Abstract: A steam turbine performance testing system, including at least one computer hardware device, including a neural network created using a dynamic steam turbine thermodynamic model and preliminary data collected from a steam turbine; a network tester for testing the neural network with testing data; a current performance calculator for calculating a current performance of the steam turbine from operation data of the steam turbine; and a projected performance calculator for calculating a projected performance of the steam turbine from the current performance.

Abstract: A system configured to thermally regulate exhaust portions of a power plant system (e.g. steam turbine) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: a condenser adapted to connect to and thermally regulate exhaust portions of a steam turbine; and a cooling system operably connected to the condenser and adapted to supply a cooling fluid to the condenser, the cooling system including a solar absorption chiller adapted to adjust a temperature of the cooling fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed are steerable units that enable the variability of the friction force's magnitude and direction by using rolling contacts, in which the angle of the rolling contacts with respect to the surface containing the steerable unit can be controlled, as an object's frictional surface. This allows an object to adjust the direction and magnitude of the force it transfers through friction and also allows the received frictional force's direction and magnitude to be varied by the receiving object's rolling contacts. Also disclosed are applications of the steerable units in various machines.

Abstract: A combustible shaped body or fuel briquette is prepared by forming an essentially homogeneous mixture of a particulate fuel material such as coal dust and a curable binder such as lignosulphonate plus sodium dichromate; adding to the mixture an agent such as sulphuric acid which causes or accelerates curing, in situ; and shaping the resultant composition before the binder has cured, e.g. in a briquetting press. Briquettes are produced which can be sufficiently cured for stacking and packing, within 1 hour.

Abstract: This invention relates to selenium rectifiers and a method of making them. Using techniques of electrophoretic deposition of selenium, a selenium rectifier is manufactured having a barrier layer adjacent the base electrode. This results in a cheaper rectifier with improved heat dissipation.