Abstract: A rotary kiln burner particularly for fine-grained solid fuels such as coal dust, with jet air nozzles which can be adjusted easily and effectively during operation of the kiln in order to change the divergence angle of the high-speed jet air streams to change the flame shape and optimize the combustion. The jet air nozzles are attached with the nozzle openings divergent to the burner axis at the end of jet air pipes. The nozzle openings are arranged around the burner axis, with the axes parallel, with the jet air pipes arranged inside an annular cooling air space surrounding the coal dust channel and enclosed on the outside by the burner housing pipe.

Abstract: An economical, highly efficient, and complete system for harnessing the sun's energy, storing, and/or converting this energy into a usable energy product on a sustainable cycle. The system includes an enclosed volume chamber having a mirrored inner surface and an opening for receiving a condensed high-temperature solar energy beam and trapping thermal energy. A fluid source is injected into the chamber for converting this energy into a high pressure source which can be fed to an energy converting device. The enclosed volume chamber can include a thermal absorbing member to store thermal energy for use during sunless hours. A sustainable system including a plurality of interconnected chambers can be provided to form an additive system of thermal energy for use during the day and during sunless hours. The thermal energy can be converted to provide a clean energy source at zero carbon emission for use in numerous and diverse applications.

Abstract: A horizontal structure defines an expansive floating solar pond underlain by an open-ended chamber, and a distributed network of heat engines produce electricity based on the temperature differential between the heated solar pond water and ambient seawater. Each heat engine includes a heat exchanger disposed near the bottom of the solar pond, a working fluid boiler at least partially submerged in the solar pond, a turbine-generator, and a working vapor condenser disposed under the solar pond in the open-ended chamber. A heat exchange fluid is circulated through the heat exchanger and the boiler to vaporize working fluid for powering the turbine-generator, and cold ambient seawater is passed through the condenser to condense working vapor downstream of the turbine-generator. Warmed seawater from the condenser is exhausted into the open-ended chamber, where it is naturally retained by convection to minimize heat transfer from the solar pond to the ambient seawater.

Abstract: A thermo-magnetic actuator includes operative components, preferably in a sealed container, from which a rotatable or translatable shaft extends. The shaft is driven by supplying electrical power to a heater in a closed chamber containing a working fluid that expands upon being heated. The expansion of the fluid drives a piston that, in turn, slides a rack coupled to the shaft. A ferromagnetic target is connected to the rack and attracted by a magnetic field produced by an electromagnet that receives electrical power from the same source as the heater. The attraction of the target causes an end of the target to latch magnetically and mechanically and to open an electrical switch, disconnecting current flow to the heater, without disturbing current flow to the electromagnet. The target is released and the rack and target return to their original positions upon termination of current flow to the electromagnet.

Abstract: A high torque output drive system includes a fluid tank that stores a fluid, an array of weighted members disposed in series such that leading and trailing subarrays thereof are respectively placed along left and right running routes in the fluid tank, upper and lower direction reversing guide units respectively defining upper and lower guide routes each of which interconnects the left and right running routes, a fluid pump operable to move the fluid such that levels of the fluid in left and right columnar regions of the fluid tank are variable to result in generation of a buoyant force for lessening the weight of the trailing subarray so as to induce synchronized downward and upward movements of the leading and trailing subarrays, and a force-output shaft coupled to the weighted members by a gear train unit and revolvable to provide a high torque for a desired end use.

Abstract: A direct heat exchange method and apparatus for recovering heat from a liquid heat source is disclosed, where the method includes contacting a liquid heat source stream with a multi-component hydrocarbon fluid, where the hydrocarbon fluid compositions has a linear or substantially linear temperature versus enthalpy relationship over the temperature range of the direct heat exchange apparatus.

Abstract: A thermally activated initiator assembly uses a first bar that experiences a change in length as a function of temperature. The first bar is coupled to a first support. A second support is pivotally coupled to the first support and to the first bar so that the second support may move relative to the first support when the first bar experiences the change in length. An initiator is coupled to the second support adjacent to the high side of a ramp on the second support. A second bar is rigidly coupled to the first support. The second bar rests on the low side of the ramp prior to the first bar experiencing the change in length. When the first bar experiences the change in length, the second support moves relative to the first support causing the second bar to slide along the ramp until it falls off the ramp's high side to strike the initiator.