Abstract: Internal combustion engines produce a number of emissions including oxides of nitrogen, NOx. One manner of reducing NOx production used in gas turbine engines is through the use of catalytic reactors. Catalytic reactors reduce the ignition temperatures required for complete combustion of a fuel air mixture. However, high temperatures present in catalytic reactors cause sintering of the substrate, vaporization of the catalyst, and sintering of catalyst and metal substrate. The present invention is directed at controlling the temperature of a catalytic reactor in an internal combustion engine. An exothermic catalyst coats a first side of a substrate in the catalytic reactor. An endothermic catalyst coats a second side of the substrate.

Abstract: Systems for controlling the combustion air to be used with a gas turbine engine for control the products of combustion and reducing emissions emitted therefrom have been used in the past. The present system includes a compressed air plenum being divided into a combustion air supply portion and a dilution or cooling air supply portion. A variable geometry system is positioned between the compressor section and the compressed air plenum. The variable geometry system is movably between an open position and a closed position. Movement of the variable geometry system varies the distribution of the compressed air between the combustion air supply portion and the dilution or cooling air supply portion. The system reduces emissions emitted from the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A turbine 400 has a central duct 410 which accelerates fluid passing through it and a blade configuration which retards the flow of fluid near the tips of the turbine. This structure results in a vortex having a higher fluid pressure behind the tips of the turbine blades 408 and a lower fluid pressure behind the duct. In the present invention, this vortex is enhanced by (1) an increased acceleration of the fluid passing through the duct 410 and a deceleration of the fluid passing through the blades 408; and/or (2) by a fluid redirection device 850 for directing the fluid passing through the duct towards the outer diameter of the turbine.

Abstract: Present gas turbine engines fail to effectively and efficiently control the emission emitted therefrom. Many existing systems estimate the amount of constituents emitted within the exhaust gas verses measuring the actual quantity of constituent emitted within the exhaust gas. The present exhaust gas monitoring system has the ability to measure the actual quantity of an emission constituent, such as carbon monoxide (CO), sends a signal to a control box, interprets the signal, sends a second signal to an actuation device controlling a fluid flow to the combustion section resulting in the controlling of emissions emitted from the gas turbine engine within the exhaust gas.

Abstract: Circular recuperators are used to increase the efficiency of gas turbine engines. The present circular recuperators is made of a plurality of cells. Each of the plurality of cells includes a plurality of components, such as, a plurality of sheets, a plurality of bars and guide strips. To more efficiently utilize the configuration of a primary surface circular heat exchanger or recuperator, the plurality of cells are manufactured to have a involute configuration. A fixture is used to position, hold and form the involute configuration. The fixture includes clamping device which positions and holds a base edge and the plurality of bars in a preestablished position and a forming member forms the remainder of the individual cells into the involute configuration. Corresponding ones of the base edges of individual cells form an inner diameter of the recuperator.

Abstract: The control systems for reducing NOx in the combustion systems of past gas turbine engines has incorporated a variety of expensive and complicated techniques to reduce the NOx level. For example, such systems use schemes for introducing more air into the primary combustion zone, recirculating cooled exhaust products into the combustion zone and injecting water spray into the combustion zone. The present system reduces the formation of NOx within the combustion zone by controlling the air/fuel ratio and more explicitly by controlling the air portion of the air/fuel ratio. The present system includes a device for directing a portion of the flow of compressed air exiting a compressor section into an injection nozzle and into a combustor, a device for reducing the flow of compressed air into the combustor.

Abstract: Horizontal axis, free yaw, self-regulated wind turbines which have strong, lightweight, fatigue resistant, fixed pitch, wood/GRE blades and exhibit superior performance a range of wind speeds. The blades are designed by employing defined inboard, midspan, and outboard airfoil profiles and interpolating the profiles between the defined profiles and from the latter to the root and the tip of the blades.

Abstract: A turbine engine is provided with a primary surface, counterflow heat exchanger for preheating the compressed air from the compressor prior to its entry into the combustor. The recuperator includes three concentric cylindrical shells which completely encircle the hottest components of the engine. The outermost shell includes a plurality of inlet openings for receiving air from the compressor, and a plurality of outlet openings for discharging the air into the combustor. The innermost shell includes a plurality of inlet openings for receiving gases from the turbine and a plurality of outlet openings communicating with an exhaust duct. The central shell is a corrugated tube which divides the space between the inner and outer shells into a plurality of concentric annular flow chambers, and allows heat transfer between adjacent chambers Annular turbulators may be inserted in the chambers.

Abstract: The disclosed wind turbine has a circular turbine wheel with a plurality of soft, furlable and unfurlable airfoils depending between a rim and hub. Each airfoil has associated with it a stepping motor for selectively furling and unfurling the airfoils. The turbine wheel is supported on a carriage which is in turn supported in a cantilevered manner from a central anchor which allows for revolving of the carriage, and therefore the turbine wheel, about the anchor. Control is provided for rotating the turbine wheel into a position upwind and normal to the wind direction. An upstanding pylon mounted on the anchor maintains the turbine wheel in an upright position. The pylon allows for revolving and rotating of the turbine wheel. It also provides for pivoting of the turbine wheel about a generally horizontal axis parallel to and spaced from the plane of the turbine wheel. A plurality of generators are driven by power take-off wheels mounted on the carriage which directly support the turbine wheel rim.

Abstract: A compact, unfired, staggered tube, once-through steam generator or boiler of simple construction intended primarily for combined cycle power plants in which the thermal energy utilized to generate steam is obtained from the exhaust gases of a gas turbine engine. The boiler provides steam at two different pressure levels, which maximizes recovery of thermal energy; and all wettable components in the steam/water loop are fabricated of corrosion resistant materials. This eliminates the need for controlling the pH of the feedwater and the need for chemically controlling its dissolved oxygen content, thereby reducing maintenance and operating costs and making automatic, unattended, remotely controlled operation of the boiler practical as well as eliminating the need for blowing down the boiler and minimizing requirements for make-up water. The boiler can be operated dry to remove gas side fouling; and feedwater flow rates can be directly controlled.

Abstract: A turboexpander compressor for use in a gas processing system has a seal system that avoids communication of gas with the oil being pumped through the bearings. The device has a shaft carried in a housing on bearings with a compressor wheel on one side and an expander wheel on the other side. Labyrinth seals seal the wheels from the interior of the housing and the bearings. Mechanical seals are located between the bearings and the labyrinth seals for preventing leakage of oil. The mechanical seals are located in a drainage chamber that allows any oil or gas leaked past the seals to be drained from the system, rather than dilute the oil. Gas is injected from the compressor discharge into a groove on the expander side of the shaft to provide a thermal barrier. The mechanical seals each have a rotating ring carried by the shaft and a nonrotating ring carried by the housing. The nonrotating ring is biased into the rotating ring by means of an O-ring.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a unitary magnetically sensitive circuit element or network and a flexibly articulatable elongate assembly of a plurality of such elements or networks, with electrical interconnection of the same, such assembly being inherently suited to precision operation as a function of length, whatever the length selected for a particular application or use. In one application to liquid-depth indication within a tank, the longate assembly is merely inserted into the tube along which a float-borne permanent magnet is guided, and the magnetically sensitive element of each successive unit is actuated as the float tracks liquid level and is displaced from actuating relation with one and then to the nextadjacent one of the circuit-element units. The connection of circuit-element units is such that electrical-resistance observation from one end of the assembly provides a direct indication of the liquid level at which the float magnet is currently operative.

Abstract: A turboexpander compressor for use in a gas processing system has a seal system that avoids communication of gas with the oil being pumped through the bearings. The device has a shaft carried in a housing on bearings with a compressor wheel on one side and an expander wheel on the other side. Labyrinth seals seal the wheels from the interior of the housing and the bearings. Mechanical seals are located between the bearings and the labyrinth seals for preventing leakage of oil. The mechanical seals are located in a drainage chamber that allows any oil or gas leaked past the seals to be drained from the system, rather than dilute the oil. Gas is injected from the compressor discharge into a groove on the expander side of the shaft to provide a thermal barrier. The mechanical seals each have a rotating ring carried by the shaft and a nonrotating ring carried by the housing. The nonrotating ring is biased into the rotating ring by means of an O-ring.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a check-valve construction wherein two generally semi-circular valve members are hinged to a diametrically extending seat post which divides the bore of the check-valve body into two valve-seat openings, for separate check-valve action with the respective seat openings. In the form described a single hinge connection of both valve members is made to a downstream offset carried at the mid-point of the seat post.

Abstract: A dual action trip and control valve is herein described which generally consists of a three way control valve which may be used to control the flow of fluid to and from a power piston. The valve is provided with a trip feature to cause the rapid dumping of the fluid from the power piston cylinder in response to the sensing of an emergency condition or the like.

Abstract: The invention contemplates an improved magnetically operative flow switch wherein the viscosity sensitivity of a flow-responsive movable metering member is materially reduced, as compared with past constructions. The improvement results from so devising a flow-metering passage through the movable member that such flow is taken only from the center and not from the wall of the inlet-flow passage in which the metering member is movable.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a sealed electrical-meter construction for measuring an electrical quantity such as an electrical resistance, and having particular application to the display of liquid-level where measured resistance is a function of observed liquid level. The meter construction provides a transparent side port at which a solar-cell assembly is exposed to external light, and the voltage output of the cell, after reduction to assure constant-voltage level is used to power the measuring circuit. Fiber-optics elements at the transparent side port convey light to the display face of the meter, so that even a flashlight at nighttime is sufficient to excite the solar-cell assembly and illuminate the display face.

Abstract: The invention contemplates remotely operable lifting mechanism for selectively displacing a liquid-level float in a sealed tank, to permit checking of the operational status of the float throughout its displaceable range, and to permit check-out of magnetically operated electrical means actuated by the float at a predetermined float level within its displaceable range. The lifting force is coupled magnetically to the float without interference with the path of float movement and without interference with the magnetically operated electrical means.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a virtually hysteresis-free electromechanically actuated, valve, wherein an electrical input current is converted into a substantially rectilineal force or displacement, using a single electrical coil and two spaced and oppositely polarized air gaps. Similarly spaced, opposed parts of the coil are compliantly mounted for and constrained to move in the respective air gaps, the constraint being such as to develop substantially a unidirectional force and/or displacement which is in the plane of the gap-shrouded parts of the coil. The actuating mechanism is described in the context of an hydraulic-valve, with incorporation of a viscous-damping feature.