|
Innovative edge
The key difference between the NIFTE and relevant prior work is its ability to exploit small temperature differences to pump fluids cost effectively, over large pressure differentials without mechanical moving parts. Thermofluidics owns 100% of its IP, and has a clear paper record clarifying our IP ownership with collaborator organisations.
Patents filed
We currently have one PCT patent on file in the national phase in key strategic regions around the world. This has now granted with very broad claims in China and South Africa and is expected to grant with similar claims in the other regions in due course. As of November 2010, we have excellent examination reports which we believe indicate imminent grant of our core technology patent in the United States and Japan.
NIFTE Patents in preparation
We have developed a lot of new IP since the core patent was filed, which we have kept confidential. We plan to file at least two new patent applications in the areas of heat exchanger design and air-separation/fluidic transmission before and during field trials.
Confidential Information
In addition to patentable material, Thermofluidics has built up an extensive expertise in many aspects of low temperature difference thermodynamic machines in the following areas:
- Working fluids and materials
- Heat exchanger design
- Low cost production methods
- Interfaces with existing infrastructure and standards
We also have an extensive network of partners and collaborators across the globe, to help us to achieve volume production and distribution once our field trials are complete.
Hydraulic Ram
We currently have one further patent filed, and alpha "proof-of-concept" prototype work beginning on a novel hydraulic ram technology, to increase the head/lifting capabilities of the NIFTE to over 100m of water.
Our Intellectual Property also includes extensive analytic modelling capabilities. The following images are illustrative of some of these capabilities and relate to heat flux and temperature analytics.
Heat Exchanger Fins' - Heat Flux Modelling Analysis
Heat Exchanger Fins - Temperature Modelling Analysis
|
