Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method of producing unidirectional motion from a multidirectional source using magnets strategically placed to reduce the necessity of some physically interacting parts. Smoothened unidirectional motion can accomplish usable work in many applications.

Abstract: The invention discloses a power generating device and an operation method thereof based on ocean temperature difference, which belong to the field of ocean energy utilization, and include a negative thermal expansion body, a rope and a generator. The negative thermal expansion body is connected to the rope, and the rope is connected to the generator simultaneously. The negative thermal expansion body is in a contracted state when in the hotter upper seawater close to the sea surface, and the difference obtained by deducting buoyancy from gravity is relatively large. The negative thermal expansion body is in an expanded state when in colder deep seawater, and the difference obtained by deducting buoyancy from gravity is relatively small. The unbalanced force on the rope will drive the rope to move, and the generator will be driven to generate power through the rope.

Abstract: A scroll compressor for refrigerant-oil mixtures with oil return, including a housing element and a fixed scroll, wherein the housing element is connected to the fixed scroll by means of a seal in such a way that an outlet chamber is formed between the housing element and the fixed scroll, wherein, for oil separation and oil return purposes, an oil separation chamber, which has a high-pressure refrigerant outlet and an oil collection area, and an oil return channel towards a suction pressure chamber are arranged downstream of the outlet chamber, the scroll compressor being characterized in that an outlet chamber drain for draining oil into the oil return channel of the oil separation chamber is formed in the geodetic lower region of the outlet chamber.

Abstract: An actuator, a release device, and a method of actuating a release device are provided. The actuator comprises a housing defining a first path; an actuating element disposed within the first path, the actuating element being made from a shape memory alloy having a transition temperature, the actuating element being configured to couple with a power source, at least portion of the actuating element being further configured to not change shape when the power source applies a first current for a predetermined amount of time and moves at least a portion of the actuating element from the first position to a second position when the power source applies a second current; and a heat transfer material disposed in the first path between the actuating element and the housing.

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. 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 conventional lower-temperature heat source to boost the temperature of a thermal power cycle working fluid to a turbine, thereby increasing efficiency of the power cycle.

Abstract: An energy storage system has a pressure vessel that is exposed to ambient temperatures and that contains a working fluid which is condensable at ambient temperatures (CWF); a liquid reservoir in communication with one of the vessels and containing a liquid that is unvaporizable in the reservoir and in the vessel; and apparatus for delivering the liquid from the reservoir to the vessel. The CWF is compressible within the vessel upon direct contact with the liquid and is storable in a liquid state after being compressed to its saturation pressure. In a method, at least some of the liquid located in the vessel is propelled by the CWF towards a turbine to produce power. In one embodiment, a module has a first vessel having at least four ports, a second vessel at ambient temperatures, and a flow control component operatively connected to a corresponding conduit for selectively controlling fluid flow.

Abstract: A multi-stroke reciprocating thermal engine includes a cylinder head; a cylinder head cover; a crank case; crank shaft; a cam shaft; a cam cover; piston heads; and Shape Memory Alloy compression springs; a fluid tank; a radiator; a fluid pump; a heating fluid and a cooling fluid; a thermal battery with a thermal mass for storing thermal energy; a means of charging the thermal battery including a solar lens; electrical charging means and electromagnetic induction means.

Abstract: An actuator comprises a virtual actuator main axis, two endpieces, a compression spring, and a wire that is made of a shape-memory alloy and can be controlled to implement a change in length. The compression spring elastically supports the two endpieces against one another in the direction of the actuator main axis. The wire comprises at least six contiguous length portions. Each of the contiguous length portions extends and is tensioned between the two endpieces along the actuator main axis. The length portions are arranged with regard to one another in at least one of an axially symmetric way and an rotationally symmetric way with respect to the actuator main axis; and the length portions are oriented at equally sized angles with respect to a virtual reference plane to which the actuator main axis is a surface normal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a direct-drive refrigerant screw compressor, having: a housing; a compression chamber in the housing; a pair of rotors, each rotor of the pair of rotors being rotationally disposed in the compression chamber and including an outer surface with a screw-geared profile; wherein, for each rotor, the compressor includes: a plurality of bearing packs disposed within a respective plurality of bearing chambers; a working fluid disposed within each of the plurality of bearing chambers, the working fluid providing oil-free lubrication to the plurality of bearing packs; a plurality of bearing lubrication ports extending through the housing and into each of the plurality of bearing chambers, and configured for injecting the working fluid into each of the plurality of bearing chambers when the compressor is running.

Abstract: A screw compressor (100), comprising a screw rotor (110) and a spool valve (120). The screw rotor (110) comprises a suction head end (111) and an exhaust tail end (112). Gas is sucked in from the suction head end (111) and compressed gas is discharged from the exhaust tail end (112). The spool valve (120) comprises a working side (125) for sealing a compression chamber of the screw rotor (110). The working side (125) comprises a spool valve head end (121) and a spool valve tail end (122) and can do a reciprocating motion along the axis direction of the screw rotor (110). When the spool valve (120) moves to a suction capacity adjusting position (240), the spool valve head end (121) is located at the inner side of the suction head end (111) of the screw rotor (110), and a suction capacity adjusting distance (D2) is formed between the spool valve head end (121) and the suction head end (111) so that the suction capacity of the screw compressor is adjusted.

Abstract: There is disclosed a foundation system for providing support to a structural load thereon and geothermal heat exchange using a fluid. In an embodiment, the foundation system includes at least one vertical pile member configured to install into a ground surface. A central insulated tube extends in a longitudinal direction within the vertical pile member. The central insulated tube is configured to transmit a geothermal heat exchange fluid therein. An input pipe and an output pipe are configured to transmit the geothermal heat exchange fluid through the vertical pile member and extend through the sidewall of the vertical pile member. A closed end, provided at the end of the pile member is configured to provide densified soil to increase heat transfer capability and efficiency in combination with the heat exchange limited by the central insulated tube. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an actuator device having a large ratio of contraction ratio to initial tension. The actuator device according to the present disclosure comprises an actuator band and a control device. The actuator band is formed by braiding, knitting, or weaving a plurality of actuator single wires. The plurality of the actuator single wires each comprise an actuator wire and a mesh-shaped heating element which covers a side surface of the actuator wire. The actuator wire is formed of a polymer fiber. The fiber is twisted around the long axis thereof and folded so as to have a cylindrical coil shape. The control device is configured to supply electric power for heating the mesh-shaped heating element. The actuator band is heated to be contracted along the longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: “The disclosure relates to a pump at least for conveying a fluid, comprising at least one conveyor device which has at least one conveyor chamber, at least one dimensionally stable conveyor chamber element that at least partly delimits the conveyor chamber, and at least one elastically deformable conveyor element that together with the conveyor chamber element delimits the conveyor chamber and is arranged on the conveyor chamber element; at least one drive unit for acting on the conveyor device; and at least one housing for receiving the conveyor device, wherein the housing is formed at least separately from the conveyor chamber element of the conveyor device, in particular from the conveyor device as a whole, in particular such that the conveyor chamber element, in particular the conveyor device, can be removed as a whole from the housing.

Abstract: A shaft bearing assembly having a shaft supported in a bearing housing is described. The shaft bearing assembly includes a pressure reduction device for generating an underpressure inside the bearing housing. The pressure reduction device is operated by employing an incompressible fluid. Further, a method of reducing a pressure inside a bearing housing supporting a shaft is described. The method includes using an incompressible fluid for operating a pressure reduction device for generating an underpressure inside the bearing housing.

Abstract: A processing method for a camshaft sensor including a toothed wheel, rotationally integral with a camshaft, rotating in front of a fixed sensing element capable of transmitting a signal indicating the profile of the toothed wheel, the method including the following steps: receiving a tooth edge, identifying the corresponding index, performing at least one first processing operation using each index, further including the following steps: qualifying an index and performing at least one second processing operation using the index, if it is qualified.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat storage system (2) comprising a storage space (20), a heat storage medium in the storage space (20), and an extraction device (26) for extracting heat from the heat storage medium, the extraction device (26) comprising a first solid body arrangement (28) contacting the heat storage medium. The extraction device (26) further comprises a second solid body arrangement (30), wherein a solid body contact between the first solid body arrangement (28) and the second solid body arrangement (30) can be modified by increasing or decreasing a heat flow from the first solid body arrangement (28) to the second solid body arrangement (30). The present invention further relates to a method for storing and extracting heat.

Abstract: In some implementations, a controller may cause first adjustment of at least one component of a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) of the machine. The controller may cause, based on causing the first adjustment of the at least one component of the VGT, second adjustment of the at least one component of the VGT. The controller may determine, based on causing the second adjustment of the at least one component of the VGT, an amount of time for a speed of the VGT to decrease to less than or equal to speed threshold. The controller may determine, based on the amount of time, VGT assessment information. The controller may determine, based on the VGT assessment information, one or more actions to be performed.

Abstract: In order to improve a machine for depressurizing or compressing substantially gaseous media, comprising a machine casing and at least one screw rotor, which is arranged in a screw rotor bore in the machine casing, extends between a low-pressure side and a high-pressure side of the screw rotor bore, cooperates with the substantially gaseous medium and is mounted on both sides in the machine casing by means of a respective bearing set, and a motor/generator unit that is coupled or couplable to the at least one screw rotor, it is proposed that the at least one screw rotor should be provided with at least one axial support bearing that axially supports the at least one screw rotor such that a high-pressure end face of the at least one screw rotor is guided, without making contact, to an end wall, which faces this end face, of the machine casing that receives the at least one screw rotor.

Abstract: A method of operating an energy storage system (100), the system (100) comprising a thermodynamic cycle including a first thermal energy storage container (5) and an energy converter (1, 2, 3) for converting between electrical energy and thermal energy of the working fluid in the thermodynamic fluid cycle. For controlling the thermocline in the system without large thermal energy loss, it is pushed only partially out of the first thermal energy storage container (5).

Abstract: A turbine engine stage includes a plurality of airfoils extending between an inner band and an outer band. Each airfoil in the plurality of airfoils can have an outer wall defining a pressure side and a suction side, with the outer wall extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. An intervening flow passage is defined between two adjacent airfoils in the plurality of airfoils.