Abstract: A system and method are provided for detecting an impending stall or surge in a radial compressor. The system and method may include a plurality of detection devices configured to detect a transition of a low momentum zone of a gas flow through the diffuser from a first position adjacent a shroud wall of the diffuser to a second position adjacent a hub wall of the diffuser. The system and method may also include a control system electrically coupled to the plurality of detection devices and configured to receive a plurality of information signals. Each information signal may be transmitted by a respective one of the plurality of detection devices and may correlate to a location of the low momentum zone. The control system may be configured to process the plurality of information signals and detect the impending stall or surge based on the location of the low momentum zone.

Abstract: A poppet valve assembly including a valve seat defining at least one inlet port configured to receive a working fluid, a valve guard coupled to or integral with the valve seat and defining at least one outlet port configured to discharge the working fluid therefrom, and a valve member disposed in a guide pocket defined in the valve guard. The valve member may include a primary impact surface configured to contact a planar surface of the valve guard facing the valve seat. The valve member may also include a secondary impact surface configured to contact a bottom portion of the valve guard within the guide pocket after a structural failure of the primary impact surface prevents substantially all of the primary contact surface from contacting the planar surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a carbon nanotube metal matrix composite. The method may include forming a molten mixture by combining carbon nanotubes with a molten solution. The carbon nanotubes combined with the molten solution may be dispersed therein. The method may also include transferring the molten mixture to a mold and applying a magnetic field to the molten mixture in the mold to substantially align at least a portion of the carbon nanotubes with one another. The method may further include solidifying the molten mixture in the mold to fabricate the carbon nanotube metal matrix composite, where at least a portion of the carbon nanotubes may be substantially aligned in the carbon nanotube metal matrix composite.

Abstract: A piston rod assembly for a reciprocating compressor. The piston rod assembly may include a piston rod having a longitudinal axis and forming a piston rod neck and a piston rod shoulder. The piston rod may include a first end integral or coupled with a piston head and a second end axially opposing the first end and configured to couple with a crosshead including a flange. An inner surface of the flange may have a Brinell hardness. The piston rod assembly may also include a cylindrical sleeve disposed circumferentially about the piston rod neck. The cylindrical sleeve may have a lower Brinell hardness than the Brinell hardness of the inner surface of the flange.

Abstract: A motive air conditioning system for a gas turbine assembly is provided. The motive air conditioning system may include an inlet flow channel configured to be fluidly coupled with the gas turbine assembly. The motive air conditioning system may also include a filtration assembly fluidly coupled with the inlet flow channel and configured to filter motive air. The filtration assembly may include a plurality of filter modules disposed adjacent one another and further disposed circumferentially about a longitudinal axis of the inlet flow channel.

Abstract: A pumped heat energy storage system is provided. The pumped heat energy storage system may include a charging assembly configured to compress a working fluid and generate thermal energy. The pumped heat energy storage system may also include a thermal storage assembly operably coupled with the charging assembly and configured to store the thermal energy generated from the charging assembly. The pumped heat energy storage system may further include a discharging assembly operably coupled with the thermal storage assembly and configured to extract the thermal energy from the thermal storage assembly and convert the thermal energy to electrical energy.

Abstract: A supersonic compressor provided may include an axial inlet and a centrifugal impeller fluidly coupled to the axial inlet. The centrifugal impeller may have a periphery and may be configured to impart energy to process fluid received via the axial inlet and discharge the process fluid from the periphery in at least a partially radial direction. The supersonic compressor may further include a static diffuser circumferentially disposed about the periphery of the centrifugal impeller and configured to receive the process fluid from the centrifugal impeller and convert the energy imparted. The static diffuser may include a plurality of diffuser vanes defining diffuser passageways therebetween. A supersonic ramp may be formed at an end of the at least one diffuser vane proximate the periphery of the centrifugal impeller. The supersonic ramp may be configured to generate a shock wave from the process fluid.

Abstract: A compressor may include a casing defining a discharge cavity and a seal cavity. A rotary shaft may be disposed in the casing, and a shaft seal assembly may be disposed in the seal cavity and about the rotary shaft. An impeller may be coupled with and configured to be driven by the rotary shaft. A balance piston may be integral with the impeller and may define the discharge cavity and the seal cavity. A balance piston seal may be disposed about the balance piston such that the balance piston seal and the balance piston define a radial clearance therebetween. The radial clearance may be configured to provide fluid communication from the impeller to the discharge cavity. A heat shield may be disposed in the discharge cavity, and may be configured to prevent the conduction of heat from the discharge cavity to the seal cavity via the casing.

Abstract: A seal assembly is disclosed that can be used to seal a bearing case in a turbine. The seal assembly has an annular seal plate seated within a groove defined in the bearing case and radially-offset from the turbine shaft. A seal retainer is mounted on the shaft axially-offset from the annular seal plate and defines a channel therein for receiving and seating a seal therein. The seal has a flexible lip that extends from the body of the seal and engages either the inside surface of the bearing case or a counterface of the annular seal plate, thereby preventing or substantially restricting the influx of contaminants into the bearing case.

Abstract: A compressor and a method for reducing acoustic energy generated in the compressor are provided. The compressor may include a housing defining a fluid pathway and a shunt hole fluidly coupling the fluid pathway with another component of the compressor. The compressor may also include an impeller at least partially disposed in the fluid pathway and coupled with a rotary shaft. The impeller may be configured to rotate with the rotary shaft to direct a process fluid through the fluid pathway of the compressor. A disk may be disposed between the fluid pathway and the shunt hole. The disk may define a plurality of openings fluidly coupling the fluid pathway with the shunt hole and configured to reduce acoustic energy generated in the compressor.

Abstract: An internally-cooled compressor is provided including a casing and a diaphragm disposed in the casing. The diaphragm includes a diaphragm box defining a plurality of box channels and a bulb defining a plurality of bulb channels. A plurality of return channel vanes connect the diaphragm box and bulb in fluid communication, such that each return channel vane defines a plurality of return vane conduits coupled in fluid communication with the plurality of box channels and the plurality of bulb channels thereby forming a section of a cooling pathway. The cooling pathway is configured such that a cooling agent introduced from an external coolant source into the diaphragm box and flowing through a box channel flows through a return vane conduit into and through a bulb channel and back through another return vane conduit into another box channel before flowing back to the external coolant source.

Abstract: A “bolt on” static separator is disclosed for use in conjunction with a rotating separator to handle higher liquid volumes that are not able to be effectively separated by the rotating separator alone. The static separator may be positioned upstream of the rotating separator, generally right in front of the rotating separator, i.e., immediately ahead of the inlet to the rotating separator and generally attached directly to the front end of the rotary separator. The static separator may include a significant change in flow path direction that is sufficient to cause coarse fluid separation. The output of the static separator is in communication with the input of the rotating separator. Additionally, the drain of the static separator is in communication with the drain of the rotating separator and is at the same pressure.

Abstract: A piston assembly may include a piston rod and a piston disposed on the piston rod. The piston may include a frame end cap defining a through-bore for receiving the piston rod, and the frame end cap may form a first end of the piston. The piston may include an outer end cap defining a through-bore for receiving the piston rod, and the outer end cap may form a second end of the piston. The piston may also include a center support defining a through-bore for receiving the piston rod. The center support may be disposed between the frame end cap and the outer end cap, and an outer surface of the piston rod and an inner circumferential surface of the center support may define a radial gap.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a dual-flow compressor is provided. The seal assembly may include an annular body disposed about a rotary shaft between a first compression assembly and a second compression assembly of the dual-flow compressor. An inner radial surface of the annular body and an outer radial surface of the rotary shaft may at least partially define a radial clearance therebetween. The annular body may have a first seal section and a second seal section at a first axial end portion and a second axial end portion thereof, respectively. The first and second seal sections may at least partially define a cavity therebetween. The seal assembly may also include a reference line communicably coupling the cavity with an inlet of the first compression assembly and configured to at least partially generate a pressure differential between the cavity and an outlet of the first compression assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) and a method for supporting one or more turbomachines, with the apparatus including a first package (12) module including a first frame (32) and a fluid-handling machinery mount coupled to the first frame, the fluid-handling machinery mount being configured to support one or more fluid-handling machines (42). The apparatus also includes a second package module (14) including a second frame (38) and a heat exchanger mount coupled to the second frame, the heat exchanger mount being configured to support one or more process fluid coolers (46), and the second package module being coupled to the first package module. The apparatus further includes an access passage (16) extending between the first and second modules and configured to enable personnel to proceed therethrough.

Abstract: A radial magnetic bearing may include an annular housing including a radial outer wall disposed between radially outer ends of two annular axial end plates and an isolation sleeve which may include a helical arrangement of a plurality of ferromagnetic wires. The isolation sleeve may be an annular structure extending axially between the two annular axial end plates, and the isolation sleeve and the annular housing may define an isolation cavity therebetween. The radial magnetic bearing may also include an isolation sleeve retainer configured to maintain a position of the isolation sleeve between the two annular axial end plates. The radial magnetic bearing may further include a plurality of laminations disposed adjacent the isolation sleeve and about a shaft of the rotating machine. A gap may be defined between the plurality of laminations and the isolation sleeve.

Abstract: An acoustic resonator assembly may include a first acoustic liner and a second acoustic liner. The first acoustic liner may define a first plurality of openings extending between first and second surfaces thereof. The second acoustic liner may be rotatably coupled to the first acoustic liner and at least one of the first acoustic liner and the second acoustic liner may be configured to rotate relative to each other to attenuate one or more frequencies of acoustic energy generated by working fluid flowing past the acoustic resonator assembly. The second acoustic liner may define a second plurality of openings extending between first and second surfaces thereof. A number of degrees of freedom of the acoustic resonator assembly may be varied by rotating the first acoustic liner and/or the second acoustic liner.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for sidestream mixing. The system may include a first junction formed from a plurality of conduits. The plurality of conduits may include a first conduit fluidly coupled to a compressor, the first conduit forming a first conduit diameter and configured to flow therethrough a first process fluid stream of a plurality of process fluid streams. The plurality of conduits may also include a second conduit fluidly coupled to the first conduit and the compressor, and configured to flow therethrough a second process fluid stream of the plurality of process fluid streams. The first junction may be disposed a first distance at least three times the first conduit diameter upstream of the compressor, such that the first process fluid stream and the second process fluid stream are mixed and form a first combined process fluid stream prior to being fed into and pressurized in the compressor.

Abstract: A fluid compression system is disclosed having a hermetically-sealed housing with at least a motor and a compressor arranged therein. The motor may drive both the compressor and a blower device coupled to the housing or otherwise arranged within the housing and configured to circulate a cooling gas throughout the housing and thereby cool the motor and accompanying radial bearings. The blower device circulates the cooling gas through a closed-loop circuit which may include a heat exchanger and gas conditioning skid. Buffer seals may be used to seal the shaft on both sides of the compressor so as to prevent the migration of liquid and solid contaminants into the closed-loop cooling circuit.

Abstract: Apparatus for housing a rotatable component and exchanging heat and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a first casing and a second casing spaced apart from the first casing and defining a gap therebetween. The apparatus also includes a cooling fluid manifold coupled to a source of a cooling fluid, and a stack of plates coupled to the first and second casings and extending therebetween to fill the gap. The first and second casings and the stack of plates define at least a portion of a pressurized containment area therein. Further, the stack of plates includes a bore in which the rotatable component is received and defines process fluid flowpaths configured to direct process fluid to and/or from the rotatable component. The stack of plates is in fluid communication with the cooling fluid manifold and transfers heat from the process fluid to the cooling fluid.