Abstract: A compressor module has a compressor housing with a high-pressure chamber and an outlet for a compressed refrigerant, and a separation device, accommodated in the compressor housing, for separating out a lubricant mixed with the refrigerant. The separation device has a hollow-cylindrical separation portion and a funnel-shaped outlet portion for the refrigerant, which outlet portion protrudes into the hollow-cylindrical separation portion, forming an annular space. The separation device, by use of a portion end of the separation portion, sits inside a receptacle in the compressor housing, which receptacle is connected to a lubricant reservoir. The separation device, by means of the outlet portion, at least partially sits inside the outlet. The separation device is securely held in the compressor housing by an interlocking connection such that it is prevented from twisting and/or axial displacement.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a rotor assembly including a protective core. The rotor assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a disk that is inserted into a rotating shaft and has a plurality of seating grooves in a circumferential direction thereof, a plurality of blades inserted into the seating grooves, respectively, and a protective core which is arranged between the blades and the disk, has a plurality of mounting portions on one surface thereof, and includes a plurality of weights that are attachable to and detachable from the mounting portions.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for utilizing hydrostatic and/or hydraulic pressure to generate energy and to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen are disclosed herein. A representative industrial system can comprise a storage tank containing fluid, a separator piston having a first separator compartment configured to be fluidically coupled to the storage tank and a second separator compartment, and a pressure intensifier. The pressure intensifier includes a first compartment, and a second compartment fluidically coupled to the second separator compartment. The second compartment of the pressure intensifier includes a pressure concentrator having a housing, a piston head member including arms, a plurality of cylinders each defined in part by the housing, and a drive piston head portion. Pressurized water may be depressurized by sending it through fine bore friction channels to produce water vapor and/or steam, which may then be injected into plasma reactors that separate water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Abstract: A fluid storage tank can be configured to store a cooling fluid in a liquid state and a gas state. A first heat exchanger can be configured to release heat into the fluid storage tank. A second heat exchanger can be disposed fluidly downstream of the fluid storage tank and configured to exchange heat between the cooling fluid and a heat load. A pressure control device can be disposed fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger. One of the first cooling fluid that has been heated by the second heat exchanger or a second cooling fluid different than the first cooling fluid can pass through the first heat exchanger and thereby heat upstream first cooling fluid resident in the fluid storage tank.

Abstract: An elevated or ground level vertical cylinder houses one or more propellers and/or turbines that are rotated by heated air convection within or around or above the cylinder. The rotating shafts of the propellers generate electricity in an area at bottom of or below the cylinder. For added, improved air flow directions and volumes; and, for stabilization of the rotating shaft or shafts, a circular pyramid collar structure is disposed below the cylinder. Heat is directed to the cylinder by a plurality of sun tracking concave mirrors that are positioned in concentric circles at various heights. The cylinder may be composed of concrete, ceramics, metal compounds or other materials and operate with a surface temperature that may range 70 to 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit. An optimized system may be constructed on less than one, one or more than one acre of land that could appear as a park like setting.

Abstract: A method of operating a solar energy plant and a solar plant are disclosed. Thermal energy produced in the plant is used to heat a first volume of water and charge a hot store in the plant. Electricity produced in the plant operates a heat engine or other device, such as a refrigeration unit, to extract heat and consequently cool a second volume of water and charge a cold store. As desired, energy is transferred from the hot store to a heat engine and energy is transferred from the heat engine to the cold store to operate the heat engine to produce power in the plant.

Abstract: A compressor includes a shell, a non-orbiting scroll disposed within the shell, an orbiting scroll disposed within the shell and meshed with the non-orbiting scroll, a driveshaft operable to drive the orbiting scroll relative to the non-orbiting scroll, and a ring-shaped counterweight assembly positioned on the driveshaft. The counterweight assembly has two radial surfaces and a circumferential edge between the two radial surfaces, and the counterweight assembly includes a counterweight fixed on the driveshaft and a cover attached to one of the counterweight and the driveshaft via a snap fit connection. The counterweight and the cover cooperate to define the counterweight assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scroll compressor for compressing a fluid, comprising a compression section with an inlet for sucking the fluid into the compression section, an outlet for discharging the compressed fluid out of the compression section, a stationary disk having a stationary spiral, and an orbiting disk having an orbiting spiral. The orbiting disk is orbitable relative to the stationary disk to move the fluid from the inlet to the outlet and to compress it thereby. The scroll compressor comprises an oil separator for separating oil from the compressed fluid and a direct oil return for directly returning oil from the oil separator to the compression section, the direct oil return comprising at least one orifice opening. For enabling efficient operation, the direct oil return comprises an outgassing chamber arranged between the first flow valve and the orifice opening and a fluid return for returning fluid from the outgassing chamber to the compression section.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ventilation outlet including one or more flow directing elements arranged movably in a housing and with an actuating element mounted movably on the housing with an actuating knob for actuating at least one flow directing element for controlling a ventilation gas flow and with a light source for illuminating the actuating knob. A movable mounting of the actuating element permits a movement of the actuating element with at least one degree of freedom and the light source is arranged outside the actuating knob in such a way that light can be coupled into the actuating knob and at least partially illuminates an operating side of the actuating knob from the inside.

Abstract: A system for energy conversion including a closed cycle engine containing a volume of working fluid is provided. The engine includes a double-ended piston assembly including a pair of pistons coupled to a connection member. An expansion chamber is separated from a compression chamber by the piston. The engine defines an outer end and an inner end relative to a lateral extension of the piston assembly. A heater body is positioned thermally proximal to the expansion chamber and thermally distal to the compression chamber, and the heater body is positioned at the outer end of the engine. A load device is operably coupled to the piston assembly at the inner end of the engine. The load device is positioned between the pair of pistons of the piston assembly.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a circumferential row of vanes arranged about a central engine axis. The vanes include respective internal cavities and vane outlet ports for conveying cooling air. A tangential onboard injector (TOBI) radially supports the vanes at an inner diameter of the circumferential row. The TOBI includes fore and aft annular walls and an outer diameter annular wall. The fore and aft annular walls and the outer diameter annular wall define an annular plenum. The outer diameter annular wall includes TOBI inlet ports that are connected, respectively, with the vane outlet ports to receive the cooling air from each of the vanes into the plenum. The TOBI includes axially-oriented nozzles for discharging the cooling air from the plenum in an aft direction.

Abstract: A scroll compressor includes a fixed scroll and a movable scroll. A facing surface of the fixed scroll that faces the movable scroll has a fixed oil groove. The fixed oil groove has a fixed circumferential groove portion. The fixed circumferential groove portion has a circular-arc portion that extends in the circumferential direction, and a wide portion wider in a radial direction than a groove width of the circular-arc portion. A facing surface of the movable scroll that faces the fixed scroll has a movable oil groove. The movable oil groove has a movable circumferential groove portion, and a radial groove portion that communicates with the movable circumferential groove portion. In a predetermined region of an angle range where the movable scroll makes an orbiting motion, a portion of the radial groove portion overlaps the wide portion as viewed from an axial direction.

Abstract: A turbo generator rotor assembly is provided and includes a generator, first and second bearings on a compressor-side and a turbine-side of the generator and a combination seal configuration in which leakage from the compressor cools the first bearing, the generator and the second bearing. The combination seal configuration leads to minimal leakage past the turbine with the generator and the first and second bearings being cooled with leakage flow from the compressor.

Abstract: A rotational power plant using a working fluid in a closed-cycle path. The power plant has a single-shaft, compressor and turbine connected together along the path. There is heat source heat exchanger within the path moving from the compressor to the turbine. There is a heat sink and heat exchanger within the path from the turbine to the compressor. There is an Automated Fluid Inventory Management System (AFIMS). The AFIMS includes sensors to measure temperature and pressure of the working fluid at different locations within the path. There is an electronic control unit connected to the AFIMS.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage system with fluid flow insulation, the system including heated thermal storage blocks positioned within a housing, and a method for operating the thermal energy storage system, including providing a flow of fluid into the housing, the fluid convectively extracting heat from a top region, a side region and a bottom region of the thermal energy storage system, to generate heated fluid that insulates the thermal storage blocks from the housing and a foundation of the thermal energy storage system.

Abstract: A facility for generating mechanical energy by means of a combined power cycle is disclosed herein, which includes at least means for carrying out a closed or semi-closed, constituent regenerative Brayton cycle, which uses water as a heat-transfer fluid, means for carrying out at least one Rankine cycle, a constituent fundamental Rankine cycle, interconnected with the regenerative Brayton cycle, and a heat pump (UAX) including a closed circuit that regenerates the constituent regenerative Brayton cycle, as well as to the method for generating energy using the facility.

Abstract: Provided is a sliding component capable of stably reducing the frictional resistance of a sliding surface entailing eccentric rotation. A sliding component has an annular shape with high-pressure and low-pressure fluids facing inside and outside of the sliding component and has a sliding surface relatively sliding with eccentric rotation. The sliding surface is provided with a plurality of high-pressure grooves open to a space in which the high-pressure fluid exists and a plurality of low-pressure grooves open to a space in which the low-pressure fluid exists. The high-pressure and low-pressure grooves are arranged in a circumferential direction.

Abstract: A system for energy conversion, the system including a closed cycle engine containing a volume of working fluid, the engine comprising a first chamber defining an expansion chamber and a second chamber defining a compression chamber each separated by a piston attached to a connection member of a piston assembly, and wherein the engine comprises a heater body in thermal communication with the first chamber, and further wherein the engine comprises a cold side heat exchanger in thermal communication with the second chamber, and wherein a third chamber is defined within the piston, wherein the third chamber is in selective flow communication with the first chamber, the second chamber, or both.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a compressor comprising: a vessel; a crankshaft including an annular mounting recessed groove which is formed on its outer circumferential surface; a compression mechanism disposed over the crankshaft, and configured to compress the refrigerant sucked from an outside through rotation of the crankshaft; and a stopper which consists of a first stopper member and a second stopper member, and includes a through-hole which is formed between the first stopper member and the second member. The crankshaft is inserted into the through-hole of the stopper, and the stopper is engaged and fixed on the annular mounting recessed groove.

Abstract: A method of assembling or disassembling a gear assembly (20) of a wind turbine (10), the gear assembly (20) comprising a first helical gear (28) and a second helical gear (24) configured for rotatable engagement with the first helical gear (28), the method comprising transmitting a control signal to cause: axial movement of the first helical gear (28) at an axial speed relative to the second helical gear (24) along a rotational axis of the first helical gear (28): and, rotational movement of the first helical gear (28) at a first rotation speed relative to the second helical gear (24) about the rotational axis of the first helical gear (28), wherein one of the axial speed and the first rotation speed is a predetermined speed, and the other of the axial speed and first rotation speed is determined in dependence on the predetermined speed, and wherein the control signal causes the axial and rotational movement of the first helical gear (28) to occur simultaneously to engage or disengage the first and second hel