Abstract: An instrumentation system utilizes a single light source collimated through windows through a gas line in communication with a fuel cell. As each beam passes through each window, the gas stream will attenuate each beam. A diffraction grating disperses each attenuated beam and transmits particular wavelength bands through a focusing system to a detector. The measured concentration in the gas stream may then be utilized by a controller to determine the amount of power produced by the cell, determine potential leaks, or determine incomplete reaction.

Abstract: A rotary engine has a first rotary unit and a second rotary unit. The first rotary unit has a chamber containing a remaining compressed air charge. After combustion in the second rotary unit, the resulting second unit exhaust is in fluid communication with said remaining compressed air charge via a second passageway. An injector is in fluid communication with said remaining compressed air charge in the first rotary unit. The injector injects fuel into the mixture containing the remaining compressed air charge in the first rotary engine and the second unit exhaust from the second rotary engine. This mixture is combusted either with a spark or via auto (diesel) ignition. In this way, the engine produces additional useful work by combusting the remaining compressed air charge and additional fuel. Alternatively, the injector described in the first rotary unit may be located in the second passageway.

Abstract: A heat transfer tube includes a container, a cavity within the container, a substantially homogeneous nanoparticle powder located within the cavity, and a gas. The cavity is in a partial vacuum state. The nanoparticle powder includes a material in a solid state capable of substantially freely emitted and reabsorbing a gas as a function of temperature, such as a hydrate, hydride, or other material.

Abstract: A passive electrical component includes an inorganic dielectric coating layer laser applied to a conductor layer.

Abstract: A single-stage hypersonic vehicle is comprised of a low-speed and a high-speed propulsion system. The low-speed propulsion system propels the single-stage vehicle to a threshold velocity, after which the high-speed propulsion system then takes over. The low-speed propulsion system includes a combined-cycle engine featuring a swirl generator that is integrated into a turbojet engine to provide a compact turbojet and swirl afterburner-ramjet propulsion system. The high-speed propulsion system includes a hypersonic engine that is operable at the threshold takeover velocity and beyond. In various embodiments, the high-speed propulsion system comprises a scramjet, rocket, or scramjet/rocket engine depending requirements.

Abstract: An ultra-compact aerovortical swirl-enhanced combustion (ASC) system features an aerovortical swirl generator for use in rocket thrusters utilizing hypergolic or non-hypergolic propellants. The ACS thruster can be sized for diameters ranging from about 0.5 to about 2.0 inches, and producing thrust levels of approximately 5 lbf to about 250 lbf. A plurality of helicoid flow channels in the swirl generator introduces swirl into a flow stream of a first propellant within ultra-compact sized rocket thrusters. The ASC system also includes injectors for introducing a second liquid propellant into the swirling flowfield to promote rapid and efficient atomization, mixing and vigorous combustion, which, results in major improvements in combustion and propulsion performance over current rocket thrusters, but in much shorter combustor systems.

Abstract: A high power DC-DC converter uses wide bandgap semiconductor switches and capacitors as a charge pump to convert a DC input to a DC output of a different potential. Each capacitor is connected to the output of one of the stages of the charge pump. A wide bandgap semiconductor switch is connected between the input and output of each stage, and the conductive state of the switch is controlled by a circuit that compares voltage at the input and output of the stage. A multiphase drive alternates drive voltage applied to the capacitors to cause charge to be passed from stage-to-stage through the charge pump.

Abstract: A dump-cooled gasifier includes a vessel, a liner, and coolant. The liner has a head end, an aft end, and a plurality of channels extending along a length of the vessel. The aft end of the liner is axially and radially expandable with respect to the head end of the liner. The coolant enters at the head end of the liner, flows through the liner, and is expelled from the aft end of the liner directly into the vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently forming a gaseous material from a solid starting material. The produced gaseous material includes a CGE HHV having a high percentage of an original HHV of the starting material. The gaseous product may be used to form a plurality of materials for various purposes.

Abstract: A continuous pressure letdown system connected to a hopper decreases a pressure of a 2-phase (gas and solid) dusty gas stream flowing through the system. The system includes a discharge line for receiving the dusty gas from the hopper, a valve, a cascade nozzle assembly positioned downstream of the discharge line, a purge ring, an inert gas supply connected to the purge ring, an inert gas throttle, and a filter. The valve connects the hopper to the discharge line and controls introduction of the dusty gas stream into the discharge line. The purge ring is connected between the discharge line and the cascade nozzle assembly. The inert gas throttle controls a flow rate of an inert gas into the cascade nozzle assembly. The filter is connected downstream of the cascade nozzle assembly.

Abstract: A solar-powered hydrogen production system includes a thermochemical system and solar heating system. The thermochemical system produces hydrogen. The solar heating system has a molten salt heat transfer medium for providing thermal energy to the thermochemical system.

Abstract: A system for providing highly pressurized raw fuel to a pressure reactor. The system includes an inlet for receiving the raw fuel and a roller system communicating with the inlet. The roller system includes a plurality of independent rollers arranged in two converging planes. The rollers of the roller system successively compress the raw fuel as the raw fuel passes through the roller system between the rollers, such that the fuel is highly pressurized when it reaches an output end of the roller system. An outlet is located adjacent the output end of the roller system to dispense the pressurized raw fuel to the pressure reactor.

Abstract: A testing device applies a load controlled bending moment which is constant along a length of an elongated member. The testing device also includes a drive system which rotates the elongated member while the bending load is applied to rapidly find defects which may only appear at a particular rotational position to determine whether the bending stiffness is uniform about the entire diameter of the elongated member.

Abstract: A rocket engine includes a combustor assembly for carrying out a combustion process of fuel and oxidizer rocket propellants to produce thrust. A swirl generator is positioned within the combustor assembly to produce a turbulent flowfield of the fuel and oxidizer rocket propellants within the combustor assembly.

Abstract: A method of analyzing structural vibration according to one aspect of the present invention includes reception of data from a plurality of sensors on a structure, filtration of the data to exclude data outside of a selected frequency band, association of sensor locations with locations on computer model, and generation of an animation which displays the structural vibration.

Abstract: A high concentration central receiver system and method provides improved reflectors and a unique heat removal system. The central receiver has a plurality of interconnected reflectors coupled to a tower structure at a predetermined height above ground for reflecting solar radiation. A plurality of concentrators are disposed between the reflectors and the ground such that the concentrators receive reflective solar radiation from the reflectors. The central receiver system further includes a heat removal system for removing heat from the reflectors and an area immediately adjacent the concentrators. Each reflector includes a mirror, a facet, and an adhesive compound. The adhesive compound is disposed between the mirror and the facet such that the mirror is fixed to the facet under a compressive stress.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a structure subject to a mechanical load comprises measuring physical parameters associated with natural oscillations of the structure, transforming the physical parameters into normal mode spectra, and broadcasting an alarm as a function of a change in the normal mode spectra near a critical point. The normal mode spectra represent the natural oscillations of the structure.

Abstract: There is provided an injector assembly having two or more oxidizer manifolds and/or two or more fuel manifolds for delivery of liquid propellants to a combustion chamber such that combustion instability is reduced or eliminated during throttling. Delivery of the oxidizer to the oxidizer manifolds is controlled by an oxidizer valve, which may comprise an integral valve. The oxidizer passes from the oxidizer manifolds into the oxidizer element and then into the combustion chamber. The multiple oxidizer manifolds allow the oxidizer to be provided through selective openings of the oxidizer element thus reducing the change in pressure drop across the oxidizer element to thereby reduce or eliminate combustion instability and other problems. Additionally, the injector assembly may also include a lift-off seal or a filler fluid source to fill any temporarily unused oxidizer manifolds with an oxidizer or filler fluid.

Abstract: A frequency-tuned turbine flow meter rotor comprises a rotor hub and a plurality of tapered rotor blades. Each of the plurality of rotor blades has a stagger angle that varies as a function of a radius measured from the hub, and a cross-sectional profile that is tapered according to a NACA airfoil design. A method for designing a frequency-tuned flow meter rotor comprises defining a cross-sectional profile, calibrating a rotor blade stagger angle, tapering the cross-sectional profile such that it characterizes an airfoil with a decreasing chord length and a decreasing relative thickness as a function of radius, and analyzing a natural oscillation frequency spectrum of the rotor with respect to a range of operationally-induced excitation frequencies.

Abstract: A system for detecting the onset of structural failure in a structural element subject to a mechanical load comprises a metering array, a signal processor, and an output processor. The metering array measures physical quantities associated with the structural element. The signal processor transforms the measured physical quantities into a series of sample mode spectra, and the output processor generates output as a function of the series of sample mode spectra. Methods are also disclosed for detecting the onset of failure in a structural element subject to a mechanical load, for structural testing, and for structural health monitoring.