Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for separating dirt particles from the working medium of a turbine (10). The turbine (10) comprises at least one rotor (11) which is arranged in a housing (17). A swirl generator (20) is provided that sets the working medium and the dirt particles in a spiral-shaped rotational movement along a principal axis (22) by means of the geometry of the swirl generator (20) and thereby separates the dirt particles from the working medium. The swirl generator (20) is designed in such a way that the working medium experiences a reversal of the speed component parallel to the principal axis (22) within the swirl generator (20).

Abstract: In a method of operating a fluid container arrangement, a fill level determination device, used to determine a fill level in a fluid container, checks, when desiring to withdraw fluid from the fluid container, for the presence of a cavity in a fluid contained in a fluid container, and, when the presence of the cavity is affirmative, detects a change in volume of the cavity. The heat output of the heating device is raised, when the volume of the cavity has increased, and the heat output of the heating device is lowered, when the volume of the cavity has decreased.

Abstract: A device for holding and deploying apparatus for use in space includes a fixed body and a movable body coaxially connected to each other through balls displaceable from a retention position to a release position, and a shape memory alloy actuator remote-controllable to displace the balls from the retention position to the release position and the ensuing separation of the moveable body from the fixed body under the action of axial thrust elastic means. The shape memory alloy actuator consists of a torsionally-deformable bar.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a liquid-driven nano-porous actuator and the application thereof, and belongs to the field of nano material actuators. According to the present invention, by changing the content of the liquid in the nano-porous material, the interface between the surface liquid of the nano-porous material and air is exchanged between flat and curved states, so as to change the compressive stress acting on the nano-porous material from the surface tension of the liquid and change the elastic deformation of the nano-porous material, thus driving the nano-porous material to contract and expand in a reversible manner and further realizing driving performance.

Abstract: A free piston Stirling engine with a heat exchanger that has an inner component part assembled within an outer component part. The outer component part has a tubular outer wall and circumferentially spaced ridges that extend radially inward from the tubular outer wall and are separated from each other by inward opening slots. The inner component part has a tubular inner wall and circumferentially spaced ridges that extend outward from the inner tubular wall and are separated from each other by outward opening slots. The ridge widths of the outer and inner component parts are less than the slot widths of the corresponding slots into which they fit. The two component parts are assembled with the ridges of each component part extending into the slots of the other component part to form gas passages between interfacing sidewall surfaces of the ridges.

Abstract: A waste heat recovery apparatus, for use with an internal combustion engine, includes a working fluid circuit to circulate working fluid, a boiler connected on the working fluid circuit and adapted to recover waste heat from a source to heat working fluid, an expander connected on the working fluid circuit to receive working fluid from the boiler, and, a heating jacket associated with the expander. The working fluid circuit downstream of the boiler includes a first branch connecting to an inlet of the expander and a second branch connecting to the heating jacket. A valve is connected on the working fluid circuit to selectively control working fluid flow to one of the first branch for expansion and recovering work or to the second branch to heat the expander responsive to a temperature of the working fluid.

Abstract: System (2) for carrying out a gas based thermodynamic cycle in which a gas is compressed in at least one compressor (8) in one part of the cycle and is expanded in at least one expander (10) operating simultaneously in an upstream or downstream part of the cycle, wherein the change in absolute internal power with gas mass flow rate differs as between the compressor and the expander and wherein the system comprises a control system configured to make selective adjustments so as individually to control, either directly or indirectly, the respective gas mass flow rates through each of the compressor and expander. The system may be an energy storage system including a pumped heat energy storage system configured to provide independent graduated control of system pressure and output power by selective adjustment of the respective gas mass flow rates through each half-engine.

Abstract: A system includes an exhaust treatment system configured to treat emissions from a combustion engine via a catalyst. The system includes a controller configured to obtain an operating parameter indicating catalyst performance. The controller is configured to determine a deterioration factor indicating deterioration of the catalyst based at least in part on the operating parameter. The controller is configured to determine an adaptation term configured to modify an air-fuel ratio command for the combustion engine to account for the deterioration.

Abstract: A combustion gas cooling apparatus includes a cooling duct from which a cooling gas at a temperature lower than the temperature of a combustion gas flows out into a mixing duct to form a mixed gas in which the combustion gas and the cooling gas are mixed. The cooling duct has cooling gas flow inlets into which the cooling gas flows, a plurality of cooling gas outflow apertures through which the cooling gas having flowed into the cooling gas flow inlets flows out into the mixing duct, and distribution passages through which the cooling gas having flowed into the cooling gas flow inlets is distributed to the plurality of cooling gas outflow apertures.

Abstract: In a control apparatus of an engine having a first fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into an intake path of the engine, a second fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine, a supercharger for supercharging intake air for the engine, and a waste gate valve for opening and closing an exhaust bypass passage for bypassing a turbine of the supercharger, the waste gate valve is controlled to act in an opening direction in accordance with an increase in the injection amount of fuel injected from the second fuel injection valve, in a region where the injection amount of fuel from the second fuel injection valve is larger than the injection amount of fuel from the first fuel injection valve.

Abstract: In a control apparatus of an engine having a first fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into an intake path of the engine, a second fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine, a supercharger for supercharging intake air for the engine, and a waste gate valve for opening and closing an exhaust bypass passage for bypassing a turbine of the supercharger, the waste gate valve is controlled to act in a closing direction in response to an increase in the injection amount of fuel injected from the first fuel injection valve, in a region where the injection amount of fuel from the first fuel injection valve is larger than the injection amount of fuel from the second fuel injection valve.

Abstract: A control apparatus of an engine comprises: fuel injection control device that controlling injection amounts of fuel injected from a first fuel injection valve, which injects fuel into an intake path of the engine, and a second fuel injection valve, which injects fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine, in accordance with the operating state of the engine; and valve control device that changes the open/closed state of the waste gate valve in accordance with the injection amounts of fuel injected from the first fuel injection valve and the second fuel injection valve. The fuel injection control device increases the injection amount of fuel injected from the second fuel injection valve in accordance with an increase in the load or speed of the engine. The valve control device changes the open/closed state of the waste gate valve in the sequence of an opening direction, a closing direction, and an opening direction as the injection amount of fuel injected from the second fuel injection valve increases.

Abstract: A method and a device for operating a waste heat utilization device for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The waste heat utilization device contains a waste heat utilization circuit in which a working medium circulates. A conveyor, an evaporator, an expansion machine, and a condenser are disposed in the waste heat utilization circuit. A basic adjustment of the waste heat utilization circuit is provided, which as a function of a heat input into the working medium adjusts the mass flow rate at the conveyor and/or the ratio between high pressure and low pressure at the expansion machine. In addition, a pilot control is provided which recognizes a change of the operating point of the internal combustion engine and, when the operating point is changed, controls the condensation output of the condenser in accordance with a mass distribution of the working medium in the waste heat utilization circuit optimized to the new operating point.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for attenuating sound from an engine exhaust. The relative lengths of the expansion chambers and other components within the apparatus provide a quadruple tuning effect which attenuates sound over a wide frequency range. Attenuation at higher frequencies is also increased and extended by the use of acoustically lined internal baffle tubes inside the apparatus housing.

Abstract: A system comprises an injection well in communication with an underground reservoir containing a native methane-containing solution at a first temperature, a production well in communication with the reservoir, a supply system providing a non-water based working fluid to the injection well at a second temperature lower than the first temperature, wherein exposure of the working fluid to the native fluid causes a portion of methane to come out of solution to form a production fluid of at least a portion of the working fluid and the portion of methane, and exposure to the first temperatures heats the production fluid to a third temperature higher than the second temperature, wherein the heated production fluid enters the production well, and an energy recovery apparatus in communication with the productions well for converting energy in the production fluid to electricity, heat, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A rotary heat engine including a central crankshaft and a plurality of cylinder assemblies and a heat exchanger assembly. At least one of the plurality of cylinders, and preferably all of the plurality of cylinders includes a cylinder member, a piston member slidably positionable within the cylinder member, a connecting rod and a rolling diaphragm. The rolling diaphragm is positioned between the piston and the cylinder assembly to define a working volume which is in fluid communication with an opening that is in communication with the heat exchanger body.

Abstract: A heat/acoustic wave conversion component having a first end face and a second end face, includes a partition wall that defines a plurality of cells extending from the first end face to the second end face, inside of the cells being filled with working fluid that oscillates to transmit acoustic waves, the heat/acoustic wave conversion component mutually converting heat exchanged between the partition wall and the working fluid and energy of acoustic waves resulting from oscillations of the working fluid. Hydraulic diameter HD of the heat/acoustic wave conversion component is 0.4 mm or less, where the hydraulic diameter HD is defined as HD=4×S/C, where S denotes a cross-sectional area of each cell perpendicular to the cell extending direction and C denotes a perimeter of the cross section, and the heat/acoustic wave conversion component has three-point bending strength of 5 MPa or more.

Abstract: A Stirling engine includes: a housing for storing a heating medium in an internal space, a rotor eccentrically disposed in the housing and having a plurality of vane slots, a plurality of vanes inserted into the vane slots, a heater for heating the heating medium in the housing, a radiator for cooling the heating medium in the housing, and an output shaft coupled to the rotor so as to output power to the outside. In the Stirling engine, heat absorption portion-side vanes and heat radiation portion-side vanes are installed to the single rotor in the housing, a heat absorption portion and a heat radiation portion are formed in a single enclosed space in the housing, and the heating medium continuously undergoes isothermal expansion and isothermal compression under a constant volume, thereby generating power.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for removing undesired pollutants from exhausts streams of spark-ignited internal-combustion engines in vehicles while producing electrical energy as a byproduct. The apparatus includes a reduction catalyst, a thermoelectric generator (TEG), and an oxidation catalyst. The TEG cools the exhaust stream and generates electricity. The exhaust stream is oxygenated after passing through the TEG and prior to passing through the oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: An assembly for controlling air flow to an engine includes a first supercharger (20) and a second supercharger (22). The superchargers are arranged in parallel with one another and in series with the throttle (70) in the air flow to the engine cylinders, and are configured to be operatively connectable with the engine upstream in the air flow to the cylinders. The assembly includes a load device (38) selectively connectable to the first supercharger (20) and selectively alternately operable to provide energy to or receive energy from the first supercharger. The superchargers are configured to be separately selectively operatively connectable with the throttle and the crankshaft to enable different modes of operation.