Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a catalyst temperature. In one example, a method includes throttling in response to the catalyst temperature exceeding a threshold temperature. The throttling includes adjusting an intake throttle position to a more closed position. The throttling further includes increasing a turbine work extraction via adjusting a position of a plurality of turbine vanes to decrease a turbine outlet temperature.

Abstract: The present application provides a thrust pad assembly for a turbomachine. The thrust pad assembly may include a thrust pad machining with an insert flange, a polymer liner positioned within the insert flange, and an oil feed configuration. The oil feed configuration includes one or more oil output ports extending through the thrust pad machining and an oil feed groove in the polymer liner.

Abstract: Systems are provided for a sensor. In one example, a system includes a cover for a sensor mounted in a turbine casing, wherein the cover comprises a first opening configured to admit exhaust gases in a first direction normal to gravity and a second opening configured to admit exhaust gases in a second direction opposite gravity.

Abstract: A gravitational energy storage system is provided that includes one or more tracks extending from a lower storage yard to an upper storage yard, a plurality of mass cars moveable along the track, a conveyance system comprising at least a first tether, and a first power module associated with the first tether to drive a respective one of the first tethers to move the plurality of mass cars from the lower storage yard to the upper storage yard, and to dispatch energy when the plurality of mass cars are moved from the upper storage yard to the lower storage yard.

Abstract: A variable nozzle device includes: a nozzle mount; a plurality of nozzle vanes; a drive ring being having a plurality of receiving portions disposed at different positions along a circumferential direction; and a plurality of lever plates each having a fixed portion to be fixed to corresponding one of the plurality of nozzle vanes and an engaging portion to be engaged with corresponding one of the plurality of receiving portions of the drive ring. The receiving portions include a first-side guide surface and a second-side guide surface. The engaging portions each include a first-side roll surface which is to be in contact with the first-side guide surface and a second-side roll surface which is to be in contact with the second-side guide surface. The first-side roll surface includes a lever-plate-side linear portion extending linearly in at least a part of a range which is to be in contact with the first-side guide surface.

Abstract: An engine body may include a piston body comprising a piston chamber and a regenerator body comprising a regenerator conduit. An engine body may include a working-fluid heat exchanger body comprising a plurality of working-fluid pathways fluidly communicating between the piston chamber and the regenerator conduit. Additionally, or alternatively, an engine body may include a heater body comprising a plurality of heating fluid pathways and the plurality of working-fluid pathways. The heating fluid pathways may have a heat transfer relationship with the working fluid pathways. The working-fluid pathways may fluidly communicate between the piston chamber and the regenerator conduit. The engine body may include a monolithic body defined at least in part by the piston body, the regenerator body, and the working-fluid heat exchanger body, and/or defined at least in part by the piston body, the regenerator body, and the heater body.

Abstract: An e-charger includes a motor case that encases the motor and an outer housing that houses the motor case. The e-charger additionally includes a cooling system with passages cooperatively defined by the outer housing and the motor case. First and second longitudinal passages extend between the first and second ends of the motor, and a second longitudinal passage extends between the second and first ends of the motor. The end passage fluidly connects the first and second longitudinal passage. The cooling system is configured for directing flow of the coolant from the inlet, through the first longitudinal passage in a first longitudinal direction with respect to the axis, through the end passage, and back through the second longitudinal passage in a second longitudinal direction with respect to the axis.

Abstract: A mixer is mounted in an aircraft. A rear end part of a cylindrical portion of the mixer is divided by a guide vane into a plurality of divided tubular portions. In the plurality of divided tubular portions, a notch nozzle is formed on an outer wall of the cylindrical portion. A plurality of guide holes are formed to extend from the outer wall of the cylindrical portion to a rear end surface of the guide vane.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust system. In one example, the exhaust system includes an aftertreatment device and a recirculation passage. A recirculation valve is positioned in the recirculation passage and configured to control an amount of recirculated exhaust gas flowing through the recirculation passage to the aftertreatment device. The exhaust system further includes a diverter valve configured to control a flow of engine exhaust gases to different portions of a catalyst of the aftertreatment device.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor includes: an impeller; an inlet pipe portion forming an intake passage to introduce air to the impeller; and a throttle mechanism capable of reducing a flow passage area of the intake passage upstream of the impeller. The throttle mechanism includes an annular portion configured to move between a first position and a second position upstream of the first position in an axial direction of the impeller, and a strut supporting the annular portion. The strut extends toward at least one of an outer side in a radial direction of the impeller or a downstream side in the axial direction of the impeller with an increase in distance from the annular portion.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing emissions during an engine cold start. In one example, a method may include, during emission control device heating, injecting heated air into an exhaust runner of each cylinder of the engine during an exhaust stroke of the corresponding cylinder, after a blowdown exhaust pulse. In this way, an amount of hydrocarbons in feedgas provided to the emission control device prior to the emission control device reaching its light-off temperature may be reduced.

Abstract: In a method, an electrical grid is monitored. Based on monitoring the electrical grid, it is determined that one or more criteria are satisfied at a first time. In response to determining that the one or more criteria are satisfied at the first time, water is moved from an aquifer located at a first elevation to a reservoir located at a second elevation. The first elevation is lower than the second elevation. The water is moved from the reservoir through a heat exchanger, and heat is transferred using the water. Subsequent to moving the water through the heat exchanger, the water is moved into the aquifer.

Abstract: New and/or alternative approaches to physical plant performance control that can account for the health of the physical plant. A physical plant may be controlled by configurable controller, which may further comprise a low level controller associated with a higher level controller such as an Engine Control Unit (ECU). The ECU uses modeling to calculate an estimated operating value of a first parameter in the physical plant, and also uses a sensor to measure an operating value of the first parameter. The measured and modeled values are compared to determine the state of health (SOH) of the physical plant or a component thereof. The SOH may be stored, transmitted, or used to modify one or more control values used by the low level controller.

Abstract: Each of foils (22) includes: a top foil portion (22a) including a bearing surface (S); and a back foil portion (22b), which is formed on an upstream side of the top foil portion (22a), and is arranged so as to overlap behind the top foil portion (22a) of the adjacent foil (22) (on a side opposite to the bearing surface (S)). An angle (E) covering a radially inner end of an overlapping portion (P) between the adjacent foils (22) is smaller than an angle (D) covering a radially outer end of the overlapping portion (P).

Abstract: Thermal energy battery, comprising: an evaporator-condenser thermal energy storage (ec-TES), with an end for vapor and an end for liquid, comprising one-phase stationary material storing at least 70% of the thermal energy stored within the ec-TES, a storage tank for vapor and liquid (ST), with a vapor part at a higher elevation and a liquid part at a lower elevation, a vapor line, arranged to the vapor end of the ec-TES, for inlet and outlet of vapor, a liquid line arranged between the liquid end of the ec-TES and the liquid part of the ST, a tank vapor line arranged from the vapor part of the ST to the vapor line or the vapor end of the ec-TES, and an evaporation control valve (CV6) in the tank vapor line.

Abstract: A method for controlling pitching of at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine includes receiving, via one or more position localization sensors, position data relating to the at least one rotor blade of the wind turbine. Further, the method includes determining, via a controller, a blade deflection signal of the at least one rotor blade based on the position data. Moreover, the method includes determining, via a computer-implemented model stored in the controller, a pitch command for the at least one rotor blade as a function of the blade deflection signal and an azimuth angle of the at least one rotor blade.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for extracting heat energy from geothermal briny fluid. A briny fluid can be extracted from a geothermal production well and delivered to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can receive the briny fluid and transfer heat energy from the briny fluid to a molten salt. The molten salt can be pumped to a molten salt storage tank that can serve as energy storage. The briny fluid can be returned to a geothermal source via the production well. The briny fluid can remain in a closed-loop system, apart from the molten salt, from extraction through return to the geothermal production well.

Abstract: A device is disclosed herein which provides a domed cover of a combustion chamber enclosure applicable for use in Stirling Cycle engines, Ericsson Cycle engines, Rankine Cycle engines or other external combustion heat engine types which allows for the free flow of combustion air from the outer margins of the device toward the combustion air inlet in a vortexual fluid flow to achieve a more balanced stoichiometric ratio of the fuel/air mixture before ignition. This may be achieved by the employment of vanes to direct combustion air in a swirling vortexual flow as the combustion air enters the combustion chamber. Thermal barrier coatings and insulative materials may also be employed to minimize parasitic heat loss.

Abstract: Electric power is accumulated in another form without using a storage battery so as to more effectively utilize electric power generated by solar power generation. A cold heat source storage system includes a freezer operated by directly utilizing the output power of a solar power generation device, a cold heat source storage chamber cooled by the freezer, a number of water tanks installed in the cold heat source storage chamber, and a heat exchange device installed in the cold heat source storage chamber. The system can be included in heat source storage system, which includes a heater operated by directly utilizing the output power of the solar power generation device, a heat source storage tank which stores water heated by the heater, and a heat exchange device installed in the hot heat source storage tank.

Abstract: A variable-capacity turbocharger includes a nozzle flow passage in which a gas is capable of flowing therethrough from a scroll flow passage toward a turbine impeller, a connecting pin connecting flow passage wall surfaces forming the nozzle flow passage, and nozzle vanes arranged in a rotation direction of the turbine impeller. At least one of the flow passage wall surfaces includes an inner peripheral side wall surface extending radially inward of a first reference line extending in the rotation direction, an outer peripheral side wall surface which is a plane extending radially outward from a second reference line extending in the rotation direction and parallel to a plane orthogonal to rotation axes of the nozzle vanes, and an intermediate wall surface which is a plane extending from the first reference line to the second reference line and parallel to the plane extending orthogonal to the rotation axes of the nozzle vanes.