Abstract: Compounds are generally provided, which may be particularly used to form a layer in a coating system. In one embodiment, the compound may have the formula: AxBbLn1-x-bHf1-t-dTitDdMO6, where: A is Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Fe, Cr, Co, Mn, Bi, or a mixture thereof; x is about 0.01 to about 0.99; b is 0 to about 0.5, with 1-x-b being 0 to about 0.99 such that Ln is present in the compound; Ln is a rare earth or a mixture thereof that is different than A; t is 0 to about 0.99; D is Zr, Ce, Ge, Si, or a mixture thereof; d is 0 to about 0.5; the sum of t and d is less than 1 such that Hf is present in the compound; and M is Ta, Nb, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A distributed control system for a turbomachine and method of operating the distributed control system are provided. In one aspect, a distributed control system includes a central controller and a distributed controller communicatively coupled thereto. The distributed controller has one or more associated local actuators and one or more associated local sensors. The actuators and the sensors are communicatively coupled with the distributed controller. If a communication link between the central controller and the distributed controller becomes faulty, the distributed controller enters an autonomous safety mode. In this mode, the distributed controller uses a combination of its own associated local sensors and past commands received from the central controller to autonomously govern its associated local actuators to maintain safe operation of the turbomachine.

Abstract: A dual phase magnetic component, along with methods of its formation, is provided. The dual phase magnetic component may include an intermixed first region and second region formed from a single material, with the first region having a magnetic area and a diffused metal therein, and with the second region having a non-magnetic area. The second region generally has greater than 0.1 weight % of nitrogen.

Abstract: A cooling assembly includes a cooling chamber disposed inside of a turbine assembly. The cooling chamber directs cooling air inside an airfoil of the turbine assembly. The cooling assembly includes a metered channel fluidly coupled with the cooling chamber. The metered channel directs at least some of the cooling air out of the cooling chamber outside of a rail surface of the airfoil. The metered channel is elongated along and encompasses an axis. The metered channel has an interior surface with a distance between opposing first portions of the interior surface. The distance between the opposing first portions decreases at increasing distances along the axis from the cooling chamber toward the rail surface.

Abstract: An airfoil for turbomachines includes a first plurality of projections coupled to a suction sidewall adjacent a trailing edge and extending from the suction sidewall towards a pressure sidewall. A second plurality of projections is coupled to the pressure sidewall adjacent the trailing edge and extending from the pressure sidewall towards the suction sidewall. The airfoil includes a divider coupled to the first and second pluralities of projections and extending within a space between the first and second pluralities of projections. A first cooling channel is defined adjacent the suction sidewall and a second cooling channel is defined adjacent the pressure sidewall. The first and second cooling channels are configured to receive a coolant stream. The first plurality of projections is configured to meter the coolant stream through the first cooling channel and the second plurality of projections is configured to meter the coolant stream through the second cooling channel.

Abstract: Processes for producing particles of rare earth-containing phosphor materials, in which the particles have a core-shell structure and the shell has a lower rare earth content than the core. Such a process may include contacting a core particle with a precursor comprising Na(La,Ce,Tb)P2O7 to form a mixture, and then heating the mixture to a temperature sufficient to decompose the Na(La,Ce,Tb)P2O7 to evolve and melt an NaPO3 flux and initiate deposition of a (La,Ce,Tb)PO4 shell on each core particle in the presence of the molten NaPO3 flux.

Abstract: A system for controlling the delivery of medical gases includes a digital signal processor that receives at least one ventilation parameter value change, calculates a fresh oxygen flow rate, total fresh gas flow rate into the breathing circuit, and a reference oxygen flow rate representative of a predetermined oxygen concentration delivered to a patient. A graphical display presents the calculated fresh oxygen flow rate, total fresh gas flow rate, and reference oxygen flow rate. A method of controlling the delivery of medical gases to a patient includes calculating a total fresh gas flow rate into the breathing circuit, calculating a fresh oxygen flow rate into the breathing circuit, calculating a reference oxygen flow rate representative of a predetermined oxygen concentration delivered to the patient and presenting the total fresh gas flow rate, the fresh oxygen flow rate, and reference oxygen flow rate on a graphical display.

Abstract: Wireless systems and methods include a plurality of peripheral electronic devices each having a wireless communication system. A processor is configured to establish an association confidence level indicative of a likelihood that a peripheral electronic device is associated to a monitored subject for each peripheral electronic device based on association criteria. Indicators are configured to communicate the association the association confidence level.

Abstract: A quench ring assembly for a high-temperature vessel includes a main structural sub-assembly coupled to at least one lower wall tube. The quench ring assembly also includes a flow control sub-assembly coupled to the main structural sub-assembly and extending circumferentially therethrough. The quench ring assembly further includes a wear sub-assembly removably coupled to the main structural sub-assembly. The wear sub-assembly includes a heat shield canopy extending over the flow control sub-assembly.

Abstract: An electrospinning approach is disclosed for generating a dissolvable formulation of a reagent of interest in a nanoscale fiber medium. In one embodiment, the nanoscale fibers can incorporate and stabilize biological agents of interest, such as for storage at room temperature for extended periods. In one implementation, the fibers can be produced in a continuous manner and dissolve rapidly.

Abstract: A welding method and apparatus that simultaneously utilize laser beams and arc welding techniques. The welding apparatus generates a first laser beam that is projected onto a joint region between at least two workpieces to produce a first laser beam projection on adjacent surfaces of the workpieces and to cause the first laser beam projection to travel along the joint region and penetrate the joint region. The apparatus also generates an electric arc to produce an arc projection that encompasses the first laser beam projection and travels therewith along the joint region to form a molten weld pool. In addition, the apparatus generates a pair of lateral laser beams that produce lateral laser beams projections that are encompassed by the arc projection and are spaced laterally apart from the joint region to interact with portions of the weld pool that solidify to define weld toes of the weld joint.

Abstract: A method for selection of bellwether smart meters from a plurality of smart meters in a power grid can include for at least each of a subset of the plurality of smart meters, monitoring a meter; determining at least one anomaly in the meter, in response to a determination of an anomaly in the meter, assigning a weight to the anomaly, determining a sum of weights of anomalies in the meter and selecting a sub group of the plurality of smart meters as bellwether meters.

Abstract: An encapsulated optoelectronic device includes: a first barrier layer; an electroluminescence device coupled to the first barrier layer, and comprising a substrate and an electroluminescence element both defining a lateral side, and the electroluminescence element comprising a first electrode disposed on the substrate, a second electrode, and an optoelectronically active layer between the first and second electrodes; a second barrier layer coupled to the electroluminescence device; and an adhesive located between and connecting the first and second barrier layers, and at least coupled to the lateral side of the electroluminescence device to seal the electroluminescence device; a first conductive area electrically coupled to the first electrode and electrically insulated from the second electrode and a second conductive area; the second conductive area electrically coupled to the second electrode and electrically insulated from the first electrode and the first conductive area.

Abstract: Optical flame holding and flashback detection systems and methods are provided. Exemplary embodiments include a combustor including a combustor housing defining a combustion chamber having combustion zones, flame detectors disposed on the combustor housing and in optical communication with the combustion chamber, wherein each of the flame detectors is configured to detect an optical property related to one or more of the combustion zones.

Abstract: A glass-reinforced fiber or carbon-reinforced wind turbine blade having a suction side and a pressure side includes a tip portion adapted with an electric field control region disposed solely on or within the tip portion. The electric field control region is in electrical communication with or galvanically connected to an electric discharge conduction mechanism, wherein the electric field control region and the electric discharge conduction mechanism together operate to protect a wind turbine and its associated blade(s) from damage due to a lightning strike at the tip of the wind turbine blade(s) by controlling an electric field at the tip portion(s) caused by the lightning strike.

Abstract: A coating suitable for use as protective oxide-forming coatings on Nb-based substrates, and particularly monolithic niobium-based alloys, exposed to high temperatures and oxidative environments. The coating contains aluminum, may further contain silicon, and optionally contains niobium, titanium, hafnium, and/or chromium, which in combination form one or more intermetallic phases that promote the formation of a slow-growing oxide scale. The intermetallic phases may be M(Al,Si)3, M5(Al,Si)3, and/or M3Si5Al2 where M is niobium, titanium, hafnium, and/or chromium.

Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine including a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine, coupled together in serial flow arrangement, and a fuel heating system including a heat exchanger and an economizer. The method includes channeling fuel through the heat exchanger, channeling a working fluid through the heat exchanger to facilitate regulating the operating temperature of the fuel and the operating temperature of the working fluid, and channeling the fuel and the working fluid into the gas turbine engine combustor to facilitate increasing a fuel efficiency of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A method for preparing an article of a base metal alloyed with an alloying element includes the steps of preparing a compound mixture by the steps of providing a chemically reducible nonmetallic base-metal precursor compound of a base metal, providing a chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of an alloying element, and thereafter mixing the base-metal precursor compound and the alloying-element precursor compound to form a compound mixture. The compound mixture is thereafter reduced to a metallic alloy, without melting the metallic alloy. The step of preparing or the step of chemically reducing includes the step of adding an other additive constituent. The metallic alloy is thereafter consolidated to produce a consolidated metallic article, without melting the metallic alloy and without melting the consolidated metallic article.

Abstract: A system and method for predicting timing of future service events of a product. A database contains a plurality of service information and performance information for the product. A statistical analyzer analyzes the plurality of processed service information to determine a plurality of compartment failure information. A performance deterioration rate analyzer analyzes the performance deterioration rate of the product from the plurality of service information and performance information. A simulator, simulates a distribution of future service events of the product according to the plurality of compartment failure information and the performance deterioration rate analysis.

Abstract: Lateral MOS controlled gate turn-off triacs with large OFF-Gate-width to emitter-width ratios. In one embodiment an ON channel is provided at one main electrode and an OFF channel is provided at the other. In another embodiment two channels in a series are provided at each main electrode. Current turn-off capacity is increased by serpentine or comb shaped channel regions or by trenches which provide channels along their walls.