Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more thermal storage blocks that define a radiation chamber and a fluid flow slot positioned above the radiation chamber to define a fluid pathway in a first direction. The apparatus includes a heater element positioned adjacent to the radiation chamber in a second, different direction, wherein the radiation chamber is open on at least one side to the heater element. The apparatus includes a fluid movement system configured to direct a stream of fluid through the fluid pathway in the first direction.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for an aircraft. This aircraft assembly includes a geartrain, a first bladed rotor, a second bladed rotor and a rotating structure. The geartrain includes a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of intermediate gears and a carrier. The ring gear circumscribes the sun gear and is rotatable about an axis. Each of the intermediate gears is between and meshed with the sun gear and the ring gear. Each of the intermediate gears is rotatably mounted to the carrier. The carrier is rotatable about the axis. The first bladed rotor is coupled to the ring gear. The second bladed rotor is coupled to the carrier. The rotating structure is coupled to the sun gear. The rotating structure includes a turbine rotor. The rotating structure is configured to drive rotation of the first bladed rotor and the second bladed rotor through the geartrain.

Abstract: An actuator can include one or more shape memory material members and an electrostatic clutch. When an activation input is provided to the one or more shape memory material members, the one or more shape memory material members contract, which causes the actuator to morph into an activated configuration. A height of the actuator increases in the activated configuration. The electrostatic clutch can be configured to maintain the actuator in the activated configuration when the activation input to the one or more shape memory material members is discontinued. One or more processors can be operatively connected to selectively and independently activate the one or more shape memory material members and the electrostatic clutch.

Abstract: A system for offshore, direct carbon dioxide sequestration includes an offshore marine platform fixed to the ocean floor above an offshore, subsea storage reservoir. A carbon dioxide floating storage unit moored adjacent the marine platform gathers and stores carbon dioxide delivered in discreet amounts from carbon dioxide sources. Carbon dioxide sources may include carbon dioxide delivery vessels and a carbon dioxide capture system mounted on the marine platform. Once a desired volume of carbon dioxide has been gathered in the carbon dioxide floating storage unit, compressors in fluid communication with the carbon dioxide floating storage unit may be utilized to increase the pressure of the gathered carbon dioxide to a desired injection pressure, after which the pressurized carbon dioxide is pumped directly from the fixed marine platform into the subsea storage reservoir.

Abstract: An energy storage system (TES) 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. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. The delivered heat which may be used for processes including power generation and cogeneration. In one application, the TES provides higher-temperature heat through non-combustible fluid to an alumina calcination system used to remove impurities or volatile substances and/or to incur thermal decomposition to a desired product.

Abstract: An energy storage system (TES) 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. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. The delivered heat which may be used for processes including power generation and cogeneration. In one application, the TES provides higher-temperature heat through non-combustible fluid to an alumina calcination system used to remove impurities or volatile substances and/or to incur thermal decomposition to a desired product.

Abstract: An energy storage system (TES) 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. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. The delivered heat which may be used for processes including power generation and cogeneration. In one application, the energy storage system provides higher-temperature heat to a solid oxide electrolysis system to maintain in an electrolysis operating temperature range during operation and nonoperation, thereby increasing the efficiency of the temperature control.

Abstract: Techniques for providing carbon dioxide include generating thermal energy, an exhaust fluid, and electrical power from a power plant; providing the exhaust fluid and the generated electrical power to an exhaust fluid scrubbing system to separate components of the exhaust fluid; capturing heat from a source of heat of an industrial process in a heating fluid; transferring the heat of the industrial process captured in the heating fluid to a carbon dioxide source material of a direct air capture (DAC) system; providing the generated electrical power from the power plant to the DAC system; providing the thermal energy from the power plant to the DAC system; and separating, with the transferred portion of the heat of the industrial process and the provided thermal energy, carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source material of the DAC system.

Abstract: An energy storage system (TES) 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. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. The delivered heat which may be used for processes including power generation and cogeneration. In one application, the energy storage system provides higher-temperature heat to a steam cracking furnace system for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into cracked gas, thereby increasing the efficiency of the temperature control.

Abstract: An energy storage system (TES) 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. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. The delivered heat which may be used for processes including power generation and cogeneration. In one application, the energy storage system provides higher-temperature heat to a steam cracking furnace system for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into cracked gas, thereby increasing the efficiency of the temperature control.

Abstract: A scroll machine with an injection for a medium has a machine housing with a longitudinal axis. A first scroll unit with scroll channel is formed by a scroll rib. A second scroll unit has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A scroll channel formed by a second scroll rib is provided on the first side, and a high-pressure chamber is arranged on the second side of the second scroll unit and connected with the scroll channel via a passage. These are arranged in the machine housing along the longitudinal axis. The first scroll unit and the second scroll unit engage with each other to form pressure chambers. The first scroll unit can be moved relative to the second scroll unit along an orbital path. An intermediate base is provided along the longitudinal axis between the second scroll unit and the high-pressure chamber.

Abstract: A tubular wave energy converter configured to remain afloat near the surface of a wave field and trap a water column oscillating asymmetrically to the wave field in which the converter is located. Water column oscillations create a pressure flux providing motive power for a generator. The converter, generator and a powered payload making up an autonomous wave powered device are packaged to fit within and be deployed by a torpedo launcher. The autonomous device may be deployed above or beneath the surface. Device buoyant characteristics are configured to maintain the device afloat and self-righting toward an upright oriented for operation in the wave field.

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: An inlet guide vane mechanism comprises: a flow guide body having a front end section, a middle section and a rear end section, wherein the front end section, the middle section and the rear end section respectively have streamline contours in symmetry about the impeller axis and are transitionally connected by smooth curved surfaces, the flow guide body comprises an air inlet pipe arranged along the impeller axis, one end of the air inlet pipe being fixed at the front end section of the flow guide body, and the other end thereof being fixed at the rear end section of the flow guide body; a support structure for fixing the flow guide body at the air inlet end of the centrifugal compressor; and a plurality of inlet guide vanes rotatably fixed in the circumferential direction of the middle section of the flow guide body through a rotating shaft thereof, respectively.

Abstract: A pumped heat storage apparatus has a prime mover, a power take off, first and second fluid working machines functioning as a compressor (8) and as an expander (10), a working fluid circulation pathway with high and low pressure sides, and high and low temperature heat exchangers (18A-B). The heat exchangers operate using direct contact between gaseous working fluid and solid thermal storage media, such as glass beads, which move in opposite directions, typically using an augur (44). The system is reversible between energy storage and energy recovery modes and when it reverses, the direction of movement of the working fluid and the thermal storage media reverses. The apparatus may very rapidly swap between energy storage and energy recovery while having a high capacity and energy throughout.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a water-saving dynamic water outlet device, which comprising a base, an inclined water body, a swinging water assembly, an impeller assembly and a driving assembly, the inclined water body is connected with the base to form a cavity, the cavity is provided with a water outlet, the impeller assembly is arranged in the cavity, and the driving assembly can drive the swinging water assembly to swing in a reciprocating manner under the driving of the impeller assembly; the swinging water assembly is installed on the base and can swing in the base, a water passing chamber is formed in the swinging assembly, and a water passing port is formed in the side face of the swinging assembly, the water outlet is communicated with the water passing port through a communicating channel, and the plane where the water outlet is located and the plane where the water outlet is located are arranged non-parallel.

Abstract: The present application provides a steam discharge pipe blowback protection system for use with a steam discharge pipe and a flow of steam therethrough. The steam discharge pipe blowback protection system may include a vent stack pipe and a drip pan with an exit end of the steam discharge pipe extending through the drip pan and into the vent stack pipe. The drip pan includes a slide plate positioned around the steam discharge pipe such that a blowback in the flow of steam causes the slide plate to seal the drip pan.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for a powerplant. This assembly includes a housing, a primary fuel injector and an ignition system. The housing forms a combustion volume within the housing. The primary fuel injector is configured to inject primary fuel into the combustion volume. The ignition system is configured to ignite the primary fuel within the combustion volume. The ignition system includes a pilot fuel injector, a pilot ignitor, a pilot chamber, a first component and a second component. The pilot fuel injector is configured to inject pilot fuel into the pilot chamber. The pilot ignitor is configured to ignite the pilot fuel within the pilot chamber. The pilot chamber is fluidly coupled with the combustion volume through an aperture in the first component. The pilot chamber is formed by and disposed between the first component and the second component. The first component is configured from or otherwise include a ceramic.

Abstract: The invention provides a heat-storage medium conveying system for a solar-thermal power plant. The system includes a high-level tank subsystem including a high-level tank used to store the heat-storage medium. The system further includes a heat-storage medium transport subsystem. The high-level tank subsystem is connected with the heat-storage medium transport subsystem. The heat-storage medium transport subsystem includes a low-level tank. A mounting height of the low-level tank is lower than that of the high-level tank. A volume of the low-level tank is smaller than a volume of the high-level tank. The heat-storage medium can enter the low-level tank from the high-level tank partially or completely by its own gravity. The low-level tank is provided with a conveying pump, and the heat-storage medium is pumped out of the low-level tank through the conveying pump.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating power (and optionally heat) from a high value heat source using a plurality of circulating loops comprising a primary heat transfer loop, several power cycle loops and an intermediate heat transfer loop that transfers heat from the high-temperature heat transfer loop to the several power cycle loops.