Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising combusting a feed stream to form combustion products; and reforming the combustion products to produce a gaseous composition comprising hydrogen. Disclosed herein too is a method for producing hydrogen comprising introducing a feed stream comprising natural gas and air or oxygen into a cyclical compression chamber; compressing the feed stream in the cyclical compression chamber; combusting the feed stream in the cyclical compression chamber to produce combustion products; discharging the combustion products from the cyclical compression chamber into a reforming section; and reforming the combustion products with steam in the reforming section to produce a gaseous composition comprising hydrogen.

Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold. The system also includes a high pressure turbocharger having a variable geometry high pressure turbine drivingly coupled to a high pressure compressor, wherein the variable geometry high pressure turbine is driven by a first portion of exhaust gases from the exhaust manifold, wherein the high pressure compressor is configured to compress an intake air and to provide the compressed intake air to the intake manifold.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system includes a high frequency electromagnetic energy source that emits a beam of high frequency electromagnetic energy toward an object to be imaged. An energy discriminating (ED) detector receives high frequency electromagnetic energy emitted by the high frequency electromagnetic energy source. The ED detector includes a first direct conversion layer and a second direct conversion layer. The first direct conversion layer comprises a first direct conversion material and the second direct conversion layer comprises a second direct conversion material that is different from the first direct conversion material. A data acquisition system (DAS) is operably connected to the ED detector and a computer operably connected to the DAS.

Abstract: A communication system is presented. The system includes one or more transmitters configured to transmit a signal, where each of the signals generated by the one or more transmitters corresponds to a respective frequency. Further, the system includes a plurality of receiver front-ends configured to receive the signal transmitted by each of the one or more transmitters. The system also includes a plurality of remodulator modules configured to translate each of the received signals to a signal having a respective intermediate frequency. In addition, the system includes a combining module configured to combine each of the signals having respective intermediate frequencies to generate a single composite signal. Also, the system includes a single analog-to-digital converter configured to process the composite signal and generate a digital output. Additionally, the system includes a digital signal processor module configured to extract the signal transmitted by each of the one or more transmitters.

Abstract: A system and a method for converting an analog signal to a digital signal are provided. The technique involves receiving a sampled analog signal, and selecting one of a plurality of segments of a segmented relation between DAC output values and desired ADC input values. Desired gain and offset values are applied to the DAC output values or to the sampled analog signal based upon the selected segment. The sampled analog signal is converted to a digital signal based upon the desired gain and offset values.

Abstract: A method for localizing optical emission is disclosed. The method involves identifying a first readout channel of a first pixellated photodetector array based on an impact of a first photon on the first pixellated photodetector array. The first photon is emitted by a scintillator unit of a scintillator array and the first readout channel corresponds to a column of one or more pixels of the first pixellated photodetector array. The method also involves identifying a second readout channel of a second pixellated photodetector array based on an impact of a second photon on the second pixellated photodetector array. The second photon is emitted by the scintillator unit and the second readout channel corresponds to a row of one or more pixels of the second pixellated photodetector array. The method further involves identifying the scintillator unit based on the first readout channel and the second readout channel.

Abstract: A flow control system for a centrifugal compressor includes a plurality of suction holes provided in a diffuser and configured to facilitate suction of a flow control stream from a boundary layer fluid from the diffuser. A plurality of blowing holes are provided in a first interconnecting duct coupled to a de-swirl vane unit and configured to facilitate blowing of the flow control stream into the first interconnecting duct. The blowing holes may also be provided in a suction side or an end wall side of the de-swirl vane unit or in a second interconnecting duct coupled between the de-swirl vane unit and an impeller or an upstream diffuser of another compression stage. A manifold is coupled between the suction holes and the blowing holes and configured to direct flow of the flow control stream from the suction holes to the blowing holes.

Abstract: An article includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a slot disposed in the second surface, the slot having a bottom surface substantially parallel to the second surface, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, wherein the first sidewall is substantially perpendicular to the second surface and wherein the first sidewall includes a plurality of beveled edge portions in physical communication with the second surface and the bottom surface; and a plurality of passage holes extending through the substrate from the first surface to the bottom surface, wherein the plurality of passage holes are aligned within the slot such that at least one beveled edge portion is disposed between two passage holes.

Abstract: An electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) for inspecting an object is provided. The EMAT includes a magnet configured to generate a magnetic field in an object and a radio frequency coil configured to induce eddy currents on a surface of the object. The EMAT further includes a laminated wear plate disposed over the magnet and the radio frequency coil and configured to shield the magnet and the radio frequency coil from damage.

Abstract: A system for producing synthesis gas includes a regeneration zone. The regeneration zone includes a first fluidized bed configured to receive an oxidant for producing a regenerated oxygen transfer material. The system further includes a mixed reforming zone comprising a second fluidized bed configured to receive a first fuel and the regenerated oxygen transfer material to produce a first reformate stream and a steam reforming zone comprising a third fluidized bed configured to receive the first reformate stream, a second fuel and steam to produce the synthesis gas. The regeneration zone, mixed reforming zone and steam-reforming zone are in fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical device structure comprising a low shrinkage mixture wherein the shrinkage of the mixture is limited after the curing of the mixture during optical device formation. Disclosed also are methods for forming optical devices which comprise the low shrinkage mixture.

Abstract: An organic device package includes a flexible substrate having a topside and a bottom side. Further, the organic device package includes an organic electronic device having a first side and a second side disposed on the topside of the flexible substrate. In addition, the organic device package includes a first barrier layer disposed on the bottom side of the flexible substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying a change in walking speed of a person is provided. The system comprises a plurality of sensors disposed in various rooms of a structure. The sensors are operable to provide a signal representative of motion and/or the location of the person within the structure. The system may also include a processor-based system that may receive signals representative of the motion and/or location of the person from the sensors. The processor-based system may establish a travel time for a path traveled by the person through the structure based on the signals representative of the motion and/or location of the person and may store the travel time within the processor-based system. The processor-based system may identify at least one path traveled by the person through the structure from among various travel paths traveled by the person through the structure as having a consistent travel time over a period of time.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, the present technique provides a testing apparatus for testing material integrity in an object. The testing apparatus includes an electrical conductor and a sensing device. In the exemplary testing device, the electrical conductor extends in a generally linear direction and is configured to route current in a direction generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the object being tested. Routing of current through the electrical conductor creates remote field eddy current effect, which, in turn, affects a magnetic field around the test object. The testing apparatus also includes a sensing device located at a distance from the electrical conductor and configured to detect magnetic fields generated in response to current routed through the electrical conductor.

Abstract: A method for making an interconnect is provided. The method includes depositing a conductive layer on a substrate, depositing a protective layer on the conductive layer, patterning the protective layer to form openings to the conductive layer, depositing contact pads on the conductive layer through the openings in the protective layer, the contact pads comprising a conductive material, and patterning the conductive layer and the protective layer to form electrical traces on the substrate.

Abstract: A stacked electronics module comprises a first layer including a first substrate having a front side and a backside, a first electrical interconnect layer disposed on the first substrate and a first electronic device disposed on the front side of the first substrate. In addition, the stacked electronics module comprises a second layer including a second substrate having a front side and a backside, a second electrical interconnect layer disposed on the second substrate and a second electronic device disposed on the front side of the second substrate.

Abstract: A valve comprises an electromagnetic actuator including a solenoid. The solenoid includes at least one core, wherein the core is an “E” shaped core or a “U” shaped core and an anchor plate. The solenoid further comprises at least one coil disposed within the core and connected to a set of power electronics to supply current to the coils. The actuator further comprises a plunger connected to the anchor plate and at least one spring configured to guide the plunger. The opening and closing of the valve is controlled by passing current through the coil and the valve is used in acompressor.

Abstract: A wind turbine system includes a wind turbine generator having a rotor and a nacelle mounted atop wind tower. The wind tower is mounted on a central caisson. The wind turbine system further includes a plurality of tensioned mooring lines flexibly secured to the central caisson. The mooring lines are further secured to a plurality of anchors fixed on to a sea bed. The anchors are adapted to support lateral loads on the wind turbine system.

Abstract: A system and method involve determining the location of objects within an area of interest using wireless signals. The system includes at least three base stations communicating with a central processor and a plurality of mobile devices. Further, at least one fixed beacon transmitter of known location may be provided. The mobile devices transmit a wireless signal to the base stations, which then determine a location of the mobile devices based on time difference of arrival information between the mobile devices measured at all the base stations.

Abstract: A solid state thermal transfer device includes first and second electrically conductive substrates that are positioned opposite from one another. The solid state thermal transfer device also includes a sealing layer disposed between the first and second electrically conductive substrates and a plurality of hollow structures having a conductive material, wherein the plurality of hollow structures is contained by the sealing layer between the first and second electrically conductive substrates.