Abstract: Systems and techniques for compressed air energy storage and regeneration thereof are described herein. A compressor for compressed air energy storage and regeneration thereof can include a housing, a actuator, and a heat exchanger. The housing can define a volume. The actuator can be operable to expand the volume and compress the volume. The heat exchanger can be located at least partially within the housing. The heat exchanger can be configured to compress when the actuator compresses the volume, expand when the actuator expands the volume, and transfer heat with a working fluid.

Abstract: A system for increasing power capture comprising a turbine having a rotor, a generator having a rated power limit, and an energy storage system, wherein the rotor generates a super-rated power above the rated power limit of the generator and the super-rated power is stored in the energy storage system before the generator converts the super-rated power into electric power.

Abstract: An inlet duct for a gas turbine engine includes a particle separator, a scavenge duct, and a layer of material having a low coefficient of restitution. The particle separator including an outer wall spaced, an inner wall, and a splitter located radially between the outer wall and the inner wall. The scavenge duct is coupled with particle separator. The layer of material is located on at least one of the outer wall, the splitter, and the scavenge duct.

Abstract: An inlet duct for a gas turbine engine includes a particle separator, a scavenge duct, and a layer of material having a low coefficient of restitution. The particle separator including an outer wall spaced, an inner wall, and a splitter located radially between the outer wall and the inner wall. The scavenge duct is coupled with particle separator. The layer of material is located on at least one of the outer wall, the splitter, and the scavenge duct.

Abstract: A downwind morphing rotor that exhibits bending loads that will be reduced by aligning the rotor blades with the composite forces. This reduces the net loads on the blades which therefore allow for a reduced blade mass for a given maximum stress. The downwind morphing varies the amount of downstream deflection as a function of wind speed, where the rotor blades are generally fully-aligned to non-azimuthal forces for wind speeds between rated and cut-out conditions, while only the outer segments of the blades are generally aligned between cut-in and rated wind speeds. This alignment for large (MW-scale) rated turbines results in much larger downstream deflections of the blades at high wind speeds as compared to that of a conventional rigid single-piece upwind turbine blade.

Abstract: An air-inlet duct includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and a splitter. The splitter cooperates with the outer wall to establish a particle separator which separates particles entrained in an inlet flow moving through the air-inlet duct to provide a clean flow of air to a compressor section of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A downwind morphing rotor that exhibits bending loads that will be reduced by aligning the rotor blades with the composite forces. This reduces the net loads on the blades which therefore allow for a reduced blade mass for a given maximum stress. The downwind morphing varies the amount of downstream deflection as a function of wind speed, where the rotor blades are generally fully-aligned to non-azimuthal forces for wind speeds between rated and cut-out conditions, while only the outer segments of the blades are generally aligned between cut-in and rated wind speeds. This alignment for large (MW-scale) rated turbines results in much larger downstream deflections of the blades at high wind speeds as compared to that of a conventional rigid single-piece upwind turbine blade.

Abstract: An air-inlet duct includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and a splitter. The splitter cooperates with the outer wall to establish a particle separator which separates particles entrained in an inlet flow moving through the air-inlet duct to provide a clean flow of air to a compressor section of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A wind turbine for generating electricity having a turbine assembly mounted on an inner support positioned within an aerodynamic fairing. The turbine assembly has an electrical generator positioned on the inner support and having a rotor shaft rotatable by a rotor blade. The aerodynamic fairing reduces the drag and wake created by the inner support.

Abstract: A coating and related methods useful for reducing insect residue on moving surfaces, such as turbine blades or aircraft. The coating can include alternating layers of a perfluorinated acrylic copolymer and silicon dioxide nanoparticles that have been infused into one another via thermal annealing processes. The coating may be super-hydrophobic and exhibits desirable durability characteristics.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing self-lubricating icephobic elastomer coatings (SLICs) can include forming the coatings from a three-component composition of a silicon elastomer, silicone oil, and a solvent, such as xylene. The coatings can provide ultra-low ice adhesion and high durability levels for a variety of applications operating in harsh icing environments, such as in aviation. In an example, the coatings or SLICs can be used in combination with a localized heating component to provide a Coating Heating Ice Protection (CHIP) system to minimize ice adhesion on the surface of an aircraft component, such as an airfoil or fan blades. Methods and systems for evaluating the ice release performance of the coatings can include high speed impaction of supercooled droplets on rotating fan blades to evaluate the coatings under conditions more representative of in-flight ice conditions, as compared to traditional testing methods.

Abstract: An air-inlet duct includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and a splitter. The splitter cooperates with the outer wall to establish a particle separator which separates particles entrained in an inlet flow moving through the air-inlet duct to provide a clean flow of air to a compressor section of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A downwind morphing rotor that exhibits bending loads that will be reduced by aligning the rotor blades with the composite forces. This reduces the net loads on the blades which therefore allow for a reduced blade mass for a given maximum stress. The downwind morphing varies the amount of downstream deflection as a function of wind speed, where the rotor blades are generally fully-aligned to non-azimuthal forces for wind speeds between rated and cut-out conditions, while only the outer segments of the blades are generally aligned between cut-in and rated wind speeds. This alignment for large (MW-scale) rated turbines results in much larger downstream deflections of the blades at high wind speeds as compared to that of a conventional rigid single-piece upwind turbine blade.

Abstract: A downwind morphing rotor that exhibits bending loads that will be reduced by aligning the rotor blades with the composite forces. This reduces the net loads on the blades which therefore allow for a reduced blade mass for a given maximum stress. Also provided is a pre-aligned configuration rotor whereby the rotor geometry and orientation does not change with wind speed, and instead is fixed at a constant downwind deflection consistent with alignment at or near the rated wind speed conditions. Also provided is a twist morphing rotor where the airfoil-shapes around the spars twist relative to the wind due to aerodynamic forces so as to unload the rotors when there is a gust. This can help reduce unsteady stresses on the blade and therefore may allow for reduced blade mass and cost. The twist morphing rotor may be combined with either downwind morphing rotor or pre-alignment rotor.

Abstract: An air-inlet duct includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and a splitter. The splitter cooperates with the outer wall to establish a particle separator which separates particles entrained in an inlet flow moving through the air-inlet duct to provide a clean flow of air to a compressor section of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A wind turbine for generating electricity having a turbine assembly mounted on an inner support positioned within an aerodynamic fairing. The turbine assembly has an electrical generator positioned on the inner support and having a rotor shaft rotatable by a rotor blade. The aerodynamic fairing reduces the drag and wake created by the inner support.

Abstract: The invention relates to a superhydrophobic coating composition containing a polyurethane; a fluoropolymer; a nanofiller; and an organic solvent. The polyurethane to fluoropolymer are present in a weight ratio from about 1:2 to about 15:1. Coated substrate having at least a portion of one surface coated with a hydrophobic coating using the superhydrophobic coating composition are disclosed as are methods for forming a superhydrophobic coating on a substrate. The invention also relates to a method of forming a superhydrophobic coating on a surface of a substrate by spray casting a superhydrophobic coating composition onto a surface of a substrate to form a coating using an ultrasonic nozzle or at an air pressure of about 20 to about 60 psi and from a height of about 3 to about 12 inches above the surface to form a coating, and curing the coating.