Abstract: A mobile power generation system is provided. The system includes a main trailer having an engine and an electric generator turned by the engine, an air filtration trailer having air filtration equipment for filtering air used as inlet air to the engine, an exhaust trailer having a part of an exhaust silencing system for reducing engine output noise, and an auxiliary trailer having auxiliary equipment for use during operation of the engine.

Abstract: The system and method of the invention provide for remotely monitoring the operation of at least one turbine, the turbine being disposed in an operating location. The method comprises inputting input data from the turbine; and processing the input data to generate verified performance data, the processing including determining validity of the input data and performing at least one calculation on the input data, which is valid, to generate the verified performance data. The method further includes generating a collection of stored data in a database based on at least one of the input data and the verified performance data.

Abstract: A method for assembling a flap system for a gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle including a plurality of backbone assemblies facilitates extending a useful life of the exhaust nozzle. The method includes providing a flap basesheet having a width defined between a pair of side edges that are coupled together by a leading edge and a trailing edge, and including at least one stiffener that extends between the basesheet side edges and includes an intermediate portion that has a width that is smaller than that of the basesheet and is at least one of bonded to and formed integrally with the basesheet, and coupling the basesheet to the gas turbine engine with a backbone assembly.

Abstract: An engine maintenance system determines an “as flying” configuration of an aircraft engine and a desired configuration of the aircraft engine. The two configurations are compared to determine maintenance services to be performed on the aircraft engine.

Abstract: A butterfly valve for a gas turbine engine includes a valve shaft and a valve disk. The valve disk has a centerline axis that extends through the valve disk. The valve disk also includes a shaft opening, an outer periphery, an outer surface, a first side, and a second side. The first side is opposite the second side. The shaft opening extends through the valve disk adjacent the centerline axis, and is sized to receive the valve shaft therein. The disk outer surface extends over the first and second sides, and is tapered between the outer periphery and the centerline axis over at least one of the disk first and second sides.

Abstract: A low pressure turbine section for an aircraft gas turbine engine includes a low pressure turbine flowpath and counter rotatable low pressure inner and outer shaft rotors having inner and outer shafts, respectively. The low pressure inner and outer shaft rotors include low pressure first and second turbine blade rows disposed across the turbine flowpath and drivingly connected to first and second fan blade rows, respectively. The first low pressure turbine blade rows are disposed downstream of the second low pressure turbine blade rows along said low pressure turbine flowpath. Rows of non-rotatable low pressure vanes are disposed across the low pressure turbine flowpath between the first low pressure turbine blade rows and between the second low pressure turbine blade rows. An annular vaneless gap may be located between an aftmost row of the second low pressure turbine blade rows and a forwardmost row of the first low pressure turbine blade rows.

Abstract: A method for estimating a material composition of an imaged object using an imaging system. The imaging system includes a radiation source and a digital detector. The method also includes scanning a plurality of calibration phantoms with varying material composition to acquire a plurality of reference calibration images, estimating an attenuation coefficient thickness product for each pixel in the reference calibration images, and estimating a material composition of a region of interest using the estimated pixelwise coefficient thickness product.

Abstract: A connector assembly for mounting turbomachinery including a link connector to be coupled to a clevis. The clevis includes a pair of arms and an opening that extends therethrough. The link connector includes a first end that includes an elastomer portion that defines an opening. The connector assembly further includes a support washer having an opening extending therethrough adjacent the link connector elastomer portion, and a fastener inserted through the clevis opening, the support washer opening, and the link connector elastomer opening to couple the link connector and the support washer to the clevis such that the link connector is coupled between the clevis arms by the fastener, and such that the support washer thermally insulates at least a portion of the link connector elastomer portion.

Abstract: The invention provides a diagnostic method and system for monitoring controller performance. The diagnostic system includes a tool and a controller. The tool includes a user interface that displays at least one operational status command, such that a user may select the operational status command. A controller has an operation status. The operational status command of the tool queries the operation status of the controller. As a result, the controller generates at least one operational status response. A communications path for transmission of the at least one operational status command from the tool to the controller and the at least one operational status response from the controller to the tool is provided. The user interface displays the operational status response of the controller.

Abstract: A process for burning coal to produce substantially pure hydrogen for use in fuel cells, together with “sequestration ready” carbon dioxide and a stream of oxygen depleted air for powering gas turbines, characterized by using a combination of two fluidized bed reactors and a third transfer line reactor, the first reactor being supplied with coal particles or “char” and fluidized with high temperature steam; the second reactor being fluidized with high temperature steam and the third reactor being fluidized by compressed air. Solids circulated among these three reactors include a mixture of materials containing calcium compounds (present as CaO, CaCO3 and mixtures thereof) and iron compounds (present as FeO, Fe2O3 and mixtures thereof). The coal is gasified by the steam in the presence of CaO to produce CaCO3 and relatively pure hydrogen for use in fuel cells per a CO2 acceptor process.

Abstract: A brush seal assembly that in an exemplary embodiment includes an elongate brush core holder, at least three elongate brush core packs bundled together side-by-side in the brush core holder forming a single assembly. Each brush core pack includes a bristle holder and a plurality of bristles coupled to the bristle holder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating gas mixtures containing synthesis gas (syngas) into separate streams of wet hydrogen containing significantly reduced amounts of CO2 and CO, with the CO2 being “sequestration ready” and containing less than 1% fixed gases. In the preferred embodiment, a mixture of limestone and iron oxide circulates between two fluidized beds whereby one bed is fluidized with a gas containing syngas, while the other bed is fluidized with a gas containing steam and oxygen. As the fluidizing gas containing syngas passes through the bed, the CO2 reacts with CaO to form CaCO3. Virtually all of the CO is removed by a water gas shift reaction, forming hydrogen and CO2, with the remainder being removed by reaction with the iron oxide, reducing Fe2O3 to FeO. Some hydrogen is also removed by reaction with the iron oxide, reducing Fe2O3 to FeO, while the remainder of the hydrogen passes through the fluid beds, leaving in a purified state, i.e., PEM fuel cell quality.

Abstract: A system for detecting motion and proximity by determining capacitance between a sensor and an object. The sensor includes sensing surfaces made of a thin film of electrically conductive material mounted on a non-conductive surface. In another embodiment, the sensor is a human body. The sensor senses the capacitance between a sensor's surface and an object in its vicinity and provides the capacitance to a control system that directs machine movement. Because the sensor does not require direct contact or line-of-sight with the object, a machine can be controlled before harm occurs to the object.

Abstract: An abradable coating composition for use on shrouds in gas turbine engines (or other hot gas path metal components exposed to high temperatures) containing an initial porous coating phase created by adding a “fugitive polymer” (such as polyester or polyimide) to the base metal alloy, together with a brittle intermetallic phase such as &bgr;-NiAl that serves to increase the brittle nature of the metal matrix, thereby increasing the abradability of the coating at elevated temperatures, and to improve the oxidation resistance of the coating at elevated temperatures. Coatings having about 12 wt % polyester has been found to exhibit excellent abradability for applications involving turbine shroud coatings. An abradable coating thickness in the range of between 40 and 60 ml provides the best performance for turbine shrouds exposed to gas temperatures between 1380° F. and 1850° F.

Abstract: A directionally solidified nickel-base superalloy article has a defect therein extending parallel to the solidification direction. The article is repaired by removing any foreign matter present in the defect, and then heating the article to a repair temperature of from about 60 to about 98 percent of the solidus temperature of the base material in a chamber containing a protective gas that inhibits oxidation of the base material. The defect is filled with a filler metal while maintaining the article at the repair temperature. The filling is accomplished by providing a source of the filler metal of substantially the same composition as the base material of the directionally solidified article, and melting the filler metal into the defect progressively while moving the source of the filler metal relative to the article in a direction parallel to the solidification direction.

Abstract: A check valve includes a valve housing and at least one control member. The valve housing includes a sidewall and an opening extending therethrough. The sidewall defines the opening and includes at least one recess formed therein. Each control member is rotatably coupled to the valve housing within the sidewall recess, and each control member is configured to allow flow of fluid through the valve opening in a first direction. Each control member is further configured to substantially prevent flow of fluid through the valve opening in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A method for assembling a flap and seal system for a gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle including a plurality of backbone assemblies facilitates attaching a basesheet to a backbone. The method includes attaching an attachment system including at least one strap to a basesheet, and coupling the basesheet to a backbone using the attachment system strap.

Abstract: A method of upgrading control software on a first locomotive. The first locomotive includes a first locomotive interface. A first computer is coupled to the first locomotive interface, and a first communicator is coupled to the first computer. The first computer is programmed for operation on the first locomotive. The method includes loading a first version of control software onto the first computer, loading a second version of control software onto the first computer, and using data included in a link message to determine whether the first version or the second version of the control software is used.

Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine that facilitates reducing combustor chamber dump pressure losses to improve combustor and engine performance is described. The combustor includes a diffuser that diffuses airflow directed into the combustor. The diffuser includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and a plurality of splitter vanes between the outer wall and the inner wall. The splitter vanes are spaced radially apart, and each is spaced radially from a respective diffuser wall such that an outer passage, an inner passage, and a central passage are defined by the splitter vanes.

Abstract: A coupling for coupling a component to a hanger including a first member and a second member. The coupling includes a first member and a second member. The first member includes a pair of extending portions and a pair of extending tabs. The second member includes a pair of circumferential openings and a pair of opposed notches. The openings and notches receive the extending portions and tabs. The component is supportable from the hanger and is substantially restricted from independent movement relative to the hanger when the first member is connected to the second member.