Abstract: A scroll compressor includes a first oil supply passage communicating with a first compression chamber formed between an inner circumferential surface of a fixed wrap and an outer circumferential surface of an orbiting wrap, and a second oil supply passage separated from the first oil supply passage and communicating with a second compression chamber formed between an outer circumferential surface of the fixed wrap and an inner circumferential surface of the orbiting wrap, wherein the first oil supply passage includes an oil supply guide portion provided in a thrust surface of the fixed scroll in contact with the orbiting scroll to define a part of the first oil supply passage, whereby communication between the first and second compression chambers can be prevented, thereby suppressing leakage between the compression chambers, stabilizing behavior of the orbiting scroll, and facilitating formation of the orbiting scroll.

Abstract: A driving device includes a first driving element and a first flexible structure. The first driving element includes a first wire extending in a first direction and includes a shape memory alloy. The first flexible structure has a certain width in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and when the first wire contracts in the first direction, the first flexible structure has a height increasing in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction. The driving device further includes a second driving element including a second wire and a second flexible structure, the second wire extending in the first direction and including a shape memory alloy. The second flexible structure has a certain width in the second direction, and when the second wire contracts in the first direction, the second flexible structure has a height increasing in the third direction.

Abstract: A heat storage and transfer system that incorporates a primary heat storage chamber or body that is thermally insulated and which in use contains a heat storing liquid or solid; and a secondary chamber external to and adjacent the primary heat storage chamber or body through which a liquid, heat transfer fluid or steam to be heated is passed in use, the system having a heat transfer mechanism to selectively transfer thermal energy from the heat storing liquid or solid of the primary heating chamber or body to the liquid or steam to be heated in the secondary chamber. The heat transfer mechanism has a drive that moves the secondary chamber from a first position that is thermally separated from the primary chamber into a second position that is substantially inserted in a void or recess within the primary chamber or body.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a heat engine. The heat engine includes a pipe that defines a continuous internal path. The pipe includes a first pipe section and a second pipe section. The heat engine includes a first piston disposed within the first pipe section. The heat engine includes a second piston disposed within the second pipe section. The first and second pistons are magnetically linked to travel along the continuous internal path of the pipe.

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: Embodiments of systems and methods for generating power in the vicinity of a drilling rig are disclosed. During a drilling operation, heat generated by drilling fluid flowing from a borehole, exhaust from an engine, and/or fluid from an engine's water (or other fluid) jacket, for example, may be utilized by corresponding heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer to a working fluid. The heated working fluid may cause an ORC unit to generate electrical power.

Abstract: An energy generation system for converting combustible fluid from a nontraditional combustible fluid source to useable energy. The energy generation system including a fluid storage system including a compressor and at least one storage tank, the compressor configured to pressurize a combustible fluid from a combustible fluid source for storage in the one or more storage tanks; and an energy recovery system configured to receive the combustible fluid from the at least one storage tank, the energy recovery system including: a turboexpander configured to depressurize the combustible fluid received from the at least one storage tank; a motor-generator configured to input the combustible fluid as depressurized by the turboexpander, and generate electrical energy from the combustible fluid; and an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system configured to generate electrical energy based on a temperature differential between the combustible fluid input to the motor-generator and a waste heat produced by the motor-generator.

Abstract: An activation assembly for a sealed container includes a striker, a detent, and a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire connected to the detent. The SMA wire may move the detent from a first position to a second position relative to the striker based on activation of the SMA wire where, in the first position, the detent is engaged with the striker, and, in the second position, the detent is disengaged from the striker and the striker is movable from a stowed position to a deployed position.

Abstract: A method for operating a pumped thermal energy storage (“PTES”) system includes circulating a working fluid through a working fluid circuit, the working fluid having a mass flow rate and a specific heat capacity and balancing a product of the mass and the specific heat capacity of the working fluid on a high-pressure side of a recuperator and a low side of the recuperator as the working fluid circulates through the working fluid circuit. The PTES system includes a bypass in the working fluid circuit by which a first portion of the working fluid bypasses the high-pressure side of the recuperator while a second portion of the working fluid circulates through the high-pressure side of the recuperator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating electrical power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation include one or more heat exchangers incorporated into mobile heat generation units, and which will receive a heated fluid flow from one or more heat sources, and transfer heat therefrom to a working fluid that is circulated through an ORC unit for generation of power. In embodiments, the mobile heat generation units comprise pre-packaged modules with one or more heat exchangers connected to a pump of a recirculation system, including an array of piping, such that each mobile heat generation unit can be transported to the site and installed as a substantially stand-alone module or heat generation assembly.

Abstract: A scroll compressor includes: a housing; a rotary shaft; a fixed scroll including a fixed base plate, a fixed spiral wall, and an outer peripheral wall; an orbiting scroll including an orbiting base plate and an orbiting spiral wall; a compression chamber; a suction port; a suction chamber; a discharge chamber; an oil storage chamber; and an oil supply hole. The fixed scroll includes a groove disposed at the same position as the oil supply hole or on an outer side with respect to the oil supply hole in a radial direction of the rotary shaft. At least part of the groove is configured to be closed by the orbiting base plate according to a revolution of the orbiting scroll. The oil supply hole and the groove form part of an oil supply passage that supplies oil in the oil storage chamber to the suction chamber.

Abstract: An energy storage system converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) to continuous heat at over 1000° C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand. An array of bricks incorporating internal radiation cavities is directly heated by thermal radiation. The cavities facilitate rapid, uniform heating via reradiation. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. Gas flows through structured pathways within the array, delivering heat which may be used for processes including calcination, hydrogen electrolysis, steam generation, and thermal power generation and cogeneration. Groups of thermal storage arrays may be controlled and operated at high temperatures without thermal runaway via deep-discharge sequencing. Forecast-based control enables continuous, year-round heat supply using current and advance information of weather and VRE availability.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a compressor and an air conditioner with the compressor. The compressor includes: a first compression part, a second compression part, an intermediate cavity and an intermediate passage. Refrigerant discharged from the first compression part enters the intermediate cavity. The intermediate passage communicates with the intermediate cavity and an inner cavity of the second compression part. A bottom port of the intermediate passage is located at a bottom of the intermediate cavity, and air supplement refrigerant and/or the refrigerant discharged from the first compression part are used to convey accumulated oil in the intermediate cavity to the inner cavity of the second compression part. When only the refrigerant is used to convey the accumulated to the inner cavity of the second compression part, at least a part of the intermediate passage is located outside of a housing assembly of the compressor.

Abstract: A scroll compressor according to the present disclosure includes a fixed scroll, an orbiting scroll forming first and compression chambers with the fixed scroll, first and second compression chamber oil supply holes formed through the orbiting scroll to communicate with the first compression chamber and the second compression chamber, respectively, wherein when a section in which the first compression chamber oil supply hole is opened toward the first compression chamber is a first oil supply section and a section in which the second compression chamber oil supply hole is opened toward the second compression chamber, a non-overlap section between the first oil supply section and the second oil supply section may be longer than an overlap section between the first oil supply section and the second oil supply section, so as to prevent communication between the first and second compression chambers, thereby suppressing leakage between the compression chambers.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for generating power in the vicinity of a drilling rig are disclosed. During a drilling operation, heat generated by drilling fluid flowing from a borehole, exhaust from an engine, and/or fluid from an engine's water (or other fluid) jacket, for example, may be utilized by corresponding heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer to a working fluid. The heated working fluid may cause an ORC unit to generate electrical power.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for generating power in the vicinity of a drilling rig are disclosed. During a drilling operation, heat generated by drilling fluid flowing from a borehole, exhaust from an engine, and/or fluid from an engine's water (or other fluid) jacket, for example, may be utilized by corresponding heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer to a working fluid. The heated working fluid may cause an ORC unit to generate electrical power.

Abstract: An air-induction system of an engine includes a hose assembly. The hose assembly includes an elastomeric hose having a circular cross section when in a natural state, and a deformable sleeve received around the hose and configured to create an indentation in the hose for part clearance. The sleeve has an end section having a circular cross section and an intermediate section in which the sleeve projects radially inward into a sidewall of the hose such that the hose is deformed from the natural state to a deformed state in which the sidewall is deformed radially inward creating the indention and a non-circular cross section of the hose at the intermediate section.

Abstract: A labyrinth barrier is disclosed and comprises two or more members each defining respective vertical axes. One or more of the members are constructed at least in part of a shape memory material having a first energy state and a second energy state. The members are oriented relative to one another by their respective vertical axes in an original state to create a flow pathway that restricts fluid flow in a direction transverse to the respective vertical axes. The members are urged towards one another to further restrict the flow pathway when the shape memory material transitions from the first energy state to the second energy state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for harvesting geothermal energy use temperature-based flow control to optimize the extraction of thermal energy from a geothermal reservoir. In one example, a thermal transport fluid is flowed into a wellbore traversing a thermal reservoir of a formation. Flow of the thermal transport fluid into and out of the thermal reservoir is dynamically controlled at each of a plurality of injection and/or return locations in response to a downhole parameter such as temperature. For example, flow may be controlled so that the flow into the thermal reservoir is greater at the injection locations where the temperature is hotter and that the flow out of the thermal reservoir is greater at the return locations where the temperature is hotter. The thermal transport fluid produced from the return locations is then conveyed to surface to extra the thermal energy.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for charging a pumped thermal energy storage (“PTES”) system. A system may include a compressor or pump configured to circulate a working fluid within a fluid circuit, wherein the working fluid enters the pump at a first pressure and exits at a second pressure; a first heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a second heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use; a third heat exchanger through which the working fluid circulates in use, a turbine positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, configured to expand the working fluid to the first pressure; a high temperature reservoir connected to the first heat exchanger; a low temperature reservoir connected to the second heat exchanger, and a waste heat reservoir connected to the third heat exchanger.