Abstract: A center vent tube support device includes: an annular sleeve having an inner surface that comes into contact with an outer surface of a center vent tube; a ring formed of a pair of segments and placed between the sleeve and a shaft; and an annular nut for fixing the ring to the sleeve. An outer surface of the sleeve or the nut includes a pressurizing surface formed as a conical surface. Each ring segment includes a supporting surface formed as a cylindrical surface having a diameter equal to an inner diameter of the main shaft in a portion where the device is installed, a bearing surface formed as a conical surface having a vertex angle equal to that of the conical surface forming the pressurizing surface, a pair of side surfaces, and a pair of end faces formed as planes each spaced from a plane including the axis.

Abstract: A shape memory alloy actuator includes a bistable shape memory alloy strip having openings. The bistable shape memory alloy strip having a straight stable state and a curled stable state. The shape memory alloy actuator further includes a shape memory alloy wire located along a side of the bistable shape memory alloy strip. The shape memory alloy wire contracts from heat exposure with each end secured to one of the plurality of openings of the bistable shape memory alloy strip.

Abstract: An aircraft gas turbine engine includes a main engine shaft, a main engine shaft bearing arrangement for rotatably supporting the main engine shaft, and an electric machine including a rotor and a stator. The rotor is mounted to the main engine shaft and is rotatably supported by a further electric machine bearing arrangement extending between the rotor and the stator, and the stator is mounted to static structure of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide mechanisms for electrically connecting shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator wires of an actuation device to a power or current source via at least one connection element.

Abstract: An engine includes a housing defining an annular bore and a piston assembly disposed within the annular bore. The engine includes at least one valve configured to oscillate between a first position within the annular bore to allow the piston assembly to travel from a first location proximate to the at least one valve to a second location distal to the at least one valve and a second position to define a combustion chamber relative to the piston assembly at the second location. The engine includes an exhaust gas port disposed in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and a fuel distribution assembly configured to mix fuel from a fuel source and air from an air source into a fuel and air mixture at a location external to the combustion chamber and to deliver the fuel and air mixture to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A shape memory actuator including: a monolithic shape memory alloy; a shape memory effect (SME) section of the alloy, configured for actuation; a pseudo-elastic (PE) section of the alloy, configured as a sensor for enabling position sensing; and a control system configured to control the actuator by controlling a current through at least the SME section based on the sensor results of the PE section. A method of controlling a shape memory actuator, the method including: applying a predetermined current through the actuator; measuring a first resistance of the SME section; measuring a second resistance of the PE section; calculating an estimated position of the actuator based on the first and second resistances; and adapting the current applied to the actuator based on the estimated position. A method of manufacturing a shape memory actuator, the method including: laser processing; thermomechanically treating; and training the shape memory alloy.

Abstract: A solar energy powered Stirling duplex cooler is presented which includes a Stirling engine and a Stirling cooler. The Stirling engine drives the Stirling cooler to produce cold temperatures for refrigeration or air conditioning. The Stirling duplex cooler includes a solar concentrator to focus high temperature solar radiation upon the Stirling engine expansion space. The Stirling duplex cooler further includes a thermal storage tank to receive and store heat rejected from the cooler expansion space. This stored heat is used to operate the cooler at night. A flywheel connected operatively to engine and cooler expansion space pistons and a crankshaft connected operatively to engine and cooler compression space pistons actuate the pistons to move a working fluid between the expansion and compression spaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to an exhaust gas turbine, comprising a turbine rotor (12) having a plurality of turbine rotor blades (2) with a turbine rotor blade height H. The exhaust gas turbine further comprises a diffuser arrangement (20) having a transverse diffuser (1) and an exhaust gas collection chamber (9). The transverse diffuser (1) is arranged downstream of the turbine rotor blades (2). The transverse diffuser (1) has a curved diffuser channel (13) which opens into the exhaust gas collection chamber (9) at a diffuser channel outlet (17). A M/H ratio between an axial extension M of the exhaust gas collection chamber (9) and the turbine rotor blade height H has a value of 1.0?M/H?4.6 and a P/H ratio between a radial extension P of the diffuser arrangement (20) and the turbine rotor blade height H has a value of 2.7?P/H?4.9. A D/H ratio between a radial expansion D of the diffuser channel section (13) and the turbine rotor blade height H has a value of 2.5?D/H?3.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and to a method for compressed-gas energy storage and recovery comprising at least a first and at least a second heat exchanger, a cold liquid storage means and a hot liquid storage means, as well as a separation means. The separation means is positioned after at least a first heat exchanger. The system comprises at least one means for feeding the liquid leaving the separation means to the cold liquid storage means.

Abstract: A wave energy converter comprises a power generator, characterized by an axial length along a longitudinal axis; the power generator being configured to tilt about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The tilt results in a conversion of kinetic energy, present in a group of water waves causing the tilt, to electrical energy. The axial length is less than approximately one quarter of the average wavelength expected to be encountered in a dominant sub-group of waves within the group of waves. The power generator generates power independent of whether or not the wave energy converter is tethered to any solid object at a position that is fixed independent of water motion.

Abstract: An evaporator with integrated heat recovery incorporates a vapor tube in a combustion chamber surrounded by a water jacket. The water jacket is in fluid communication with an exhaust gas heat exchanger. Coolant circulates in series or parallel first and second coolant flows through the exhaust gas heat exchanger to recover heat from exhaust gasses leaving the combustion chamber and through the water jacket surrounding the combustion chamber to recover heat not delivered to the operating fluid. The evaporator may incorporate a condenser within the housing and in fluid communication with the exhaust gas heat exchanger and/or water jacket. The evaporator may be divided to flow in parallel through the condenser the exhaust gas heat exchanger. The water jacket may be fluidly connected with one or the other of the condenser or the exhaust gas heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method for recovering heat from a flue gas from an engine and a heat recovery system are described. The method involves contacting coolant in a vaporization chamber with a plurality of flow-modifying structures. The structures are arranged in series in the direction of the flow of coolant liquid and are each configured for modifying the flow of the coolant liquid and the vapour in said vaporization chamber.

Abstract: A method and system for heat recovery and/or power plant cooling, incorporating an ejector configured to transfer vapor from a generator to a condenser. The ejector includes a converging-diverging nozzle to create a low pressure zone that entrains a fluid. The ejector is within a cooling fluid cycle line in heat exchange combination with an exhaust flue gas. Two fluid flows of the fluid cycle line are mixed via the ejector into a combined fluid, wherein the ejector adjusts a temperature and/or pressure of the combined fluid. Condensing the combined fluid provides a cooling medium.

Abstract: A combined heat, cooling and power system is configured to generate energy as well capture a large percentage of energy that would otherwise be lost using components, including heat transfer components, embedded within a vessel to transfer energy in the form of heat to liquid within the vessel.

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.

Abstract: An engine apparatus, in which each piston assembly includes a piston attached to a connection member at a first end and a second end. Each piston of the piston assembly defines a first chamber and a second chamber separated by the piston. The first chamber and the second chamber are each defined at the first end and at the second end. Each first chamber of one piston assembly is fluidly connected to the second chamber at a different piston assembly. At least one first chamber at the first end is fluidly connected to a respective second chamber at the second end. At least one first chamber at the second end is fluidly connected to a respective second chamber at the first end.

Abstract: The articulated plenum (1) forms an intake pipe (3) which is ended with tight ball joint links (16) held by restraining means (17), said plenum (1) connecting a heat source (39) to an expansion cylinder (32) and including a plenum inlet orifice (4), a plenum outlet orifice (6) which receives a valve seat (9), and an actuator orifice (8) which receives an intake valve actuator (50) which controls a valve (10), the latter engaging with the valve seat (9) to close the intake pipe (3).

Abstract: The application discloses an energy recovery device comprising a drive mechanism; an engine core comprising a plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) elements or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements fixed at a first end and connected at a second end to the drive mechanism. A block mechanism is positioned between the engine core and the drive mechanism to restrict movement of the drive mechanism until the elements reach a desired temperature.

Abstract: The steam turbine of an embodiment has: an outer casing; an inner casing housed in the outer casing; a turbine rotor penetrating the inner casing and the outer casing; and a support beam provided in the outer casing, extending in an axial direction of the turbine rotor, and supporting the inner casing, and is disposed on a foundation. The outer casing has outer casing support portions provided in both end portions of the outer casing in the axial direction of the turbine rotor and supported by the foundation. The support beam has beam end portions provided in both end portions in the axial direction of the turbine rotor. The outer casing support portion has a support surface supporting the beam end portion. Further, the outer casing includes a height adjustment mechanism capable of accessing the beam end portion from the outside of the outer casing.

Abstract: A wave energy thermal storage type seawater thermoelectric power generation device which comprises a buoy-type energy capture system, a platform system and a mooring system. A whole friction liquid heating, thermal storage and power generation device is arranged inside a platform, which improves the adaptability of the whole system to the external environment. A flywheel and liquid friction heating method is adopted to generate heat more efficiently. Inner ratchets and pawls are used to control the movement of a flywheel so that the flywheel always rotates in one direction, and when the rotating speed of the flywheel exceeds that of the inner ratchets, the external wave energy cannot be transferred to the flywheel through the movement of the inner ratchets so as to limit the upper limit of the rotating speed of the flywheel and protect the safety of the flywheel system.