Abstract: Tapered stator designs are engineered in a positive displacement motor (PDM) power section to relieve stator stress concentrations at the lower (downhole) end of the power section in the presence of rotor tilt. A contoured stress relief (i.e. a taper) is provided in the stator to compensate for rotor tilt, where the taper is preferably more aggressive at the lower end of the stator near the bit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for generating thermal energy from different energy sources, having a combustion-powered thermal energy source, an electric-powered thermal energy source, a steam distribution system, and a controller. The combustion-powered thermal energy source and the electric-powered each having a plurality of sensors. The controller is configured to actuate either or both of the energy sources based at least in part on information received from one or more of the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: A hydrogen production system includes: a hydrogen production device connected to an electric power system or connected to a power generation device using renewable energy and configured to produce hydrogen by electrolyzing pure water; an output control unit capable of controlling an amount of power supplied from the electric power system to the hydrogen production device according to request from the electric power system; a first pure water line for supplying pure water to the hydrogen production device; a first adjustment device capable of adjusting an amount of pure water supplied to the hydrogen production device via the first pure water line; and a first control unit configured to control the first adjustment device, based on a power amount signal indicating information on an amount of power supplied from the electric power system to the hydrogen production device.

Abstract: Variable-porosity panel systems and associated methods. A variable-porosity panel system includes a panel assembly with an exterior layer defining a plurality of exterior layer pores and a sliding layer adjacent to the exterior layer and defining a plurality of sliding layer pores. The variable-porosity panel system additionally includes a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator configured to translate the sliding layer relative to the exterior layer to modulate a porosity of the panel assembly. The SMA actuator includes an SMA element configured to exert an actuation force on the sliding layer and at least partially received within an SMA element receiver of the sliding layer. The SMA element extends out of the sliding layer only at a sliding layer first end. A method of operating the variable-porosity panel system includes assembling the variable-porosity panel system and/or transitioning the panel assembly of the variable-porosity panel system among the plurality of panel configurations.

Abstract: An energy storage plant includes a casing for the storage of a working fluid other than atmospheric air, in a gaseous phase and in equilibrium of pressure with the atmosphere; a tank for the storage of said working fluid in a liquid or supercritical phase with a temperature close to the critical temperature; wherein said critical temperature is close to the ambient temperature. The plant is configured to carry out a closed thermodynamic cyclic transformation, first in one direction in a charge configuration and then in the opposite direction in a discharge configuration, between said casing and said tank; wherein in the charge configuration the plant stores heat and pressure and in the discharge configuration generates energy.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a pump device capable of suppressing hydraulic amplitude and reducing noise or vibration associated with hydraulic amplitude while simplifying the structure. The pump device includes: a housing which defines a suction port, a discharge port, and an accommodation chamber; and a pump unit which is arranged in the accommodation chamber and which defines a pump chamber that expands and contracts to exert a pumping action including a suction stroke and a pressurization and discharge stroke on a fluid. The housing includes an air introduction hole that is opened to introduce air into the pump chamber at a predetermined opening timing immediately before the suction stroke is completed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for generating electricity from fluid produced from a subsurface formation. The disclosed systems and methods include generating electrical power using the energy content of fluids produced from the earth or hot fluids created during surface processing of the produced fluids. Fluid is obtained from a well in the subsurface formation and provided to a first power generation device where a pressure and a temperature of the fluid is adjusted to a pressure and a temperature compatible with the first power generation device using one or more valves coupled to the first power generation device. The first power generation device generates electricity from the fluid. One or more second power generation devices also generate electricity using the fluid where one of the second power generation devices is a thermoelectric generator.

Abstract: A helical gear pump includes a casing including a body (11), a front cover (12), and a rear cover (13), a pair of helical gears (23) and (24) that are housed in a hole portion formed on the body (11) and mesh with each other, and a pair of bearing cases (25) and (26) that sandwich the helical gears (23) and (24) in the hole portion. Of the helical gears (23) and (24), the number of teeth of the helical gear (23) on the driving side is larger than the number of teeth of the helical gear (24) on the driven side.

Abstract: The scroll compressor (1) includes a compression unit (6); a drive shaft (16) which is vertically orientated; upper and lower bearing arrangements (27, 28) configured to rotatably support the drive shaft (16); a centrifugal oil pump (29) including a pick-up tube (32) attached to a lower end portion (23) of the drive shaft (16) and provided with a oil inlet immersed in an oil sump (31), the centrifugal oil pump (29) being configured to deliver oil to the compression unit (6) and to the upper and lower bearing arrangements (27, 28); and a static fairing member (35) secured to a non-rotating part of the scroll compressor (1) and including a static tubular part (36) which is immersed in the oil sump (31) and which surrounds the pick-up tube (32) with a predetermined distance such that a gap is formed between the inner surface of the static tubular part (36) and the outer surface of the pick-up tube (32).

Abstract: A startup control device for adjusting a startup schedule during startup of a power generation plant, the device includes: a determining unit which determines, on the basis of a predicted value of a physical quantity corresponding to the elapsed time from startup when the power generation plant has started up on the basis of a prescribed optimal startup schedule, and an observed value of the physical quantity acquired during the startup of the power generation plant, whether the observed value will exceed the predicted value. The device also includes a speed adjusting unit which, if the determining unit determines that the observed value will exceed the predicted value, issues an instruction to decelerate the speed of progress of elapsed time from the startup in the optimal startup schedule; and a startup timer which progresses the elapsed time from the startup at a speed based on the instruction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides pumped thermal energy storage systems that can be used to store electrical energy. A pumped thermal energy storage system of the present disclosure can store energy by operating as a heat pump or refrigerator, whereby network input can be used to transfer heat from the cold side to the hot side. A working fluid of the system is capable of efficient heat exchange with heat storage fluids on a hot side of the system and on a cold side of the system. The system can extract energy by operating as a heat engine transferring heat from the hot side to the cold side, which can result in network output. Systems of the present disclosure can employ solar heating for improved storage efficiency.

Abstract: Provided is a feed screw assembly for a fluid dispense pump, comprising a feed screw; a feed screw shaft extending from the feed screw; a spanner nut about the feed screw shaft; a bearing assembly about the feed screw shaft between the spanner nut and the feed screw The bearing assembly includes an outer ring that directly abuts the spanner nut; and an inner ring that rotates inside and relative to the outer ring, wherein the inner ring is coupled to the feed screw shaft for rotating the feed screw, and wherein the inner ring is separated from the spanner nut by a gap.

Abstract: Wind turbine systems with wind directors are disclosed. The wind director is configured to simultaneously reduce drag force applied to a returning blade and increase force applied to an advancing blade. In some embodiments, the wind director includes an inlet having an inlet width configured to receive wind at a proximal end, and an outlet having an outlet width on a distal end opposite the proximal end. The wind director is configured to position near a wind turbine such that wind exiting the outlet is applied to an advancing blade of the wind turbine. Furthermore, the wind director provides a barrier to a returning blade opposite the first blade, thereby reducing drag force applied thereto. The wind director may further comprise a secondary duct which has an angled outlet and is configured to apply an additional force to the returning blade.

Abstract: Described herein is a mechanism including: a driving shaft comprising an eccentric crank and an arm part extending radially from the driving shaft, the arm part of the driving shaft comprising a piston housing; a piston in the piston housing; an eccentric lever bushing comprising an arm part extending radially therefrom, a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical hole, wherein the cylindrical hole is rotatably attached to the eccentric crank, wherein an axis of the cylindrical hole and an axis of the cylindrical outer surface are parallel and offset; wherein the piston is configured to apply a torque on the eccentric lever bushing by pushing the arm part of the eccentric lever bushing. The driving shaft may further comprise a channel configured to apply fluid pressure on the piston. This mechanism may be used in a device such as a star scroll compressor.

Abstract: An energy conversion method transfers energy from celestial bodies, including the Earth, to a vehicle apparatus by way of a gravity assist, a descent towards the surface of the celestial body, or both. The energy transferred to the vehicle apparatus may be utilized by: a kinetic energy converter apparatus converting the kinetic energy to any form of kinetic energy, potential energy, or both; doing work on any end use process or power plant apparatus immediately, later, or both; storing the kinetic energy, the potential energy, or both on an accumulator apparatus to be utilized on site, at another location, or both.

Abstract: A compressor includes a shell, a first compression member, a bearing housing and a second compression member. The first compression member is rotatable relative to the shell about a first axis. The bearing housing is coupled to the first compression member and rotatable relative to the shell about the first axis. The bearing housing includes a first pin that extends therefrom. The second compression member is rotatable relative to the shell about a second axis. The second compression member includes a base plate and an arcuate-shaped first pin pocket. The first pin pocket is formed in the base plate and receives the first pin. The first compression member is moveable between a first position in which the first pin is engaged with a surface of the first pin pocket and a second position in which the first pin is disengaged from the surface of the first pin pocket.

Abstract: A pump insert (1) for arranging in an accommodating space (104), the pump insert (1) comprising: a pump (10) comprising a pump chamber (15) and a delivery element (11) which can rotate about a rotational axis (D) and which is arranged in the pump chamber (15); an electric motor (20) comprising a rotor (21), which can rotate about the rotational axis (D), and a stator (22); and a drive shaft (30) which is mounted such that it can rotate about the rotational axis (D), wherein the rotor (21) and the delivery element (11) are connected via the drive shaft (30) in such a way that rotating the rotor (21) causes the delivery element (11) to rotate.

Abstract: A screw compressor includes plural screw rotors, plural suction-side bearings that each rotatably support the suction side of the plural screw rotors and plural discharge-side bearings that each rotatably support the discharge side of the plural screw rotors, and a casing that houses the plural screw rotors, the plural suction-side bearings, and the plural discharge-side bearings. Each screw rotor includes a lobe section with plural lobes and a suction-side shaft section and a discharge-side shaft section each disposed at both ends of the lobe section. The casing has a housing chamber that houses the lobe sections of the plural screw rotors and a lubrication path in which liquid that lubricates the plural suction-side bearings circulates. In the lubrication path, respective passages to lubricate each of the plural suction-side bearings are connected in series and a most downstream part is connected to the housing chamber.

Abstract: A system for air compression, storage and expansion may include a low-pressure and a high-pressure compressor, a motor, a heat storage, an air storage volume, a high-pressure and a low-pressure turbine, and a generator. The system may further include a first air path connecting sequentially the low-pressure compressor, the heat storage, the high-pressure compressor, and the air storage volume. The system may further include a second air path connecting sequentially the air storage volume, the high-pressure turbine, the heat storage, and the low-pressure turbine.

Abstract: A system includes a generator using a fluid mixture obtained via a generator inlet, a compressor having a compressor inlet that is connected to a generator outlet by a first set of conduits, a second set of conduits connected to the compressor outlet and the generator inlet, and a sensor in communication with the second set of conduits, where a portion of the fluid mixture includes gas from a hydrocarbon well, and where exhaust fluid of the generator is provided to the compressor. A process includes obtaining a target fluid property and a fluid measurement using the sensor and modifying a parameter of a fluid control device to modify a first flow rate of the flow of the exhaust fluid through the second set of conduits relative to a second flow rate of the flow of the gas provided by the hydrocarbon well through the first set of conduits.