Abstract: A gas switch includes an anode and a cathode spaced apart from the anode, wherein the cathode includes a conduction surface. The gas switch also includes a plurality of magnets arranged to generate a magnetic field that defines an annular path over a portion of the conduction surface at a radial distance from a switch axis, and a control grid positioned between the anode and the cathode. In operation, the control grid is arranged to establish a conducting plasma between the anode and the cathode, wherein, in the presence of the conducting plasma, a voltage drop between the anode and the cathode is less than 150 volts, and wherein the conducting plasma forms a cathode spot that circles the annular path.

Abstract: A high temperature paraffinic froth treatment (HTPFT) process utilizes an unheated flash vessel as a first stage of solvent recovery in a paraffinic solvent recovery unit (PSRU) to minimize asphaltene precipitation and fouling in subsequent stages of solvent recovery. The HTPFT may utilize a heat pump circuit for heat integration in the PSRU where a first stage of solvent recovery is at a lower temperature than a second stage of solvent recovery. Froth entering froth separation vessels can be heated using heat in a tailings stream using a heat pump. Froth separation vessels used to separate froth for collecting a bitumen-containing overflow utilize a collector pot and conventional feedwell combination, or a combination of a collection ring and nozzle arrangement for reducing disturbance in the vessel and improving collection of the overflow.

Abstract: A supercharger rotor with reduced rotational inertia may result in increased performance of a supercharger. The rotor may include composite material and may be extrusion molded, injection molded, or otherwise molded or laid-up. In certain embodiments, the rotor may include a core with a central portion and one or more radially extending portions. The core may be extruded or formed of stacked sheets. A molded portion of the rotor, including one or more lobes, may be molded over a corresponding one of the radially extending portions. In other embodiments, a main portion of the rotor includes one or more lobes but no central hole nor a corresponding shaft extending between ends of the main portion. Instead, stub shafts are attached to the ends of the main portion. The increased performance may include decreased noise, decreased cost, increased reliability and/or durability, increased thermal efficiency, an increased power-to-weight ratio, etc.

Abstract: Embodiments are generally directed to a swaging process for complex integrated heat spreaders. An embodiment of an integrated heat spreader includes components, each of the components including one or more swage points; and a multiple swage joints, each swage joint including a swage pin joining two or more components, wherein components are joined into a single integrated heat spreader unit by the swage joints.

Abstract: A rotor assembly having a plurality of rotor plates mounted to a shaft, and methods of construction for a rotor assembly are disclosed. Each rotor plate in the assembly may be provided with a central opening extending between the first and second sides through which the shaft extends. In one aspect, the rotor plates are provided with a plurality of lobes extending away from the central opening, wherein each of the lobes has a lobe opening extending through the thickness of the plates. In one embodiment, the rotor plates are rotationally stacked to form a helical rotor.

Abstract: A rotor assembly having a plurality of rotor plates mounted to a shaft, and methods of construction for a rotor assembly are disclosed. Each rotor plate in the assembly may be provided with a central opening extending between the first and second sides through which the shaft extends. In one aspect, the rotor plates are provided with a plurality of lobes extending away from the central opening, wherein each of the lobes has a lobe opening extending through the thickness of the plates. In one embodiment, the rotor plates are rotationally stacked to form a helical rotor.

Abstract: A system for digesting biodigestible feed that preferably includes the steps of comminuting the feed, introducing feed, an oxygen-containing gas, an accelerant, and bacteria into a digestion zone, the bacteria being suitable for digesting the feed under aerobic, anaerobic, and anoxic conditions. The contents of the digestion zone can be changed from aerobic operation to either anoxic or anaerobic operation, or vice versa, without changing the bacteria in the digestion zone.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing and resetting Time-to-Live or HOP count on a device to limit communications within a designated HOP limit sphere to protect the device from unwanted communications outside a safe zone established by an administrator. Analyzer, Explorer, Setter, Modifier and Monitor Modules interoperate to suppress spurious communications from remote intruders by; analyzing connectivity needs and calculating an appropriate HOP value; setting the HOP value in the device or modifying the HOP value within the data packet as the packet passes through the Modifier; monitoring connections for ICMP discards; investigating anomalies or changes in the network topology and updating hop limit values accordingly.

Abstract: An optimized mechanical expander or fluid expansion device with a delayed opening timing is disclosed. In the optimized design, rotors in the expander alternatingly rotate sequentially through an intake position in which the transport volume is open to the housing inlet, a closed position in which the transport volume is closed to the housing outlet, and a discharge position in which the transport volume is open to the housing outlet. During rotation, a first opening forms between the housing and each rotor. After further rotation, a second opening is formed that is located between the first opening and a back end of the rotor. In one aspect, the mechanical expander has an opening profile including an initial opening phase in which the opening between the rotor and outlet forms at a lesser rate than during a subsequent secondary opening phase.

Abstract: A system for digesting biodigestible feed that preferably includes the steps of comminuting the feed, introducing feed, an oxygen-containing gas, an accelerant, and bacteria into a digestion zone, the bacteria being suitable for digesting the feed under aerobic, anaerobic, and anoxic conditions. The contents of the digestion zone can be changed from aerobic operation to either anoxic or anaerobic operation, or vice versa, without changing the bacteria in the digestion zone.

Abstract: Described herein are processes for one-step delignification and hydrodeoxygenation of lignin fraction a biomass feedstock. The lignin feedstock is derived from by-products of paper production and biorefineries. Additionally described is a process for converting biomass-derived oxygenates to lower oxygen-content compounds and/or hydrocarbons in the liquid or vapor phase in a reactor system containing hydrogen and a catalyst comprised of a hydrogenation function and/or an oxophilic function and/or an acid function. Finally, also described herein is a process for converting biomass-derived oxygenates to lower oxygen-content compounds and/or hydrocarbons in the liquid or vapor phase in a reactor system containing hydrogen and a catalyst comprised of a hydrogenation function and/or an oxophilic function and/or an acid function.

Abstract: An exhaust gas energy recovery system includes a power plant and a volumetric fluid expander. The power plant has an exhaust gas outlet for conveying an exhaust gas stream at a first pressure. The volumetric fluid expander includes a housing and an output shaft. The housing has an inlet and an outlet, and the housing inlet is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas outlet. The volumetric fluid expander generates useful work at the output shaft by expanding the exhaust gas stream to a second pressure lower than the first pressure generally without reducing the volume of the exhaust stream as the exhaust stream moves from the housing inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: The present teachings generally include an energy recovery device with heat dissipation mechanisms. The energy recovery device can include a main housing, rotors disposed in the main housing, rotor shafts associated with the rotors, and a sub-housing. The sub-housing can have an engaging surface that faces and is spaced apart from the first receiving surface of the main housing with a first gap when the first sub-housing is attached to the main housing.

Abstract: An engine assembly is provided that includes an engine throttle and a supercharger placed in series with one another in air flow to the engine. The throttle and supercharger can be controlled so that throttling losses are selectively distributed across the throttle and/or the supercharger. Throttling losses placed across the supercharger can create torque that can be converted to stored energy.

Abstract: Embodiments are generally directed to cooling of electronics using folded foil microchannels. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a semiconductor die; a substrate, the semiconductor die being coupled with the substrate; and a cooling apparatus for the semiconductor die, wherein the cooling apparatus includes a folded foil preform, the folded foil forming a plurality of microchannels, and a fluid coolant system to direct a fluid coolant through the microchannels of the folded foil.

Abstract: Semiconductor package interposers having high-density and high-aspect ratio encapsulated interconnects, and semiconductor package assemblies incorporating such interposers, are described. In an example, a semiconductor package interposer includes several conductive interconnects encapsulated in a polymer substrate and having height dimensions greater than a cross-sectional dimension. The semiconductor package interposer may support a first semiconductor package above a second semiconductor package and may electrically connect die pins of the first semiconductor package to die pins of the second semiconductor package.

Abstract: A multi-stage expansion device having bypass capabilities and a variable speed drive is disclosed. In one example, the multi-stage expansion device has a housing within which a first stage, a second stage, and a third stage are housed. The housing may also be configured with internal working fluid passageways to direct a working fluid from the first stage to the second stage and/or from the second stage to the third stage. Each of the stages may include a pair of non-contacting rotors that are mechanically connected to each other and to a power output device such that energy extracted from the working fluid is converted to mechanical work at the output device. In one example, a bypass line is provided to bypass working fluid around the first stage and a bypass line is provided to bypass working fluid around the second stage.

Abstract: A volumetric expander (20) configured to transfer a working fluid and generate useful work includes a housing. The housing includes an inlet port (24) configured to admit relatively high-pressure working fluid and an outlet port (26) configured to discharge to a relatively low-pressure working fluid. The expander also includes first and second twisted meshed rotors (30,32) rotatably disposed in the housing and configured to exp/and the relatively high-pressure working fluid into the relatively low-pressure working fluid. Each rotor has a plurality of lobes, and when one lobe of the first rotor is leading with respect to the inlet port, one lobe of the second rotor is trailing with respect to the inlet port. The expander additionally includes an output shaft (38) rotated by the relatively high-pressure working fluid as the fluid undergoes expansion. A system for generating work using the expander in a Rankine cycle is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present teachings generally include a rotor assembly having a plurality of rotor sheets or layers mounted to a shaft, and methods of construction for a rotor assembly. Each rotor sheet or layer in the assembly may be provided with a central opening extending between the first and second sides through which the shaft extends. In one aspect, the rotor sheets or layers can be provided with a plurality of lobes extending away from the central opening, wherein each of the lobes can have a lobe opening extending through the thickness of the sheets or layers. In one example, the rotor sheets or layers can be rotationally stacked to form a helical rotor. In one example, the rotor sheets are formed from a pre-cured composite material and are bonded together with an adhesive.

Abstract: A rotor assembly having a plurality of rotor plates mounted to a shaft, and methods of construction for a rotor assembly are disclosed. Each rotor plate in the assembly may be provided with a central opening extending between the first and second sides through which the shaft extends. In one aspect, the rotor plates are provided with a plurality of lobes extending away from the central opening, wherein each of the lobes has a lobe opening extending through the thickness of the plates. In one embodiment, the rotor plates are rotationally stacked to form a helical rotor.