Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a controller to receive a current commanded speed, determine a current moving speed, and calculate a reference shaped speed to operate a propulsion system and/or a brake system to cause the current moving speed to approach the current commanded speed. The reference speed is based on a reference shaping model that changes the reference speed based on relative values of the current commanded speed, a previous commanded speed, the current moving speed, and a previous reference shaped speed. The controller controls the propulsion system and/or the brake system to cause the vehicle system to move at the calculated reference shaped speed. A method includes receiving a current commanded speed, determining a current moving speed, calculating a reference shaped speed, and controlling the one or more of the propulsion system or the brake system to cause the vehicle system to move at the reference shaped speed.

Abstract: A vehicle control system may determine a required tractive effort and/or a required braking effort to propel a vehicle system at a determined speed. The vehicle control system may determine a throttle setting or a brake setting to provide the required tractive effort and/or the required braking effort and communicate a control signal from a remote controller device to an onboard controller device. The vehicle control system may operate a propulsion system at the throttle setting and/or a brake system at the brake setting to move the vehicle system at the determined speed.

Abstract: A vehicle control system an onboard controller device to interface with a propulsion system and a brake system. A remote controller device wirelessly communicates with the onboard controller device and receives input from an operator, generates control signals based on the input, wirelessly communicates the control signals to the onboard controller device while the vehicle system moves along one or more main line routes. A method includes receiving input from an operator at a remote controller device, generating control signals at the remote controller device based on the input from the operator, wirelessly communicating the control signals to an onboard controller device, controlling one or more of a propulsion system or a brake system of the vehicle system to change movement of the vehicle system while the vehicle system moves along one or more main line routes.

Abstract: A method includes applying a brake system of a multi-vehicle system using an onboard controller device and receiving grade input at the onboard controller device from a remote controller device. The grade input indicates a grade of a surface on which the multi-vehicle system is disposed. The method further includes starting movement responsive to receiving a speed command signal at the onboard controller device from the remote controller device. The movement started by initiating release of the brake system and/or generating tractive effort from a propulsion system of the multi-vehicle system stretches the multi-vehicle system. The method further includes, responsive to the movement reaching a designated speed, switching to a closed loop control process of controlling the movement based on one or more of the speed command signal or a brake command signal received at the onboard controller device from the remote controller device.

Abstract: A method (200) for desulfurization of a flue gas in a desulfurization unit of an industrial plant, includes receiving (202) a plurality of baseline parameters corresponding to the desulfurization unit of the industrial plant. The method further includes measuring (204), using a stack sensor, an emission value of sulfur oxides in the flue gas. The method also includes estimating (208), using a controller, a desirable value of a slurry parameter for desulfurization of the flue gas based on the measured emission value of the sulfur oxides. The method further includes determining (208), using the controller, at least one desulfurization parameter based on the desirable value of the slurry parameter. The method also includes controlling (210), using the controller, operation of the desulfurization unit based on the at least one desulfurization parameter to modify consumption of at least one of a slurry and an auxiliary power in the industrial plant.

Abstract: A method (200) for desulfurization of a flue gas in a desulfurization unit of an industrial plant, includes receiving (202) a plurality of baseline parameters corresponding to the desulfurization unit of the industrial plant. The method further includes measuring (204), using a stack sensor, an emission value of sulfur oxides in the flue gas. The method also includes estimating (208), using a controller, a desirable value of a slurry parameter for desulfurization of the flue gas based on the measured emission value of the sulfur oxides. The method further includes determining (208), using the controller, at least one desulfurization parameter based on the desirable value of the slurry parameter. The method also includes controlling (210), using the controller, operation of the desulfurization unit based on the at least one desulfurization parameter to modify consumption of at least one of a slurry and an auxiliary power in the industrial plant.

Abstract: An assembly for a magnetocaloric refrigeration unit includes a magnetocaloric core. Electromagnetic coils may be wound around the magnetocaloric core. The assembly further includes one or more cooling structures to extract the waste heat generated from the electromagnet coils. In some embodiments, the assembly may include one or more magnetic yokes disposed at the longitudinal ends of the magnetocaloric core. At least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the magnetic yoke is provided with a micro-channel structure. In other embodiments, the assembly may include a coil housing disposed around the electromagnet coil. The coil housing includes cooling structures such as, but not limited to, a micro-channel structure, a fin structure, and a heat pipe structure.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as a plasma generation system, is provided. The apparatus can include a chamber that may be formed, for example, substantially of insulating material. The chamber can be configured to establish therein a stable glow discharge plasma having a pressure of at least about atmospheric pressure while vibrating a sample so as to be milled by bodies contained by the chamber. For example, the chamber may vibrate and/or rotate, and the chamber can include at least one body that includes insulating material and is free within the chamber. Associated methods are also provided.

Abstract: A magneto-caloric (MC) device is disclosed. The MC device comprise a rotor, a housing disposed about and concentric with the rotor and mechanically coupled to the rotor, wherein the housing comprises at least one axial slot, at least one set of MC elements, wherein each set of MC elements comprises at least one MC element, and at least one MC element of each set of MC elements is disposed within each of the at least one axial slots, and at least one working-segment corresponding to each set of MC elements, wherein each working-segment is disposed axially around the rotor and external to the housing, and wherein each working-segment comprises, a yoke substantially defining an inner volume comprising a first inner volume and a second inner volume, and a magnetic field production (MFP) unit magnetically coupled to the yoke and configured to provide a magnetic field within the first inner volume.

Abstract: Provided is a method that includes providing a granular first material (e.g., a magnetocaloric material) and a sinterable second material. The granular first material and the sinterable second material can be combined to form an aggregate. Once the aggregate has been formed, localized sintering of the aggregate can be performed, for example, such that, subsequent to localized sintering, the second material is substantially contiguous and binds the granular first material. Associated compositions and systems are also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided, the method including providing a first tubular structure that defines a first passage. A sacrificial material can be disposed in the first passage. A second tubular structure can be provided so as to be adjacent to the first tubular structure, with the second tubular structure defining a second passage within which can be disposed a granular material. The first and second tubular structures can be deformed together so as to reduce an external dimension of each of the first and second tubular structures. The sacrificial material can then be removed from the first passage.

Abstract: A regenerator having a thermal diffusivity matrix is presented. The thermal diffusivity matrix includes magneto-caloric material having multiple miniature protrusions intimately packed to form a gap between the protrusions. A fluid path is provided within the gap to facilitate flow of a heat exchange fluid and further provide efficient thermal exchange between the heat exchange fluid and magneto-caloric material. A first layer is disposed on each of the miniature protrusion to physically isolate the heat exchange fluid and magneto-caloric material, wherein the first layer further includes a soft magnetic material configured to simultaneously enhance a permeability and a thermal efficiency of the thermal diffusivity matrix.

Abstract: A magnetic assembly having a magnetic field mechanism is proposed. The magnetic assembly includes a central limb and a top and bottom yoke. At least a first coil is disposed on a first side of one of the top and bottom yoke and at least a second coil is disposed on a second side. The magnetic assembly further includes a first magnetocaloric unit disposed on the first side between the top and bottom yoke and a second magnetocaloric unit disposed on the second side wherein the first magnetocaloric unit and the second magnetocaloric unit are alternately magnetized and demagnetized to generate thermal units.