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: In one aspect of an inventive concept, a product includes a substrate and a material formed from a precursor powder, where the material includes a plurality of particles from the precursor powder deposited on the substrate. The plurality of particles have structural characteristics defined by an impact of the particles on the substrate and/or on previously deposited particles. Moreover, the material has a microstructure, where the microstructure of the material is substantially the same as a microstructure of the precursor powder. The microstructure of the material is characterized by at least one property, where the at least one property is substantially the same as a corresponding at least one property of the precursor powder.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnet includes a three-dimensional structure with nanoscale features, where the three-dimensional structure has a near net shape corresponding to a predefined shape.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnet includes a plurality of layers, each layer having a microstructure of sintered particles. The particles in at least one of the layers are characterized as having preferentially aligned magnetic orientations in a first direction.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosure may include systems and methods for boundary control during steam turbine acceleration. According to an example embodiment, the method can include receiving an indication the turbine is in an initial acceleration phase; receiving speed control parameter data from a plurality of sensors; receiving boundary control parameter data from a plurality of sensors; providing a control valve configured for controlling steam flow entering the turbine; determining the control valve position based on received speed control parameter data; determining the control valve position based on received boundary control parameter data; adjusting at least one boundary control parameter to the at least one boundary control parameter limit during turbine startup, wherein the value of a speed control parameter is simultaneously adjusted based on the adjusted at least one boundary control parameter; and adjusting the control valve position based at least on determined parameter data.

Abstract: A device for effecting and verifying a full mating operable engagement between a slidable coupler and a complementary corresponding socket. The coupler and the complementary corresponding socket are received into a receiving region defined between first and second opposing sidewall portions which squeeze the coupler and the complementary corresponding socket together to effect the full mating operable engagement from a partial mating engagement relationship. A method for use of the device to verifying a full mating operable engagement between a slidable coupler and a complementary corresponding socket is also provided.

Abstract: A device, system or method may include a body-wearable user device including a user device wireless transceiver configured to communicate directly with a secondary device wireless transceiver associated with a secondary device, a sensor configured to sense a physical motion of at least one of the user device and a body part of a user of the user device and output a signal based on the physical motion, and a processor configured, based on the output from the sensor, to cause the user device wireless transceiver to transmit to the secondary device wireless transceiver a pair signal according to a first wireless modality based, at least in part, on the signal and complete a wireless pairing between the user device wireless transceiver and the secondary device wireless transceiver according to a second wireless modality different than the first wireless modality.

Abstract: A method and a system for limiting steam flow entering a steam turbine are provided. The method and system may intentionally unbalance the steam flow apportioned between sections of the steam turbine. The steam turbine comprises at least: a first section, a second section, and a rotor disposed within each section. The method may receive a speed/load command, or the like, which provides reference strokes for a first valve, associated with the first section; and a second valve, associated with the second section. The method may also determine an operational parameter that may limit the reference strokes relative to the speed/load command. The operational parameter may determine the allowable steam flow for each section of steam turbine, independent of the speed/load command.

Abstract: A device, system or method may include a body-wearable user device including a user device wireless transceiver configured to communicate directly with a secondary device wireless transceiver associated with a secondary device, a sensor configured to sense a physical motion of at least one of the user device and a body part of a user of the user device and output a signal based on the physical motion, and a processor configured, based on the output from the sensor, to cause the user device wireless transceiver to transmit to the secondary device wireless transceiver a pair signal according to a first wireless modality based, at least in part, on the signal and complete a wireless pairing between the user device wireless transceiver and the secondary device wireless transceiver according to a second wireless modality different than the first wireless modality.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosure may include systems and methods for boundary control during steam turbine acceleration. According to an example embodiment, the method can include receiving an indication the turbine is in an initial acceleration phase; receiving speed control parameter data from a plurality of sensors; receiving boundary control parameter data from a plurality of sensors; providing a control valve configured for controlling steam flow entering the turbine; determining the control valve position based on received speed control parameter data; determining the control valve position based on received boundary control parameter data; adjusting at least one boundary control parameter to the at least one boundary control parameter limit during turbine startup, wherein the value of a speed control parameter is simultaneously adjusted based on the adjusted at least one boundary control parameter; and adjusting the control valve position based at least on determined parameter data.

Abstract: A device for effecting and verifying a full mating operable engagement between a slidable coupler and a complementary corresponding socket. The coupler and the complementary corresponding socket are received into a receiving region defined between first and second opposing sidewall portions which squeeze the coupler and the complementary corresponding socket together to effect the full mating operable engagement from a partial mating engagement relationship. A method for use of the device to verifying a full mating operable engagement between a slidable coupler and a complementary corresponding socket is also provided.

Abstract: A device, system or method may include a body-wearable user device including a user device wireless transceiver configured to communicate directly with a secondary device wireless transceiver associated with a secondary device, a sensor configured to sense a physical motion of at least one of the user device and a body part of a user of the user device and output a signal based on the physical motion, and a processor configured, based on the output from the sensor, to cause the user device wireless transceiver to transmit to the secondary device wireless transceiver a pair signal according to a first wireless modality based, at least in part, on the signal and complete a wireless pairing between the user device wireless transceiver and the secondary device wireless transceiver according to a second wireless modality different than the first wireless modality.

Abstract: A method for increasing the operational flexibility of a turbomachine during a startup phase is provided. The turbomachine may include a first section, a second section, and a rotor disposed within the first section and the second section. The method may determine an allowable range of a physical parameter associated with the first section and/or the second section. The method may modulate a first valve and/or a second valve to allow steam flow into the first section and the second section respectively, wherein the modulation is based on the allowable range of the physical parameter. In addition, the physical parameter allows the method to independently apportion steam flow between the first section and the second section of the turbomachine, during the startup phase.

Abstract: A method for increasing the operational flexibility of a turbomachine during a shutdown phase is provided. The turbomachine may include a first section, a second section, and a rotor disposed within the first section and the second section. The method may determine an allowable range of a physical parameter associated with the first section and/or the second section. The method may modulate a first valve and/or a second valve to allow steam flow into the first section and the second section respectively, wherein the modulation is based on the allowable range of the physical parameter. In addition, the physical parameter allows the method to independently apportion steam flow between the first section and the second section of the turbomachine, during the shutdown phase.

Abstract: A control system for a combined cycle power generation system including a gas turbine engine (GT), a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), and a steam turbine (ST) includes a display wherein an operator may observe information about predicted operating parameters; a user interface wherein an operator may provide additional operating constraints; and a controller configured to generate input profiles of the GT, the HRSG, and the ST that satisfy the nominal constraints and any additional constraints and to generate the information about the predicted operating parameters. The controller may be configured to detect a stage transition of power generation system operation and update the input profiles. The controller may be configured to generate alternative operating scenarios by mapping alternative control actions to an operating constraint of at least one of the system components.

Abstract: A valve fault test system is disclosed. The system tests for leakage in a valve within a turbine system having a gas turbine and a steam turbine sharing a common shaft, by performing actions including: placing the gas turbine in a control mode; determining a power output for the steam turbine corresponding to the control mode of the gas turbine; preventing steam flow to the steam turbine by providing instructions to close at least one of a steam turbine control valve or a steam turbine stop valve; determining a power output for the steam turbine corresponding to the steam flow being prevented to the steam turbine; and comparing the power output for the steam turbine corresponding to the closed at least one of the control valve or the stop valve to an expected power output for the steam turbine to determine whether a leakage in the valve exceeds a predetermined threshold.