Abstract: Valve assemblies include a first actuation element coupled to the valve member, where the first actuation element is configured to move the valve member between a first closed position and a second open position. An inner housing encloses the first actuation element and is statically sealed to a valve body. A second actuation element is configured to be coupled to a valve actuator for moving the second actuation element relative to the first actuation element, where movement of the second actuation element is configured to indirectly apply a force to the first actuation element through the inner housing.

Abstract: A rotational indicator comprises a mechanical reducer having a reduction factor that is variable without exchanging components. A plurality of identical double gears rotate about a pair of parallel fixed shafts, a large gear of each double gear being intermeshed with a small gear of a preceding double gear on the opposing shaft. An axially moveable pinion gear is rotationally fixed to a rotatable pinion shaft, and is engageable with any of the large gears of the double gears according to its axial location, whereby a reduction factor between a rotational input and the pinion gear is variable. The pinion shaft is coupled to an indicating mechanism, which can be a pointer of a dial assembly and/or a rotary electrical component. The rotational input can be bounded, and the reduction factor can be adjusted to provide a bounded output range that is compatible with the indicating mechanism.

Abstract: An internal pressurized lubrication system of a radial support bearing assembly includes oil passages within a bearing housing that comprise a charge-retaining section bounded by vertical or upward-sloping passages and configured to retain an oil charge therein during a shutdown. A vent bleeds air into the suction side of the passages during a shutdown, thereby preventing syphoning of the oil charge from the charge-retaining section. In embodiments, a rear cover plug is doubly sealed to the bearing housing body, and air is substantially unable to enter the oil passages via the bearing or via the vent during a shutdown, such that the passages remain oil-filled and the pump prime is retained for an extended time period. The bearing assembly can further include a thrust bearing, and/or an axial displacement measurement probe parallel with the shaft-driven oil pump. The radial support bearing can be a journal bearing.

Abstract: An axial direct drive integral motor pump (IMP) or integral motor turbine (IMT) includes a stator or impeller housing hermetically sealed in front by a cover plate. At least one port in a housing rear face enables a barrier material, such as a resin, to be injected into the housing after attachment of the cover plate, so that the barrier material abuts the cover plate with substantially no gap therebetween. The barrier plate is thereby protected from undue deformation and damage by a pressurized process fluid. The barrier material can be injected through one or more fill ports by vacuum impregnation, and/or displaced air can escape through one or more drain ports. The ports can be sealed by plugs. The ports and plugs can be threaded and/or tapered. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the barrier material can be substantially equal to a CTE of the first housing.

Abstract: A compact, low footprint energy recovery module for a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination system comprises a vertical stack of horizontal conduits, at least one energy recovery device (ERD), and an axial integral motor pump (IMP). The horizontal conduits are configured to carry low-pressure brackish water, pressurized brackish water, high pressure brine, and low-pressure brine. The ERDs, which are substantially cylindrical and vertically oriented, are interconnected with the horizontal conduits and entirely supported thereby. The IMP is substantially cylindrical and extends horizontally and coaxially from an outlet end of the pressurized water conduit, the IMP being configured to further pressurize the pressurized water for input to a membrane osmosis device. The IMP can have a diameter that exceeds a largest horizontal conduit diameter by no more than 25%. The IMP can be driven by a variable frequency controller, being thereby continuously variable in pumping speed.

Abstract: A system configured for cooling electronic devices comprises a pair of opposing, active manifolds that control a flow of cooling liquid through pipes or through an immersion tank past the electronic devices. A controller detects and/or predicts localized hotspots and adjusts flow control devices associated with inlets and outlets of the manifolds to direct proportionately more cooling liquid to the hotspots. The flow control devices can be any combination of variable speed pumps and/or adjustable valves, vents, and/or baffles. Manifolds can be placed on two opposing sides of the devices, on four opposing sides, and/or above and/or below the devices. Temperatures proximate the devices can be measured by separate sensors and/or sensors integral to components of the electronic devices. Hotspots can be predicted by monitoring current flows, power flows, and/or voltages of the electronic devices, and/or inferred from network activity and/or from a workload queue.

Abstract: A modular particle valve comprises a plurality of aligned and abutted valve modules that dispense particle curtain segments. The curtain segments merge to form a particle curtain having a width that is limited only by the number of included valve modules. Each valve module comprises a particle hopper and a movable element abutting the hopper from below. An actuator causes the moveable element to block or partially open a hopper outlet to provide a curtain segment of variable thickness. The resulting particle curtain can have a thickness that is uniform or shaped and adjusted according to environmental changes. The moveable elements have edges that abut without intervening structures, and in embodiments interlock while permitting separate movements thereof. Individual valve modules can be removed and reinstalled without significantly disturbing the remaining valve modules. Embodiments are incorporated into systems that dry seeds or collect solar energy by heating particles.

Abstract: A data center cooling system comprises a cooling loop through which a coolant is caused to flow to a plurality of electronic devices by a variable speed pump under control of a controller. Separate variable speed liquid and vapor pumps are provided in embodiments where the coolant is vaporized by the absorbed heat. In response to changing cooling requirements, the coolant flow rate is adjusted by varying the pump speeds, without reliance on a flow control valve. Cooling is thereby optimized while minimizing pump energy consumption. The cooling loop can be branched into flow paths, each of which can include a separately controlled isolation valve. A plurality of cooling loops can include dedicated, separately controlled variable speed pumps. The pumps can be controlled reactively according to temperature measurements, and/or predictively according to measured electrical current flows to the electronic devices and/or device workload predictions.

Abstract: A bridging module provides sealable interconnection between segments of an evacuated tube transportation system. A pair of gate elements are horizontally transitioned by a drive mechanism from a stored configuration offset from the tube segments to a deployed configuration where an expanding mechanism presses them outward to seal portals to the tube segments. The module can thereby be vented while the tube segments retain vacuum. A rail carriage in the module can bridge between overhead capsule support rails of the tube segments. A lifting mechanism can lift the rail carriage into a rail carriage section above the portals to allow the gate elements to deploy. The gate elements can be supported by rails and/or linear bearings, and pressed outward by opposed pneumatic pistons located between them, e.g. proximal to the four corners of the gate elements. The drive mechanism can include a motor with rack and pinion.

Abstract: A shroudless vertical turbine pump (VTC) impeller and method of design thereof minimizes or eliminates discharge recirculation on the shroud sides of the impeller blades, thereby providing a monotonically decreasing head as a function of flow rate from zero flow to a flow rate that is beyond a best efficiency point (BEP) flow rate, and in embodiments beyond 120% of the BEP. Each blade of the impeller has S-shaped mean and shroud streamlines having inflection points located between the exit gate and the terminating edge. The disclosed method comprises varying locations of the inflections points for candidate designs and applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to determine successful candidates that meet all application requirements while providing a monotonic head/flow curve. In embodiments, this process is continued until an optimal impeller design is identified, for example a design that optimizes power, energy efficiency, and/or NPSHR.

Abstract: An integral motor pump (IMP) or integral motor turbine (IMT) includes an axial field permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) having a stator that is sealed by a disk-shaped non-conducting stator cover axially interposed between the stator and PMSM impeller, such that eddy currents are not generated in the stator cover by the rotating permanent magnets of the impeller. The stator cover can be annular, and can be fixed directly to the stator housing, or pressed against the stator housing by brackets. The seal can be formed by an adhesive, and/or by at least one gasket. Either the stator cover or the brackets can include flanges extending axially proximate the stator housing, and attached to the stator housing by any combination of an interference fit, an adhesive, set screws, or a protrusion extending into an indentation. In embodiments, the bracket flanges are welded to the stator housing.

Abstract: Heat exchangers include at least one looped tube having at least one section that is laterally offset from another section of the looped tube. Fluid cooling systems and seal systems may include such heat exchangers.

Abstract: A multistage centrifugal pump having a barrel-type, radially split casing comprises a rotor including oppositely directed first and second impeller groups having equal numbers of impellers, all fixed to a common rotating shaft. Process fluid entering the pump is divided into two equal flows that are directed respectively to inputs of the first and second impeller groups, the two flows being thereby equally pressurized by the impeller groups, and then combined into a common pump outlet flow. The two impeller groups thereby function as substantially identical pumps operating in parallel that apply equal and opposite, cancelling axial thrusts to the rotor. In embodiments, the thrust cancellation of the two impeller groups is sufficient to obviate any need for thrust compensation mechanisms. The centrifugal pump can be a BB4 or BB5 pump. Residual thrust due to a slight asymmetry between the impeller groups can axially stabilize the rotor.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for detecting properties of motion of at least one component of fluid exchange devices, such as, for example, a pressure exchange device or system.

Abstract: An integral motor pump (IMP) or turbine (IMT) applicable to a low temperature process liquid, such as liquid hydrogen, includes an impeller having an annular ring of permanent magnets attached thereto passing in axial proximity to a plurality of stator coils. The magnet ring is radially bounded by inner and outer compression sleeves having coefficients of expansion (CTEs) respectively less than and greater than the CTE of the magnets. Unequal thermal contraction of the compression sleeves, when cooled by the process liquid, applies radial compression to the magnet ring, overcoming centrifugal forces and maintains the magnets in radial compression, thereby preventing fracturing or pulverizing of the magnets. The magnet ring can be a monolithic ring with alternating magnetic regions, a ring of closely abutting magnets, or a ring of discrete magnets surrounded by a barrier material having a CTE equal to the magnet CTE.

Abstract: Pumps and fluid-handling devices for modifying at least one property of a fluid and related method comprise a compensation element including at least one biasing element to enable a hydraulic insert to move within a housing.

Abstract: Seal assemblies for valves may include a movable seat configured to be disposed in a chamber of a valve. In an initial position, the movable seat is configured to contact a proximal portion of a plug head of the valve at an annular location that is spaced from a distal portion of the plug head during a closing stroke of the plug head. A biasing element is configured to bias the movable seat in the initial position and to enable the movable seat to move in a direction of the closing stroke of the plug head against a biasing force of the biasing element.

Abstract: Fluid flow control devices comprise a cylindrical body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a sidewall. The cylindrical body has a first channel extending longitudinally along the sidewall and a second channel extending longitudinally along the sidewall. At least a portion of one of the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel extends longitudinally at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis to form a pattern of channels for improving the flow characteristics of a fluid through the channels.

Abstract: An internal pressurized lubrication system of a radial support bearing assembly includes oil passages within a bearing housing that comprise a charge-retaining section bounded by vertical or upward-sloping passages and configured to retain an oil charge therein during a shutdown. A vent bleeds air into the suction side of the passages during a shutdown, thereby preventing syphoning of the oil charge from the charge-retaining section. In embodiments, a rear cover plug is doubly sealed to the bearing housing body, and air is substantially unable to enter the oil passages via the bearing or via the vent during a shutdown, such that the passages remain oil-filled and the pump prime is retained for an extended time period. The bearing assembly can further include a thrust bearing, and/or an axial displacement measurement probe parallel with the shaft-driven oil pump. The radial support bearing can be a journal bearing.

Abstract: Intermediate drives may provide containment for fluid handling devices, such as pumps. Such intermediate drivees may one or more utilize magnetic drives to provide static barriers for mechanical devices. A fluid handling assembly may include a fluid handling device comprising a housing, a housing cavity, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet. An intermediate drive may be positioned and configured to transmit energy from a motor to the fluid handling device while providing a secondary containment area that is separate from the primary containment area provided by the fluid handling device.