Abstract: Various embodiments that pertain to fuel processing are described. A fuel processor can produce an endothermic reaction that cools a substance and produces a processed fuel from a raw fuel. A generator can employ the processed fuel to produce an electricity. The generator can supply the electricity to a load that uses the electricity to function. The load can become hot due to its functioning and can benefit from being cooled. The substance cooled by the fuel processor can cool load and in the process the substance can rise in temperature. This warmer substance can be transferred to the fuel processor to be cooled again and this cycle can continue. Further, the fuel processor can use the warmer substance to achieve the endothermic reaction.

Abstract: A geothermal district heating (DH) system includes a plurality of DH conduits each of the conduits extending to a corresponding heat consumer; means for delivering a DH-usable fluid through said plurality of DH conduits; a fluid circuit through which a geothermal fluid is flowable; and at least two heat exchangers, each of the heat exchangers configured to transfer heat directly or indirectly from the geothermal fluid to said DH-usable fluid with a total heat influx provided by the at least two heat exchangers to said DH-usable fluid that is sufficiently high to raise a temperature of the DH-usable fluid to a predetermined DH-usable temperature without need for any supplemental fossil fuel derived waste heat to be transferred to said DH-usable fluid.

Abstract: A reaction turbine operates on the heat released from the condensation of steam, combined with inherent steam pressure and temperature heads. A series of rotors, each containing multiple curved internal channels, provide compressive boosts between successive stages, while avoiding excessive self-compression. Compressive effects and shock waves generated within these channels provide high levels of condensation, thereby releasing immense amounts of heat. The resulting hot vapor and condensate droplets are then ejected tangentially at the periphery of the rotors to generate thrust. The exhaust steam from the last stage is then compressed and returned to the engine inlet to be mixed with the incoming fresh steam, thereby efficiently completing the system cycle without the need of large cooling towers for condensation.

Abstract: A compact axial turbine configured to operate with high density working fluid is described. The turbine comprises an axial majority cantilevered turbomachinery shaft. Rotor assemblies and nozzle spacers communicate torque through turbine shaft splines, allowing them to be slid off the shaft for quick replacement in the field. The compact axial turbine houses turbomachinery within a separable inner casing encircled by a cartridge sleeve, thereby forming a cartridge which can itself be removed as a single component.

Abstract: An arrangement reduces oscillation of an oscillatory structure. The arrangement has: a structure having at least one mode in at least one direction; and an oscillation-reducing device. The oscillation-reducing device includes a housing on the structure; a cavity; and a body. The body is configured to make impact contact with a first surface portion and a second surface portion of an inner wall of the housing and disposed is in the cavity such that the body can make impact contact with the first surface portion and the second surface portion of the inner wall of the housing at least temporarily for as long as the structure is excited in the at least one mode in the at least one direction. The first surface portion or the second surface portion of the inner wall of the housing has a curved profile.

Abstract: An artificial muscle device includes a plurality of intermuscular boards and a plurality of artificial muscles disposed between the intermuscular boards in an alternating pattern and communicatively coupled to a controller. Each of the one or more artificial muscles includes a housing comprising an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region, thereby applying pressure to the intermuscular boards.

Abstract: A heat exchange system of a turbomachine, includes a heat exchanger including a support wall, a plurality of fins each extending in a radial direction from a radially outer surface of the support wall, and a cover covering the fins, wherein the cover is connected, upstream in the direction of flow of the air flow, to a first profiled wall, and downstream to a second profiled wall, the first profiled wall being arranged upstream from the fins and configured to guide and slow down the flow of air entering the heat exchanger through the fins, and the second profiled wall being arranged downstream from the fins and configured so as to accelerate the flow of air leaving the heat exchanger, wherein the cover has an at least partially curvilinear aerodynamic profile and an outer peripheral surface having surface continuity with radially outer surfaces of the first and second walls.

Abstract: A method including: (i) operating a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”) in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage medium (“HTS medium”) by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium, resulting in a hot HTS medium, wherein the PHES system is further operable in a generation mode to convert at least a portion of the stored thermal energy into electricity; and (ii) heating the hot HTS medium with an electric heater above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from the working fluid to the warm HTS medium.

Abstract: At least one aspect of the technology provides a self-contained processing facility configured to convert organic, high water-content waste, such as fecal sludge and garbage, into electricity while also generating and collecting potable water.

Abstract: This steam turbine plant comprises: a boiler; a steam turbine; a condenser; a condensate pump; a main steam line that is capable of guiding, to the steam turbine, steam generated in the boiler; a bypass line that is branched from the main steam line and is connected to the condenser; a condensate line that is capable of guiding, to the condensate pump, water in the condenser; a condensate outlet valve that is provided in the condensate line; a water supply line that is capable of guiding, to the boiler, water having a pressure which has been increased in the condensate pump; a first connection unit that is, in the condensate line, branched from a position which is closer to the condenser than the condensate outlet valve is; and a second connection unit that is, in the condensate line, branched from a position which is closer to the condensate pump than the condensate outlet valve is. The first connection unit has a first connection seating that is connectable with a first line.

Abstract: Certain examples disclose and describe apparatus and methods to provide fast response active clearance system with piezoelectric actuator in axial, axial/radial combined, and circumferential directions. In some examples, an apparatus includes an actuator to control clearance between a blade and at least one of a shroud or a hanger, the actuator including a multilayer stack of material, and wherein the actuator is outside a case. The apparatus further includes a rod coupled to the actuator and the at least one of the shroud or the hanger through an opening in the case, the rod to move the at least one of the shroud or the hanger in a radial direction based on axial movement of the multilayer stack of material.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a turbine monitoring system includes a temperature measurer configured to sense a temperature of steam to be introduced to a steam turbine, and output a sensing result of the temperature. The system further includes an electrical output measurer configured to sense an electrical output of a generator driven by the steam turbine, and output a sensing result of the electrical output. The system further includes a computing module configured to compute an erosion quantity of a moving vane of the steam turbine with water drops, based on the sensing result of the temperature that is output from the temperature measurer and the sensing result of the electrical output that is output from the electrical output measurer. The system further includes an outputting module configured to output information that is based on the erosion quantity computed by the computing module.

Abstract: A probe shielding arrangement comprises a sleeve having a radially inner end mounted to a turbine housing and a radially outer end floatingly received in a probe boss on an exhaust case. The sleeve circumscribes an annular cavity around the probe. The annular cavity is sealed at opposed ends thereof to form a dead air cavity around the probe for insulation purposes.

Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.

Abstract: A release system for an evacuation slide assembly of an aircraft includes a first actuator and in various embodiments a second actuator. The first actuator and the second actuator each comprise an SMA spring configured to be electrically energized for actuating the first and second actuators in response to an evacuation event. In various embodiments, the first actuator is configured to release a blowout panel of the evacuation slide assembly in response to the first SMA spring being electrically energized. In various embodiments, the second actuator is configured to release a soft cover of the evacuation slide assembly in response to the second SMA spring being electrically energized.

Abstract: A steam turbine includes a high pressure stage, a low pressure stage, and a controller operatively connected to at least the low pressure stage. The low pressure stage includes a first low pressure section having a sensor configured for detecting operation data of the first low pressure section, and at least one second low pressure section. The controller is programmed or configured to receive the operation data from the first sensor during operation of the first low pressure section and determine at least one performance characteristic of the first low pressure section based on the operation data. The controller is further programmed or configured to turn off the first low pressure section when the at least one performance characteristic of the first low pressure section is outside a predetermined performance threshold, and turn on the second low pressure section. A method of operating the steam turbine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pressure-regulating buoyant hydrodynamic pump is disclosed that floats adjacent to a surface of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. In response to wave-induced movements of the device, water is drawn into a mouth at a lower end of an injection tube, and water is ejected from a mouth at an upper end of the injection tube. The ejected water is deposited into an interior of the hollow buoy thereby augmenting a water reservoir therein. And water flows from the water reservoir to and through a water turbine, thereby energizing a generator, power electronics, and an electrical load. A novel water-turbine effluent buffering tube, or chamber, smooths pressure variations felt across the water turbine.

Abstract: Provided is a casing deformation amount measuring apparatus for a steam turbine including a casing, a plurality of nuts fixed to an outer surface of the casing, a plurality of bolts individually screwed, at each one side end portion thereof, in the nuts and projecting to an outer side in a diametrical direction of the casing from the outer surface of the casing, and a lagging material held by the plurality of bolts and covering the casing. The casing deformation amount measuring apparatus includes a target mounted on another side end portion of one of the bolts and exposed to the outer side in a diametrical direction of the casing with respect to the lagging material, and a distance meter that is disposed in an opposing relation to the target on the outer side in a diametrical direction of the casing and measures a distance to the target.

Abstract: A process for regasifying a fluid and producing electrical energy includes subjecting a working fluid to 1) high-pressure pumping, 2) heating in a recovery unit to obtain a heated flow, the heating step comprising a low-temperature heat recovery step 2a) and a high-temperature heat recovery step 2b), 3) further heating to obtain a further heated flow, 4) expanding in a turbine, with production of electrical energy, to obtain an expanded flow, 5) cooling in a recovery unit by heat exchange, in a step 5a) with the flow of step 2b) and in a step 5b) with the flow of step 2a) to obtain a cooled flow, 6) expanding with production of mechanical energy, and 7) condensing the flow of working fluid. After step 5), a portion of the flow of working fluid is not subjected to step 6) and is subjected to a recompressing step.

Abstract: A steam generation apparatus includes: a heat medium flow passage through which a heat medium flows; a primary economizer disposed in the heat medium flow passage; a secondary economizer disposed in the heat medium flow passage at an upstream side of the primary economizer with respect to a flow direction of the heat medium; a primary evaporator disposed in the heat medium flow passage at an upstream side of the secondary economizer with respect to the flow direction of the heat medium; a first flash tank for generating flash steam; a first feed water line configured to supply water heated by the primary economizer to the secondary economizer; and a second feed water line disposed so as to branch from the first feed water line and configured to supply the water heated by the primary economizer to the first flash tank.