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: 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: A supercharger (12) with two separate sets of rotors (22, 24) arranged in parallel with one another is provided in an engine assembly. Both sets of rotors are used to boost air flow during high engine air flow conditions, and only one of the sets of rotors is operable to transfer torque generated by the throttling loss pressure drop as stored energy in a load device during low air flow conditions. The captured throttling losses may be electrical energy stored in a battery via a motor/generator such as during vehicle cruising.

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: 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: Power-generation systems including a power plant and a power conversion unit including an energy recovery device and volumetric compressor are disclosed. In one embodiment, the volumetric fluid compressor has first and second meshed rotors and is configured to generate a stream of relatively high-pressure fluid including oxygen to the power plant. In one embodiment, the volumetric fluid energy recovery device having third and fourth meshed rotors, operatively connected to the compressor, and configured to be rotated by the exhaust gas or other fluid deriving energy from the exhaust gas. The system can additionally include a set of timing gears configured to operatively connect the first and second rotors of the compressor to the third and fourth rotors of the energy recovery device, and prevent contact between the first and second rotors and between the third and fourth rotors.

Abstract: A volumetric assembly includes: a roots-type supercharger device; a roots-type expander device; a first duct extending from the supercharger fluid inlet, the first duct supplying fluid to the roots-type supercharger device; and a second duct extending from the expander fluid outlet, the second duct directing fluid away from the roots-type expander device, wherein the first duct is positioned adjacent to the second duct, and wherein the first duct defines a first aperture and the second duct defines a second aperture, the first and second apertures being generally aligned; and a flexible membrane positioned between the first and second ducts in the first and second apertures, the flexible membrane sealing the first duct from the second duct, and the flexible membrane flexing as fluid flows within the first and second ducts to attenuate noise associated with the fluid flows.

Abstract: A Rankine cycle system including a Rankine cycle working circuit and a lubrication circuit is disclosed. The lubrication circuit and the Rankine cycle working circuit include a shared segment including a mixture of Rankine cycle working fluid from the Rankine cycle working circuit and lubricant from the lubrication circuit. A separator receives the mixture of Rankine cycle working fluid and lubricant from the shared segment and separates the Rankine cycle working fluid from the lubricant. The separated Rankine cycle working fluid is directed along the Rankine cycle working circuit from the separator to the heating zone and the separated lubricant is directed along the lubrication circuit from the separator to a mechanical expander. The working fluid and lubricant are recombined after passing separately through the expander and are then introduced to the condensing zone.

Abstract: A multi-stage expansion device is disclosed. In one embodiment, 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 embodiment, a step up gear arrangement is provided between the rotors of the first and second stages. A step up gear arrangement may also be provided between the rotors of the second and third stage.

Abstract: A method for generating mechanical work via a closed-loop Rankine cycle includes heating a working fluid to at least a partial vapor state, generating useful work at a first expansion stage by expanding the working fluid as the working fluid passes through the first expansion stage, generating useful work at a second expansion stage by expanding the working fluid as the working fluid passes through the second expansion stage, generating useful work at a third expansion stage by expanding the working fluid as the working fluid passes through the third expansion stage, and condensing the working fluid to a liquid state.

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: Some embodiments are directed to a radar imaging system that includes a radar transmitter configured to transmit radar at a target; an aperture including an array of physically independent airborne carriers, each of the carriers configured to receive radar echoes from the target; and a base station, which may be located at ground level, in communication with each of the airborne carriers to receive the radar echoes and determine an image of the target from the received radar echoes.

Abstract: An apparatus and methodology for storing bitumen froth comprising a fluidized bottom, froth first feed holding tank for maintaining effective tank capacity while reducing overall solid bed build up at side walls and minimizing sloughing of solids to the froth discharge outlet. Froth is fed to the tank through one or more feed inlets located between the froth outlet and side walls for fluidizing settling solids. The feed inlets urge solids to settle in sub-beds about the feed inlets, the height of which that manifests adjacent the side walls being less that some design threshold height; if not, then successive feed inlets are located between the side walls and the precious feed inlets to build further sub-beds that have a height at the wall that is less than the threshold height.

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 of a feedwell discharge a solvent treated bitumen-containing froth feed to a froth settling vessel at a Richardson number less than 1.0. Feed is discharged from feedwell inlets to the vessel, either located at a center of the vessel or at a perimeter wall of the vessel along a substantially horizontal path across the vessel. The high velocity maximizes the horizontal path. As the velocity is reduced along the path and as a result of collision in the vessel with the perimeter wall or with feed entering the vessel from an opposing inlet, the feed separates into diluted bitumen and solvent which rises in the vessel for discharge as an overflow product and a waste stream, comprising water, solids and asphaltenes, which settles to the bottom of the vessel to be discharged as an underflow. A relatively uniform clarification zone forms above the inlets submerged in the vessel.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to techniques that mitigate the problems of range walk where fast moving objects are detected using pulsed target detection systems having relatively long dwell times. A pulse generator for a pulsed target detection system controls generation of a series of pulses to be transmitted by the target detection system. The time between pulses and pulse characteristics are controlled such that any range migration due to target movement in the time between pulses of said series is substantially equal and opposite to any variation in range-Doppler coupling between the pulses due to said target movement. By controlling the transmitted pulses in this way, any potential variation in range cell due to target motion is offset by an equal and opposite variation in range-Doppler coupling, whatever the target radial velocity. The techniques are particularly applicable to radar systems.

Abstract: A separation process and system for extracting hydrocarbons from a mixture. In some embodiments, a process for separating a bitumen froth stream containing bitumen froth, water and fine solids into a bitumen enriched froth stream and a water and fine solids stream, comprises: (a) receiving the bitumen froth stream in a concentrator vessel, (b) distributing the bitumen froth stream in the concentrator vessel as a substantially uniform and generally horizontal flow of the bitumen froth stream at a first flow velocity, (c) slowing the bitumen froth stream to a second flow velocity, slower than the first flow velocity, in a separation region of the concentrator vessel to promote separation of the bitumen froth from the water and fine solids, and then (d) collecting a bitumen enriched froth stream and (e) collecting a separate water and fine solids stream. Related embodiments of systems and apparatus may also be provided.

Abstract: A pumpbox apparatus includes a reservoir volume having a first inlet for receiving a feedstock stream and a second inlet for receiving a water stream, the reservoir volume being in communication with a discharge outlet disposed to discharge accumulated liquid from the reservoir volume. The reservoir volume is operable to accumulate the feedstock stream and the water stream in the reservoir volume while withdrawing a discharge stream through the discharge outlet to cause a flow of liquid through the pumpbox. The first inlet defines a first flow velocity region between the first inlet and the second inlet and a second flow velocity region between the second inlet and the discharge outlet. The first flow velocity is lower than the second flow velocity to facilitate flotation of a low specific gravity portion of the feedstock through the first region toward an upper surface of the liquid accumulated in the reservoir volume.

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.