Abstract: A turbine power system that includes a compressor for compressing a first medium, and an electrochemical converter in communication with the compressor and adapted to receive the first medium and a second medium. The converter is configured to allow an electrochemical reaction between the first and second mediums, thereby generating electricity and producing exhaust having a selected elevated temperature. The power system further includes a turbine in fluid communication with the electrochemical converter and adapted to receive the converter exhaust, such that the turbine converts the electrochemical converter exhaust into rotary energy and electricity. The system can further include a steam generator and a steam turbine that produces electricity. The electrochemical converter is utilized herein as an electrochemical combustor-replacement (ECCR) or as a fuel cell for combustor-replacement (FCCR).

Abstract: A natural gas reformer comprising a stack of thermally conducting plates interspersed with catalyst plates and provided with internal or external manifolds for reactants. The catalyst plate is in intimate thermal contact with the conducting plates so that its temperature closely tracks the temperature of the thermally conducting plate, which can be designed to attain a near isothermal state in-plane to the plate. One or more catalysts may be used, distributed along the flow direction, in-plane to the thermally conducting plate, in a variety of optional embodiments. The reformer may be operated as a steam reformer or as a partial oxidation reformer. When operated as a steam reformer, thermal energy for the (endothermic) steam reforming reaction is provided externally by radiation and/or conduction to the thermally conducting plates. This produces carbon monoxide, hydrogen, steam and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A natural gas reformer comprising a stack of thermally conducting plates interspersed with catalyst plates and provided with internal or external manifolds for reactants. The catalyst plate is in intimate thermal contact with the conducting plates so that its temperature closely tracks the temperature of the thermally conducting plate, which can be designed to attain a near isothermal state in-plane to the plate. One or more catalysts may be used, distributed along the flow direction, in-plane to the thermally conducting plate, in a variety of optional embodiments. The reformer may be operated as a steam reformer or as a partial oxidation reformer. When operated as a steam reformer, thermal energy for the (endothermic) steam reforming reaction is provided externally by radiation and/or conduction to the thermally conducting plates. This produces carbon monoxide, hydrogen, steam and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A turbine power system that includes a compressor for compressing a first medium, and an electrochemical converter in communication with the compressor and adapted to receive the first medium and a second medium. The converter is configured to allow an electrochemical reaction between the first and second mediums, thereby generating electricity and producing exhaust having a selected elevated temperature. The power system further includes a turbine in fluid communication with the electrochemical converter and adapted to receive the converter exhaust, such that the turbine converts the electrochemical converter exhaust into rotary energy and electricity. The system can further include a steam generator and a steam turbine that produces electricity. The electrochemical converter is utilized herein as an electrochemical combustor-replacement (ECCR) or as a fuel cell for combustor-replacement (FCCR).

Abstract: A natural gas reformer comprising a stack of thermally conducting plates interspersed with catalyst plates and provided with internal or external manifolds for reactants. The catalyst plate is in intimate thermal contact with the conducting plates so that its temperature closely tracks the temperature of the thermally conducting plate, which can be designed to attain a near isothermal state in-plane to the plate. One or more catalysts may be used, distributed along the flow direction, in-plane to the thermally conducting plate, in a variety of optional embodiments. The reformer may be operated as a steam reformer or as a partial oxidation reformer. When operated as a steam reformer, thermal energy for the (endothermic) steam reforming reaction is provided externally by radiation and/or conduction to the thermally conducting plates. This produces carbon monoxide, hydrogen, steam and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A turbine power system that includes a compressor for compressing a first medium, and an electrochemical converter in communication with the compressor and adapted to receive the first medium and a second medium. The converter is configured to allow an electrochemical reaction between the first and second mediums, thereby generating electricity and producing exhaust having a selected elevated temperature. The power system further includes a turbine in fluid communication with the electrochemical converter and adapted to receive the converter exhaust, such that the turbine converts the electrochemical converter exhaust into rotary energy and electricity. The system can further include a steam generator and a steam turbine that produces electricity. The electrochemical converter is utilized herein as an electrochemical combustor-replacement (ECCR) or as a fuel cell for combustor-replacement (FCCR).

Abstract: An electrochemical converter assembly that significantly reduces the size of the dedicated thermal processing heat exchangers associated with the converter. This reduction is achieved by heating the input reactants of the electrochemical converter assembly inside the axial manifolds. This heating configuration thus relies upon an effective heat transfer mechanism located within the manifolds, and particularly within the manifold surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, the heating of the reactants occurs at the entrance region of the planar gap formed between the interconnector plates and the electrolyte plates. This heating is facilitated by the conduction of heat through the highly thermally conductive interconnector plate to an extended heating surface disposed within the manifold.

Abstract: A heat exchanging apparatus including a working fluid and a structure for exchanging heat between the working fluid and an external environment. The structure includes at least one wall element having an external surface exposed to the external environment and an internal surface exposed to the working fluid such that heat can be exchanged between the environment and the working fluid by conductive heat transfer through the wall element. The apparatus further includes a reservoir element for providing a reservoir for the working fluid and a distribution element for distributing the working fluid along the wall element to provide isothermal heat exchange between the working fluid and the external environment. In one embodiment, the structure can be a double lumen tubular structure having an inner lumen which provides a reservoir for the working fluid, and an lumen where heat is exchanged between the working fluid and an external environment.

Abstract: A laser oscillating apparatus has an elongate housing, a pair of discharge electrodes arranged along the longitudinal direction in the interior of the laser housing, and first and second planar folding mirrors arranged at either end in the longitudinal direction of the lasing cavity formed by the discharge electrodes, with the reflecting surfaces of the folding mirror facing the lasing cavity. The folding mirrors are placed with their reflecting surfaces inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to one another. Also in the laser housing are a primary mirror and an output mirror, each of which is arranged with a predetermined spacing in the neighborhood of one of the folding mirrors. At least the primary mirror and the output mirror are arranged so that their attitude is adjustable from the outside of the laser housing.

Abstract: Light generated in the optical resonator of a gas laser is polarized by disposing an array of fine, parallel, highly light reflective wires in the path of the light beam propagating in the resonator. The wires are cooled by conduction of heat to a heat sink or by causing gas to flow through the array. In one embodiment, the wire array is arranged to be rotated to enable the plane of polarization to be turned to any desired orientation. The difference in absorption by the wire array between two orthogonal components of the flux in the resonator need be only in the order of 1% to cause nearly complete linear polarization of the light emerging from the resonator. The parallel wires, preferably, are spaced so that they are situated at the peaks of the lower order modes in the resonator. In lieu of using fine wires, very fine parallel lines or grooves whose width and spacing are such as to provide a low efficiency diffraction grating may be provided in the surface of an optical element of the resonator.

Abstract: A pin-shaped discharge electrode is provided which prevents corrosion and promotes stable glow discharge. In order to reduce the occurrence of a large field near the bottom of the electrode, the electrode is embedded in a cavity of an insulating base plate.

Abstract: A laser oscillating apparatus has a compact, simple structure by utilizing the laser housing itself as an optical bench. Means for thermal expansion and contraction in the longitudinal direction of the laser housing are supported in the laser housing as a united body. The blower which circulates the lasing gases is constructed of a plurality of fans mounted for separate thermal expansion and contraction, enabling the use of high speed fans. Means are provided between the blower and the lasing region for cooling and smoothing the gas flow. The cap of the laser apparatus is arranged at the strength center of the housing to ensure a gas-tight interior.

Abstract: A laser oscillating apparatus includes a laser housing, means for generating a prescribed gas flow within the housing, a discharge electrodes assembly for carrying out predetermined discharge within the gas flow, and an optical oscillating apparatus for resonating the ray of radiation generated in the discharge. The discharge electrodes assembly includes an insulated substrate, a plurality of pin-shaped electrodes planted on the substrate a ballast capacitor arranged on the rear side of the substrate and connected to the pin-shaped electrodes end and a cooling tube arranged adjacent to the capacitor and the insulated substrate. At least the ballast capacitor and the cooling tube are molded on the rear side of the substrate.

Abstract: A comb-shaped polarizing device for use in a laser is compact, inexpensive and easily adjusted. The device includes an annular member having a number of comb-shaped teeth projecting opposite similarly shaped teeth from a rectangular aperture. The comb-shaped teeth are arranged in a plane transversing a laser beam which is under oscillation. Cooling water passages are formed in the annular member. In one embodiment the annular member is provided at its periphery with gear teeth which mate with a motor for selection of the direction of polarization of the laser beam.

Abstract: An optical resonator for a laser oscillating apparatus has an arrangement of folding mirrors facing one another across the lasing gas medium that radiates the laser beam. The arrangement includes a pair of reflecting surfaces that are approximately orthogonal to one another and effectively face the lasing gas medium as a whole. Also, the laser beam that is incident from the lasing gas medium is caused to be reflected successively from both reflecting surfaces to be emitted in the direction of the lasing gas medium.

Abstract: A discharge electrode for a gas discharge device has pin-shaped electrodes which are effectively cooled in the gas flow and which promote a stable glow-discharge. The pin-shaped electrodes are made from a wire member which is curled at its end. An extension portion of the electrodes extends a predetermined length from the curled end, and is bent in an approximately L-shape to form a post position. The pin-shaped electrode is disposed in the gas flow so that the extension portion is orthogonal to the gas flow.

Abstract: A laser of the flowing gas type employs an optical resonator having mirrors at each end of the lasing region which are supported, without a separate optical bench, by a hollow cylindrical gas-tight housing. Enclosed in the housing are a pump for circulating the gas, electrodes for causing lasing of the flowing gas, and heat exchangers for cooling the gas. Those enclosed structures are subject to thermal expansion and contraction and are hung between a pair of plates. One of those plates is affixed to one end of the housing while the other plate is free to move within the housing so that thermal expansion and contraction of the enclosed structures does not place an appreciable stress on the housing. A heat shield is disposed between the hung structures and the inside wall of the housing to provide a barrier to the transmission of heat to the housing and the housing is liquid cooled to stabilize its temperature. The mirrors of the optical resonator are mounted on rings attached to each end of the housing.

Abstract: A high-power flowing-gas laser comprises an outer housing, an optical system including a laser channel within the housing, an impeller driven by a motor for producing a flow of gas through the laser channel, and an independent mounting for mounting the optical system to the support idependently of the housing mounting such as to isolate the optical system from the vibrational disturbances of the impeller and its motor drive. The laser channel is folded so as to be constituted of a plurality of laser channel legs disposed in a polygon configuration, there being a gas flow channel for each laser channel leg and a conduit arrangement directing the gas to flow transversely across the legs radially inwardly from the outer region of the polygon to a common collection region within the polygon.

Abstract: A cooled mirror particularly useful in lasers conducts a cooling fluid through a plurality of parallel paths to impinge on the underface of the reflector member at a plurality of discrete points thereon. The velocity of the cooling fluid is increased such that it issues in the form of a high-velocity jet at each of the discrete impingement points on the underface of the reflector member. The reflector member is thin and flexible and is supported from a rigid base by a plurality of spaced supporting elements in such manner so as to reduce bending of the reflector member by thermal deformation.

Abstract: Apparatus for establishing and maintaining a stable electrical discharge across a stream of gas flowing through a gas flow channel, particularly useful in high-power lasers, comprises a plurality of modular elements each including a plurality of electrodes, a ballast impedance for each electrode, and a cooling element for each electrode in thermal communication with the electrode and its ballast impedance, all embedded within a block of insulating material. The ballast impedances for the electrodes at the downstream side of the gas flow channel have lower impedance values than those for the electrodes at the upstream side of the channel so as to compensate for the lower impedance of the gas flowing through the channel at the downstream side and to produce a substantially constant voltage across the various portions of the channels.