Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an induced-draft injection system comprising an injection line in fluid communication with a duct under negative pressure, a particulate storage containing particulate, and a feeder receiving the particulate from the particulate storage and feeding the particulate to the injection line. The negative pressure in the duct supports the transportation of at least a portion of the particulate through the injection line and into the duct. Inside the duct, a binding portion of the particulate is bound to a portion of mercury in a flue gas passing through the duct, thus enabling a portion of the mercury to be filtered out of the flue gas.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating data synchronization in a utility computing environment. A data synchronization application can monitor source systems in such an environment and generate periodic change sets that correspond to data that has changed in the various source systems. Destination systems can subscribe to change sets and receive the appropriate change sets by monitoring flags that the data synchronization application can set. Various classes of change sets that correspond to data within a particular change set can also be generated.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods improve particulate filtration. A particulate filtration system is implemented within a fossil fuel power plant combustion system. A gas containing particulates flows through the filtration system. The filtration system comprises a collection hopper for collecting the particulates. Within the collection hopper, a particulate trap, upper baffles, and lower baffles are provided to retain collected particulates in the hopper and, thereby, improve the filtration of particulates from the gas flow. The particulate trap can include two sets of variously oriented, interconnecting retaining members crossing the interior of the collection hopper.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for monitoring electrical safety conditions and managing energy consumption using a microcontroller embedded in a circuit breaker. The microcontroller receives a plurality of inputs detected by a plurality of sensors in the circuit breaker. An amount of energy consumed during a preset interval of time is determined. A temperature of a circuit breaker panel board detected by a temperature sensor is received and compared with a preset temperature alarm threshold value to determine a panel board overheating condition. A condition of the neutral conductor is determined based on a plurality of line voltages and currents received from a plurality of voltage and current sensors by comparing a voltage differential with a preset threshold differential voltage value.

Abstract: A system for depressurizing and cooling a high pressure, high temperature dense phase solids stream having coarse solid particles with entrained gas therein. In one aspect, the system has an apparatus for at least partially depressurizing and cooling the high pressure, high temperature dense phase solids stream having gas entrained therein and a pressure letdown device for further depressurization and separating cooled coarse solid particles from a portion of the entrained gas, resulting in a lower temperature, lower pressure outlet of solid particles for downstream processing or discharge to a storage silo for future use and/or disposal. There are no moving parts in the flow path of the solids stream in the system.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and method to treat large amounts of flue gas from a pulverized coal combustion power plant. The flue gas is contacted with solid sorbents to selectively absorb CO2, which is then released as a nearly pure CO2 gas stream upon regeneration at higher temperature. The method is capable of handling the necessary sorbent circulation rates of tens of millions of lbs/hr to separate CO2 from a power plant's flue gas stream. Because pressurizing large amounts of flue gas is cost prohibitive, the method of this invention minimizes the overall pressure drop in the absorption section to less than 25 inches of water column. The internal circulation of sorbent within the absorber assembly in the proposed method not only minimizes temperature increases in the absorber to less than 25° F., but also increases the CO2 concentration in the sorbent to near saturation levels. Saturating the sorbent with CO2 in the absorber section minimizes the heat energy needed for sorbent regeneration.

Abstract: A support system for transmission lines includes a base plate, a securing assembly, and a supporting arm. The base plate is secured to the transmission line pole with the securing assembly. The supporting arm can include an insulating apparatus; the insulator apparatus of the supporting arm is adapted to provide a safe dielectric distance from the transmission power line and the transmission line structure, e.g., power pole. A first end of the supporting arm is carried by a mounting member and is connected to the transmission line pole via the base plate, while the second end can receive a conductor with a connector. The connector is adapted to secure a conductor, and is positioned at the second end of the insulator apparatus.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for impulse response monitoring in power systems. In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining raw power system data associated with a power system, cross-correlating the raw power system data with a synchronized pseudo-random sequence signal injected into the power system to determine a correlated impulse response and determining a condition of the power system based at least in part upon the correlated impulse response. In another embodiment, a system includes a plurality of signal injection systems and a data capture device coupled to a power system. A data analysis device cross-correlates raw power system data obtained by the data capture device with at least one synchronized pseudo-random sequence signal injected by a signal injection system and determines a condition of the power system based at least in part upon a frequency spectrum based upon a correlated impulse response.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable storage medium for managing the deployment of software patch updates on a plurality of computers in an enterprise computer network during a patch cycle wherein each computer receives and installs periodic software patch updates automatically. An inventory is maintained of the computers in a central database that stores a status of each computer for each patch during the patch cycle. The computers are filtered into at least one filter group and a list of computers in the filter group is displayed along with the status for each patch. The status of each patch is verified and displayed for each computer in the filter group. A controlled software patch update is performed for each non-compliant computer in the filter group. A controlled reboot of each computer in the filter group is performed following the completion of the software patch updates for the patch cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a workstation management application. An identification of a user is obtained in a user interface. A listing of workstations that the user has accessed is rendered in the user interface. A selection of one of the workstations is obtained in the user interface. A listing of management tasks configured for the workstation is rendered in the user interface. One of a plurality of management tools is launched to perform a selected one of the management tasks for the workstation.

Abstract: An apparatus to promote gas-liquid contact and facilitate enhanced mass transfer. The dispersed bubble reactor (DBR) operates in the dispersed bubble flow regime to selectively absorb gas phase constituents into the liquid phase. The dispersion is achieved by shearing the large inlet gas bubbles into fine bubbles with circulating liquid and additional pumped liquid solvent when necessary. The DBR is capable of handling precipitates that may form during absorption or fine catalysts that may be necessary to promote liquid phase reactions. The DBR can be configured with multistage counter current flow sections by inserting concentric cylindrical sections into the riser to facilitate annular flow. While the DBR can absorb CO2 in liquid solvents that may lead to precipitates at high loadings, it is equally capable of handling many different types of chemical processes involving solids (precipitates/catalysts) along with gas and liquid phases.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable storage medium for auditing the installation of smart meters via a computer system. The method includes receiving a plurality of installation data for each smart meter installed; loading the plurality of installation data into an auditing utility operating on the computer system based on auditing criteria; performing an audit for each smart meter installed via the auditing utility; submitting the audit for each smart meter installed for recording in an audits database; verifying the audit for each smart meter installed; and generating and analyzing audit reports stored in the audits database.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for systems and methods facilitating simulation of metering devices in an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) deployment. Meter simulators are executed in a simulation application, and a user can initiate a simulation based upon various operational scenario the user desires to simulate.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for communicating with an integrated distribution management system (IDMS). An IDMS often employs a communications protocol that is incompatible with a service oriented architecture. Accordingly, embodiments of the disclosure can allow utility computing systems in a service oriented architecture or in a messaging based environment to communicate with an IDMS.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable storage medium for open access transmission tariff management for a utility. The system includes a database for storing a plurality of data pertaining to providing transmission service to wholesale customers, and a computer processor coupled to the database and cooperative with a plurality of subsystems. A first subsystem determines a budget transmission billing rate. A second subsystem estimates revenue from wholesale customers. A third subsystem determines an updated budget transmission billing rate and an updated revenue projection. A fourth subsystem determines an actual transmission billing rate. A fifth subsystem analyzes a billed transmission rate on a periodic basis.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable storage medium for managing powdered activated carbon (PAC) injections for controlling mercury emissions from coal-fired boilers. A mercury concentration value received from a mercury continuous emissions monitor is stored in the plant control system database. A PAC injection rate from an activated carbon injection system also is stored in the plant control system database. If the mercury concentration value is greater than the mercury setpoint, a signal is sent to the activated carbon injection system to increase PAC injection by a predetermined value. If the mercury concentration value is less than the mercury setpoint, a signal is sent to the activated carbon injection system to decrease PAC injection by a predetermined value.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for monitoring fuel usage and/or remaining run time of backup power sources. In one embodiment, a method includes tracking run time of a backup power source; determining a current fuel level associated with the backup power source; and providing a fuel level warning. In another embodiment, a system includes a fuel monitoring system including logic that obtains a current run time corresponding to a backup power source; logic that determines a current fuel level based at least in part upon the current run time, the current fuel level corresponding to a fuel source supplying the backup power source; and logic that provides a fuel level warning based upon the current fuel level and a predefined fuel level threshold.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for validating and filtering events related to an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployment. Events received from a vendor supplied AMI head-end can be validated by an AMI event filtering application, which can then store the validated event in a data store. The AMI event filtering application can also generate and publish destination filtered and/or composite events based at least upon destination filters and/or composite events defined in the data store. Subscribing systems can receive the destination filtered and/or composite events.

Abstract: Systems and methods for visualization of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployments are disclosed. A status associated with communications towers or metering devices in an AMI deployment can be monitored based on alarms generated by a metering vendor system or based on thresholds specified in the AMI operations database. A user interface can be generated that allows the AMI deployment to be visualized, with status indicators associated with statuses overlaid on a map. The user interface can further facilitate visualization of progress of tasks associated with AMI operations.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention relate generally to remediation of contaminants in the environment, and more specifically to improved chemistries, systems, and methods for in-situ immobilization of contaminants in various media. More particularly, an aspect of the present invention is directed to an in-situ method for immobilizing a contaminant in a medium, comprising: contacting a medium in-situ with a chemical reagent, the medium comprising a contaminant, wherein the contacting the medium in-situ with a chemical reagent does not involve physical mixing of the medium and the chemical reagent; and immobilizing at least a portion of the contaminant in the medium in-situ to yield an immobilized contaminant in the medium, wherein the immobilized contaminant in the medium is neither extracted from the medium nor degraded by the chemical reagent.