Abstract: A system and method for determining the condition of a thermal barrier coating on a base metal component, comprising the use of an induction coil to input into the metallic base layer through the coating layer, a temporally varying heat waveform, and measuring the temperature of the coating surface layer resulting from the input of the heat waveform using a temperature sensor disposed close to the surface of the coating layer. A controller correlates a signal from the temporally varying output of the temperature sensor with a signal corresponding to the temporally varying heat waveform, to determine the phase angle between the signals. The controller uses a mathematical relationship between the phase angle and the frequency of the heat waveform to determine the thermal properties of the non-metallic coating. Both the thermal diffusivity and the barrier coating thickness can be accurately obtained by this method and apparatus.

Abstract: A novel structural arrangement for the various components of an Ultra-Micro Gas Turbine Generator, based on a single part impeller element which comprises the compressor, the turbine and the electrical generator core in a single annular structure, produced as a single piece by an additive manufacturing process. The single annular structure has a hollow shell structure, with a supporting structure within in. The internal hollow space of the shell structure provides for a flow of cooling air from the outside through the internal space, for cooling the turbine region of the impeller. This air flow could be assisted by the use of internal blades, which can also serve as the supporting structure to increase the strength of the shell structure. The air flow can either be ejected at the center of the turbine, or can provide a high pressure supply for air bearings of the impeller element.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine with a rotor comprising a turbine and compressor, mounted in a housing surrounding the rotor. The rotor rotates on one or more hydro bearings, the profiles of the outer surface of the rotor and the inner surface of the housing generating the hydro bearing(s). A combustion chamber is formed within the housing, and the combustion products of the fuel/air mixture are directed from the combustion chamber to the turbine. The housing and rotor are formed by an additive manufacturing process in a single procedure, with the rotor enclosed within the housing, and unsupported by any mechanical connections. A gas turbine respiratory ventilator system is described using a compressed oxygen flow to power the turbine which rotates the centrifugal blower for generating the air flow for respiration of the patient. The oxygen exhausted from the turbine can then be used to supplement the air flow.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the condition of a thermal barrier coating on a base metal component, comprising the use of an induction coil to input into the metallic base layer through the coating layer, a temporally varying heat waveform, and measuring the temperature of the coating surface layer resulting from the input of the heat waveform using a temperature sensor disposed close to the surface of the coating layer. A controller correlates a signal from the temporally varying output of the temperature sensor with a signal corresponding to the temporally varying heat waveform, to determine the phase angle between the signals. The controller uses a mathematical relationship between the phase angle and the frequency of the heat waveform to determine the thermal properties of the non-metallic coating. Both the thermal diffusivity and the barrier coating thickness can be accurately obtained by this method and apparatus.

Abstract: New exemplary heat exchange configurations that incorporate internal or external surfaces equipped with perturbators, for changing the thermal behavior of the system, or for modulating the surface temperature distribution of the flow surfaces. This is achieved by applying an acoustic wave to the fluid flow in a heat exchange passage, and selecting the frequency of the acoustic exciting wave to be the same as the acoustic resonance frequency of the heat exchange passage itself. As the traveling waves interact with the boundaries confining the heat exchange passages, constructive interference of the incident and reflected waves give rise to a standing wave. Thus, the heat exchange passages act as a resonator, and by superimposing this standing wave on the separating and reattaching fluid flow, significant heat transfer improvement can be achieved. This is accomplished without the need to significantly increase the pressure required to achieve the desired through flow.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the reduction of noise arising from the fluid mechanics of the aerodynamic interactions of the relative motion of solid elements with a fluid, generally air, by generating pressure fields at or close to the source of the aerodynamic noise, these pressure fields having amplitudes and frequencies equivalent to those of the noise fields to be reduced, but phases opposite thereto. These generated pressure fields globally cancel the effect of the noise fields and this affect is propagated into the far field. Use is made of planar electro-thermal transducers, transforming a periodically fluctuating heat flux generated by Joule AC heating into an acoustic wave. The frequency, amplitude and phase of the noise field may be detected by microphones positioned close to points of generation of the noise field, such that the cancellation is effective over the same region as the noise field propagates.

Abstract: New exemplary heat exchange configurations that incorporate internal or external surfaces equipped with perturbators, for changing the thermal behavior of the system, or for modulating the surface temperature distribution of the flow surfaces. This is achieved by applying an acoustic wave to the fluid flow in a heat exchange passage, and selecting the frequency of the acoustic exciting wave to be the same as the acoustic resonance frequency of the heat exchange passage itself. As the traveling waves interact with the boundaries confining the heat exchange passages, constructive interference of the incident and reflected waves give rise to a standing wave. Thus, the heat exchange passages act as a resonator, and by superimposing this standing wave on the separating and reattaching fluid flow, significant heat transfer improvement can be achieved. This is accomplished without the need to significantly increase the pressure required to achieve the desired through flow.

Abstract: New exemplary heat exchange configurations that incorporate internal or external surfaces equipped with perturbators, for changing the thermal behavior of the system, or for modulating the surface temperature distribution of the flow surfaces. This is achieved by applying an acoustic wave to the fluid flow in a heat exchange passage, and selecting the frequency of the acoustic exciting wave to be the same as the acoustic resonance frequency of the heat exchange passage itself. As the traveling waves interact with the boundaries confining the heat exchange passages, constructive interference of the incident and reflected waves give rise to a standing wave. Thus, the heat exchange passages act as a resonator, and by superimposing this standing wave on the separating and reattaching fluid flow, significant heat transfer improvement can be achieved. This is accomplished without the need to significantly increase the pressure required to achieve the desired through flow.

Abstract: New exemplary heat exchange configurations that incorporate internal or external surfaces equipped with perturbators, for changing the thermal behavior of the system, or for modulating the surface temperature distribution of the flow surfaces. This is achieved by applying an acoustic wave to the fluid flow in a heat exchange passage, and selecting the frequency of the acoustic exciting wave to be the same as the acoustic resonance frequency of the heat exchange passage itself. As the traveling waves interact with the boundaries confining the heat exchange passages, constructive interference of the incident and reflected waves give rise to a standing wave. Thus, the heat exchange passages act as a resonator, and by superimposing this standing wave on the separating and reattaching fluid flow, significant heat transfer improvement can be achieved. This is accomplished without the need to significantly increase the pressure required to achieve the desired through flow.