand periods to a long term level load at a significantly lower power level. The electricity usage shift is achieved by long term storage of thermal energy generated by a continuously operated low power level prime mover and the use of the stored energy on demand to satisfy the seasonal thermal load. The initial cost of the long term thermal energy production, storage and reclaim system is cost competitive with that of direct acting systems for satisfying the same loads. By using the system, the customer saves significantly on energy charges during the life of the system due to a rate structure that provides favorable rates for customers who do not adversely impact the utility's annual load factor.

5063748, Nov 12, 1991

Jun 25, 1990

7/543360

Thomas L. Davis - Raleigh NC
Robert N. Elliott - Raleigh NC
Carsie K. Denning - Coats NC

Carolina Power & Light Company - Raleigh NC
North Carolina Alternative Energy Corporation - Research Triangle Park NC

F25C 518

62 59

Disclosed is a thermal storage tank for the long term storage of a thermal storage medium whose energy is available on demand for satsifying cooling or heating loads. The tank may be earth excavated and include side walls of a ligthweight, high strength concrete that retains its thermal insulating characteristics even when exposed to groundwater. A unique inverted frustrum shape for the tank offers numerous advantages. In association with a cold storage tank, a novel submerged, single point ice introduction system provides a much improved formation of the ice mass in the tank. Also provided for the cold storage tank is a novel floating top that provides a ballast effect to keep the ice mass submerged.

5019300, May 28, 1991

Jul 25, 1990

7/557634

Thomas L. Davis - Raleigh NC
John P. Shell - Raleigh NC
Robert N. Elliott - Raleigh NC
Carsie K. Denning - Coats NC

Carolina Power & Light Company - Raleigh NC
North Carolina Alternative Energy Corporation - Research Triangel Park NC
North Carolina Department of Economic - Raleigh NC

B01F 304

261 231

A direct contact water-to-air heat exchanger includes a columnar air/water contact chamber which includes inclined sheet-like turning vanes for establishing three heat transfer zones therein and a partly countercurrent, partly crosscurrent heat exchange environment. The heat exchanger has applicability for supplying cold moisture laden air in the postharvest forced air precooling of agricultural produce.

D395588, Jun 30, 1998

Jun 30, 1994

D/025346

Joseph Randall Davis - Raleigh NC
Richard Henri Johan deNijs - Raleigh NC
Thomas Alexius Davis - Raleigh NC

0803

D 8 97