Abstract: A method for performing a visual inspection of a gas turbine engine may generally include inserting a plurality of optical probes through a plurality of access ports of the gas turbine engine. The access ports may be spaced apart axially along a longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine such that the optical probes provide internal views of the gas turbine engine from a plurality of different axial locations along the gas turbine engine. The method may also include coupling the optical probes to a computing device, rotating the gas turbine engine about the longitudinal axis as the optical probes are used to simultaneously obtain images of an interior of the gas turbine engine at the different axial locations and receiving, with the computing device, image data associated with the images obtained by each of the optical probes at the different axial locations.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for improving reactive current response time in a renewable energy power system connected to a power grid. The method includes providing, via a controller of the power system, a permissive logic relating to the power grid. Another step includes determining, via a controller of the renewable energy power system, a reactive current reference command for the renewable energy power system in response to the permissive logic being satisfied. The method also includes generating, via the controller, a reactive current pulse command for the renewable energy power system. Thus, the controller is configured to determine a total reactive current command by combining the reactive current reference command and the reactive current pulse command. Further, the method includes operating the renewable energy power system based on the total reactive current command so as to improve the current response time.

Abstract: Provided, a trace gas measurement apparatus for electrical equipment that includes at least one sample cell configured to collect an oil sample from the electrical equipment. The sample cell includes (i) an oil receiving portion for receiving an oil sample, and (ii) a head space in an upper section thereof receiving ambient air therein, an oil pump for selectively pumping oil into and out of the sample cell, and a hydrogen gas sensor within an exhaust path of the sample cell. The hydrogen gas sensor receives the air exhausted from the sample cell and measures hydrogen gas present in the exhausted air.

Abstract: Provided is a trace gas measurement apparatus for electrical equipment that includes a sample cell corresponding and connectable to the electrical equipment and comprising a head space and configured to collect an oil sample from the electrical equipment. The trace gas measurement apparatus also includes an analysis module in communication with the sample cell, having an analysis chamber that includes a first measuring device at a first side thereof and a second measuring device disposed at a second side thereof at an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a membrane surface of the first measuring device, and configured to measure and analyze trace gases from an oil sample received from the head space within the sample cell.

Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The fuel nozzle assembly may include a fuel injector including an outer jacket having a first end and a second end with a threaded surface disposed therebetween. The first end of the fuel injector may include a cylindrical sealing surface. The fuel nozzle assembly also may include an annular hub including an aperture having a first end and a second end with a threaded surface disposed therebetween. The aperture may be configured to at least partially house the fuel injector therein and includes a conical seat about the first end. The cylindrical sealing surface may swage inward along the conical seat to form a seal therebetween as the liquid fuel injector is threaded into the aperture.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes an image processor that is configured to acquire a multi-slice B1 map during a pre-scan of a target object; calculate a plurality of B1 values each corresponding to one slice of the multi-slice B1 map; and adjust transmit gain for each slice of a scan of the target object, according to the B1 value or values calculated for that slice.

Abstract: A method for controlling and enhancing a startup operation for a combined cycle power block (block) having at least one gas turbine and at least one steam turbine, wherein operating parameters define performance and operational characteristics for the startup operation, the method comprising: receiving measured operating parameters from a plurality of reference blocks and, for each of the plurality of reference blocks, a plurality of types of the startup operations; given the measured operating parameters, developing one or more reference transfer functions between two of the measured operating parameters; receiving measured operating parameters from the startup operation of a target block; given the measured operating parameters from the target block, developing one or more transfer functions for the target block between two of the operating parameters; selecting one of the reference transfer functions; and normalizing the transfer function of the target block per the selected reference transfer function.

Abstract: A system and method for determining dynamically changing distributions of vehicles in a vehicle system are disclosed. The system and method determine handling parameters of the vehicle system. The handling parameters are determined for different distributions of the vehicles among different groups at different potential change points along a route. The system and method also determine whether to change the distributions at potential change points based on the handling parameters. Based on determining that the distributions are to change, a selected sequence of changes to the distributions is determined at one or more of the potential change points along the route. Change indices are generated based on the selected sequence. The change indices designate times and/or the one or more potential change points at which the distributions changes. The vehicles included in a common group have common designated operational settings while the vehicles are in the common group.

Abstract: A current and voltage module is provided that includes a housing having an opening extending at least partially therethrough in an axial direction. The housing is configured to receive a conductor within the opening. The module also includes a threaded metal insert extending radially through the housing and configured to align with a threaded opening defined in the conductor. The module further includes a fastening device configured to be inserted within the threaded metal insert and into the threaded opening to electrically couple the housing to the conductor. A voltage sensor is coupled to the threaded metal insert within the housing and is configured to sense an amount of voltage in the conductor. The module also includes a current sensor within the housing configured to sense an amount of current flowing in the conductor.

Abstract: A turbine casing includes at least one shell adapted to enclose one or more turbine stages in a gas turbine engine; an air inlet in the at least one shell; a flow sleeve secured to an inside surface of the at least one shell, the flow sleeve comprising at least two arcuate segments. Each arcuate segment includes an arcuate base, a pair of sidewalls extending radially outwardly of the base thereby forming a circumferentially-extending flow channel defined by the base, the sidewalls and the inside surface. The air inlet is aligned with the flow channel and the sleeve is configured to distribute air flowing in the channel into spaces proximate the one or more turbine stages in circumferential, radial and axial directions, including along the inside surface of the at least one shell.

Abstract: An improved combustor is disclosed in which conventional combustion is changed to “rich to quench to lean” by changing the air entry arrangement in the liner of the combustor to remove mixing holes, reduce liner cooling and admit dilution air into the combustor liner in place of mixing air. In an alternative embodiment, dilution air is admitted into the combustor liner with the help of a plurality of pipes arranged so that air comes into the liner as a swirling flow in a direction opposite to nozzle swirl, so as to thereby produce a large mixing of air with the combustion gases and a resulting quenching effect, i.e., a rapid cooling of the combustion gases by quenching air. As such, the requirement for cooling water to quench the combustion gases is significantly reduced, thereby helping turbine efficiency and reducing turbine emissions.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer and an ultrasound imaging system including an acoustic layer with a plurality of transducer elements and a dematching layer coupled to the acoustic layer. The dematching layer has an acoustic impedance greater than the acoustic layer and the dematching layer has a thickness that varies in order to alter a bandwidth of the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlled and precise EDM manufacturing of a component are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and devices configured to reduce windage and mixing losses in a turbine by redirecting and/or aligning a direction of a leakage flow with the flowpath of the main flow of a turbine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a device includes: a base configured to connect to a diaphragm of a turbine; and a radial portion connected to the base and extending radially inboard from the base toward a rotor of the turbine, the radial portion oriented to adjust a direction of travel of a leakage flow of working fluid radially inboard at an angle complementary to a primary working fluid path of the turbine.

Abstract: Methods and systems for releasing growth factors are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a blood sample is exposed to a sequence of one or more electric pulses to trigger release of a growth factor in the sample. In certain embodiments, the growth factor release is not accompanied by clotting within the blood sample.

Abstract: A system, comprising at least one source for irradiating electromagnetic radiation into a sample fluid and a reference fluid resulting in a change in a temperature of the sample fluid and a change in a temperature of the reference fluid, and a processing subsystem that monitors and determines a concentration of a gas of interest dissolved in the sample fluid based upon a difference between the change in the temperature of the sample fluid and the change in the temperature of the reference fluid, wherein the reference fluid does not contain the gas of interest, and the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength range corresponding to a spectral absorption range of the gas of interest.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine fuel nozzle apparatus includes: an annular outer body, the outer body extending parallel to a centerline axis, and having a generally cylindrical exterior surface extending between forward and aft ends, and having a plurality of openings passing through the exterior surface; an annular main injection ring disposed inside the outer body, the main injection ring including an annular array of fuel posts extending radially outward therefrom; a main fuel gallery extending within the main injection ring in a circumferential direction; a plurality of main fuel orifices, each main fuel orifice communicating with the main fuel gallery and extending through one of the fuel posts; and a suspension structure connecting the main injection ring to the outer body, the suspension structure configured to substantially rigidly locate the position of the main ring in axial and lateral directions while permitting controlled deflection in a radial direction.

Abstract: An imaging system is presented. The imaging system includes a storage structure that stores a first sheet of coils inside a cradle, wherein the storage structure includes a plurality of first set of rotatable bodies and a plurality of second set of rotatable bodies, and a plurality of springs that are coupled to one or more of the plurality of second set of rotatable bodies, wherein the first sheet of coils is disposed around the plurality of first set of rotatable bodies, the plurality of second set of rotatable bodies and the plurality of springs, and wherein a first end of the first sheet of coils protrudes out of the cradle.