Abstract: Thermostatic HVAC and other energy management controls that are connected to a computer network. For instance, remotely managed load switches incorporating thermostatic controllers inform an energy management system, to provide enhanced efficiency, and to verify demand response with plug-in air conditioners and heaters. At least one load control device at a first location comprises a temperature sensor and a microprocessor. The load control device is configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to the an attached air conditioner or heater, and the microprocessor is configured to communicate over a network. In addition, the load control device is physically separate from an air conditioner or heater but located inside the space conditioned by the air conditioner or heater.

Abstract: An information processing system which determines an allowable temperature of intake air to an information processing apparatus based on information of a temperature of intake air to the information processing apparatus, information of a temperature of exhaust air of the information processing apparatus, information of a power consumption of the information processing apparatus, and information of an allowable temperature of exhaust air of the information processing apparatus to thereby save power of the information processing system.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a temperature of a surface in a building space to be above a dew point of the building space includes calculating a dew point based on a temperature measurement and a relative humidity measurement. The method further includes estimating a safety margin associated with the dew point calculation, determining a minimum temperature of the surface, wherein the minimum temperature is a function of the dew point and the safety margin, and commanding a first component of a building automation system to adjust a current temperature of the surface to be greater than the minimum temperature.

Abstract: A method selects from a plurality of predetermined blade geometries, a blade geometry for a blade wheel for a turbomachine, with for the predetermined blade geometries at least one characteristic value identifying an aerodynamic property of the blade geometry and at least one characteristic value identifying a structural mechanism of the blade geometry being filed in a memory. An evaluation unit ascertains for each blade geometry a total value, which is calculated from the assigned characteristic values. The evaluation unit selects at least that blade geometry whose total value has an extreme value of all computed total values of the blade geometries. At least one characteristic value identifying producibility of the respective blade geometry is filed in the memory additionally to the blade geometries. The evaluation unit also incorporates while ascertaining the total value of the respective blade geometry the characteristic value identifying producibility.

Abstract: A system includes a custody transfer system configured to transfer a gas fuel from a gas supply to a plurality of gas turbines. The custody transfer system includes a first plurality of flow meters arranged in parallel with each other, wherein each of the first plurality of flow meters is configured to obtain a first measurement of a portion of a flow rate of the gas fuel flowing through the custody transfer system, and a second plurality of flow meters in series with the first plurality of flow meters, wherein each of the second plurality of flow meters is configured to obtain a second measurement of the flow rate of the gas fuel flowing through the custody transfer system, and wherein each of the first and second plurality of flow meters is configured to be blocked or unblocked from receiving the gas fuel based on a number of the plurality of gas turbines in operation.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an HVAC system that includes first and second controllers. The first controller is configured to control a first demand unit to maintain a setpoint temperature of a first portion of a conditioned space. A second HVAC controller is configured to control a second demand unit to maintain a setpoint temperature of a second portion of the conditioned space. The control provided by the second controller is dependent on a load metric of the first demand unit.

Abstract: A system for the automated dilution and delivery of mixtures of diluent and liquid samples to a particle counter comprises a container positioning member for receiving and retaining congruent sample containers with a volume of liquid sample therein. An automated diluent pumping mechanism draws a respective volume of a diluent from a diluent source and introduces the diluent into the each sample container for mixing with the unknown volume of liquid sample within each sample container to together form a mixture that is substantially equal to a pre-determined threshold volume. A mixer agitates the mixture in the sample containers. An automated mixture pumping mechanism sequentially draws a respective volume of mixture from the sample containers and delivers the drawn volume of the mixture to the optical particle counter for testing.

Abstract: A device for operating an automated machine for handling, assembling or machining workpieces, comprising: a display apparatus having a screen for displaying a graphic user interface for controlling and/or monitoring machine functions of the machine, an operating apparatus for inputting command-triggering operator actions for controlling functions of the machine and controlling functions of the graphic user interface, and a controller for implementing input command-triggering operator actions into control commands for controlling functions of the machine and/or functions of the graphic user interface. The operating apparatus comprises an apparatus for inputting manual operator actions and an apparatus for inputting contact-free operator actions.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product is provided for configuring a microgrid. A first configuration of the microgrid having a set of microgrid elements is initialized. An address for each element in the set of microgrid elements of the microgrid is verified. In response to receiving status data from the set of microgrid elements connected in a peer-to-peer network indicating a reconfiguration of the microgrid, the set of microgrid elements is re-aligned to form a second grid configuration. The second grid configuration is executed.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for improving system performance using cooling configuration information are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A set of components in a data processing system is indexed according to corresponding amounts of cooling available to the components in the set. Priorities are assigned to component users in a set of component users. Using a processor and a memory, a component whose index value represents a higher than threshold amount of cooling availability to the component is allocated to a component user whose priority is higher than a threshold priority.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for control of power charge/discharge from energy storage system. The invention also provides for power monitoring and management. A smart charge system may include a system sensor, one or more energy storage units, and a controller, which may receive information about the power demand, power provided by an electricity provider, and charge/discharge information from an energy storage unit. The information received may all be time synchronized in relation to a time based reference. The controller may provide instructions to an energy storage unit at a rapid rate.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a wafer processing device includes a processed number counting unit that counts a number of processed wafers, and a maintenance post-processing unit that executes a dummy lot process and a QC lot process after a maintenance process. A wafer preparation device prepares the dummy lot and the QC lot, when a first processed number is counted by the processed number counting unit. When a second processed number is counted by the processed number counting unit, a carrier device carries the dummy lot and the QC lot to the wafer processing device simultaneous with the maintenance process, before the maintenance process is completed.

Abstract: A model predictive control (MPC) framework is enhanced to provide prognostic information and fault tolerant control strategies. A system fault is calculated based on predicted values and is used to generate an internal reference trajectory to which the system is controlled using MPC. If the system fault exceeds a threshold maximum, then the MPC control model is either tuned or reconfigured depending on whether the fault is external or internal.

Abstract: Method and module for measuring the rate of change of frequency of a waveform related to a converter unit of a wind turbine generator, comprising: measuring an instantaneous value of said rate of change of frequency of the waveform, calculating a first filtered value of said rate of change of frequency, said first filtered value having good accuracy but low time response, and calculating a second filtered value of said rate of change of frequency said second filtered value having a good time response but low accuracy, comparing said first and second filtered values and selecting that an output value of said measured rate of change is based on said first or second filtered values depending on said comparison.

Abstract: A center hole machining method includes first to fifth steps. The first step includes obtaining outer peripheral shape data of a plurality of portions of the shaft blank in an axial direction. The second step includes obtaining a center axis by comparing measured data of the portions of the shaft blank with design data. The third step includes calculating a minimum distance from the center axis to the outer periphery in each of the portions of the shaft blank. The fourth step includes shifting the center axis in a direction of making the minimum distance greater than the machining dimension and repeatedly executing the third step when the minimum distance is less than or equal to the machining dimension. The fifth step includes boring the center hole in an end surface of the shaft blank at a position arranged on a line extended from the center axis.

Abstract: A virtual thermostat system and method are provided. The method accepts commands via a virtual thermostat interface for establishing temperature set points for a plurality of zones. Energy consumption information is also accepted from a plurality of energy consumption units. Each unit consumes energy at an associated peak power to supply a controlled temperature medium to a corresponding zone. The method also accepts temperature measurements for each zone. Then, consumption commands are sent to each energy consumption unit in response to associated zone temperature set points, while insuring that a combined peak power of the energy consumption units is less than a maximum peak power threshold. In one aspect, the virtual thermostat accepts temperature measurements from a plurality of physical thermostats, each associated with an energy consumption unit. Then, consumption commands are relayed to the energy consumption units via associated physical thermostats.

Abstract: A single-blade or double-blade cycloidal turbine can operate as a wave generator or a wave energy converter. Efficient operation techniques can adjust a pitch angle, a radial size, and/or a depth of the cycloidal turbine according to the height and wavelength of an incoming wave. The rotation of the cycloidal turbine can be controlled so that a rotational period of the cycloidal turbine matches the period of the wave and so that a target difference is maintained between a rotation angle of the cycloidal turbine and a phase angle of the wave.

Abstract: A method and a system control a manufacturing process. The method includes providing an MES system with a product definition model having at least one product-related entity. Define for one product-related entity a set of product-related entities referencing the one product-related entity and each other via a nested structure. Define for each product-related entity a set of product-related parameters to define the information that may be sent to the MES system. Within the product definition model, define an additional entity called parameter exchange definition for providing a tool for defining how data of product-related parameters of nested product-related entities and of the parent product related entity are to be exchanged among each other. At engineering time, build the given product definition of the given final material by inserting the entities. At run time, instantiating the entities into run-time production requests objects obtained by the given product definition.

Abstract: An occupancy sensing and energy indicating load control device includes an occupancy sensor, an energy savings feedback indicator, and a manual controller. The occupancy sensor detects occupancy within a monitored area. The device is electrically coupled to at least one load positioned within the monitored area and controls the energy consumption of the load. The energy savings feedback indicator provides awareness to an end user regarding energy savings and provides the end user with opportunities for additional energy savings. The device optionally includes a demand response indicator for providing awareness to the end user regarding when a demand response condition exists, its severity, and opportunities for additional energy savings.

Abstract: A management system for operation items used in manufacturing on a production line includes a module on which one of several production based operation items is storable as a header of a group list in relation to a manufacturing sub-system. For each production based operation item, at least one non-production based operation item is storable as a content of the corresponding group list, so that a hierarchical subdivision of production/non-production operation items in a plurality of group lists is provided in order to input them on a processing unit in a standard form. Since a hierarchical subdivision of production/non-production operation items in a plurality of group lists is permanently provided for each subsystem and their processes to be managed, a very simple and uniform/universal structure for management of all items can be advantageously obtained in a central way at the processing unit.