Abstract: An energy storage and retrieval system is disclosed. The system includes a heat generating layer for generating thermal energy based on input electrical energy, a thermal energy storage layer located to receive thermal energy from the heat generating layer, the thermal energy storage section layer including a thermal energy storage material to store thermal energy. The system also includes a thermal energy retrieval layer thermally connectable to the thermal energy storage material and configurable to retrieve thermal energy from the thermal energy storage layer where the heat generating layer and the thermal energy retrieval layer are separated by the thermal energy storage layer.

Abstract: A system for extracting geothermal heat energy: includes a geothermal well formed in surrounding crust material and extending from a well top part down to a depth where the surrounding crust material has elevated geothermal temperatures. The geothermal well includes a heat medium contained within geothermal well walls. The heat medium is heated at a well bottom part by heat extracted from the surrounding crust material, evaporating and rising to carry heat energy towards the well top part. A heat extractor, extracts heat energy from the heat medium at the well top part. At least one heat conductive path extends outwardly from the geothermal well into the crust material to conduct geothermal heat from the crust material surrounding the path towards the well bottom part.

Abstract: Device for storing energy, using a physical object, such as a mass or buoyant object floating in fluid. A mass is repositioned to greater altitude in a gravitational field to a position of higher potential energy. A buoyant object is forcibly submerged into a fluid, displacing fluid, to a position of higher potential energy. The stored potential energy may be recovered with extremely low loss regardless of the state of charge of the system, or length of time of the storage. Maintaining the charge is indefinitely lossless.

Abstract: An apparatus includes first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure. The apparatus also includes a cylinder defining a space configured to receive the refrigerant from the first and second tanks. The apparatus further includes a piston passing into the cylinder and having a head, where the head divides the space within the cylinder into a first volume for the refrigerant from the first tank and a second volume for the refrigerant from the second tank. In addition, the apparatus includes a converter configured to translate linear movement of the piston into rotational motion and a generator configured to produce electrical power based on the rotational motion.

Abstract: A disclosed system for reducing particulate matter in an exhaust gas includes: a first conductor provided in the form of a tubular body through which a gas stream flows, and to which a ground power supply is connected; a second conductor disposed within the first conductor and having an emitter which comes into contact with the gas stream and generates non-thermal plasma (NTP); and an insulator for electrically separating the second conductor from the first conductor, in which a predetermined level of direct current voltage is continuously applied to the second conductor.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for an athlete to variably control the flexibility and stiffness parameters of a piece of athletic equipment to select a desired performance characteristic of the equipment based on the stiffness parameter. According to certain embodiments discussed herein, an item of sporting equipment may be embedded, impregnated, lined, or encased using nitinol components, wherein the nitinol components may themselves be treated using a specific method in order to achieve the desired transformation results, as described below.

Abstract: A heat exchange system includes a heat-absorbing substance such as Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), a heat dissipation apparatus, a water storage tank, a heating portion, and a cooling portion. The heating portion is coupled between the LNG and the water storage tank. The cooling portion is coupled between the heat dissipation apparatus and the water storage tank. The cooling portion transfers heat of the heat dissipation apparatus to water of the water storage tank to heat the heating portion, and the heating portion transfers heat of the water of the water storage tank to the LNG.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving efficiency of an exhaust gas after treatment system of a vehicle. In one example, a first group of engine cylinders is operated with a rich air-fuel ratio continuously while a second group of engine cylinders is operated with a lean air-fuel ratio continuously. The rich and lean exhaust gases from the two groups of engine cylinders may be oxidized within an exhaust gas after treatment system to improve catalyst efficiency.

Abstract: A rotary liquid piston compressor and a power generation system including a first fluid loop. The first fluid loop includes a pump that circulates a liquid. A second fluid loop that generates power by circulating a supercritical fluid. The second fluid loop includes a turbine that rotates and powers a generator as the supercritical fluid flows through the turbine. A rotary liquid piston compressor fluidly coupled to the first fluid loop and the second fluid loop. The rotary liquid piston compressor exchanges pressure between the liquid circulating in the first fluid loop and the supercritical fluid circulating in the second fluid loop.

Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided that may include a frame; a non-orbiting scroll provided with a non-orbiting wrap formed on a first side surface of a non-orbiting end plate in an axial direction; an orbiting scroll provided with an orbiting wrap formed on a first side surface of the orbiting end plate in the axial direction and engaged with the non-orbiting wrap to form a compression chamber; a plurality of first guides disposed between the frame and the non-orbiting scroll to be located radially outward from the non-orbiting wrap; and a plurality of second guides provided on the orbiting end plate to be located radially outward from the orbiting wrap, respectively, so as to allow an orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll together with the first guides.

Abstract: A filter is disposed on an exhaust path of the internal combustion engine to capture particulate matter exhausted from the internal combustion engine. A controller is caused to execute regeneration control that incinerates the particulate matter captured on the filter. The controller accomplishes the regeneration control by executing lean incineration control and stoichiometric incineration control in combination with each other. The lean incineration control incinerates the particulate matter, keeping an air-fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine to be leaner than a logical air-fuel ratio. The stoichiometric incineration control incinerates the particulate matter, oscillating the air-fuel ratio of the internal combustion engine about the logical air-fuel ratio as an average air-fuel ratio at a predetermined first cycle.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order; a casing surrounding the compressor section, the combustion section, and the turbine section; a first system comprising a first system fluid line, the first system fluid line including a first system fluid therein; and a second system including a hydraulic motor, the hydraulic motor positioned within the casing and fluidly coupled to the first system fluid line such that a flow of the first system fluid through the first system fluid line drives the hydraulic motor, the second system further including a fluid pump and a second system fluid line, the hydraulic motor drivingly coupled to the fluid pump, the fluid pump operable with the second system fluid line for providing a flow of a second system fluid through the second system fluid line during operation.

Abstract: An elongate fiber artificial muscle includes or consists of an elongate carbon or glass fiber and at least a partial coating of a polymer, and preferably a full shell coating to form a core-shell arrangement, that is volumetrically responsive to thermal changes or to moisture changes. Additional elongate fiber artificial muscles of the invention include a plurality of elongate carbon or glass fibers that are infiltrated between the fibers with a polymer that is volumetrically responsive to thermal changes or to moisture changes. In a fabrication method, the rheology (flow characteristic) of a polymer precursor is adjusted with solvent so it is less viscous. A fiber or plurality of fibers (pre-twisted or untwisted), such as a tow is dipped in the polymer precursor. The fiber or fibers is then pulled out of the polymer precursor and hung to allow polymer to distribute and then cured and can be twisted to coil prior to curing.

Abstract: Solar/Rankine steam cycle hybrid concentrating solar power (CSP) systems and methods for designing or retrofitting existent natural circulation boilers using saturated or superheated steam produced by direct steam generation (DSG) or Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) steam generators and CSP solar field technology systems are described. Additionally, methods and processes of retrofitting the existent Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG) or biomass, gas, oil or coal fired boilers to operate integrated to a molten salt/water-steam heat exchangers are disclosed. The hybrid CSP systems are highly efficient due to the increase of steam generated by the solar section comprising either the DSG receiver or the molten salt-water-steam sequential heat exchangers, pre-heaters, boiler/saturated steam generators, super-heaters and re-heaters.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine, in particular gas engine, with multiple cylinders, wherein in the cylinders a mixture of charge air and a gaseous fuel can be combusted, with a first turbocharger, in which exclusively the charge air can be compressed, and with a second turbocharger, in which exclusively the gaseous fuel can be compressed.

Abstract: A method for generating underground energy using water from a water mass above an underground recipient is disclosed. The method comprises two modes; namely a 5 hydroelectric mode and a thermal mode, and steps for switching between the modes.

Abstract: An apparatus includes first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure. The apparatus also includes at least one generator configured to generate electrical power based on a flow of the refrigerant between the tanks. The apparatus further includes a collector configured to transfer solar thermal energy to one of the tanks to heat the refrigerant in that tank and/or radiate thermal energy from one of the tanks into an ambient environment to cool the refrigerant in that tank. In addition, the apparatus could include first and second insulated water jackets each configured to receive and retain water, where the first tank is located within the first insulated water jacket and the second tank is located within the second insulated water jacket.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a support structure of a wind turbine, in particular a main frame. An object is to develop an ideal load distribution and stiffness distribution of the main frame with a least possible use of material. The main frame is intended optimally to fulfill the requirements with respect to the operating and extreme loads and the stiffness for the given space conditions inside the nacelle. The main frame has a top, bottom, front and rear side, and includes a circumferential annular wall between the bottom and the top side. The main frame includes two lateral portions of the wall that extend between the front side and the rear side of the main frame. Additionally included are two lateral flanges on the top side of the main frame, a plurality of arms being arranged inside the wall. The arms are connected to the wall via a box profile.

Abstract: A method for operating a steam turbine where steam turbine has at least two sub-turbines, wherein the steam turbine is paired with a steam turbine controller which has a sub-turbine controller for each of the sub-turbines, and each sub-turbine controller compares respective target values with respective actual values of the respective sub-turbine during operation in order to determine a respective control deviation for each sub-turbine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a soft actuator moving linearly against external stimuli whose expansion and contraction can be actively controlled, suggesting that the actuator of the invention overcomes the problems of the conventional soft actuators, The soft actuator of the present invention can be repetitively driven quickly and accurately by controlling heating and cooling by using thermoelectric effect and, the soft actuator of the present invention can realize bending, tensioning, compression, and rotational driving of a tubular device containing a driver.