Abstract: Systems and methods for sequential deployment of a prosthetic valve using a delivery catheter are described. The delivery catheter may include a deployment assembly including an end cone, a distal sleeve, a prosthetic support, an anchor sleeve and an anchor support. The delivery catheter may further include a handle having a manipulator including a guide that is connect to the deployment assembly with a force transmission tube. The guide may have various channels for interfacing with a protrusion of the handle and may be guided by the protrusion to sequentially deploy the prosthetic valve from the deployment assembly. For example, the guide may cause the distal sleeve to release a distal end of the prosthetic valve and subsequently cause an anchor support to release a proximal end of the prosthetic valve.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to determining overlay of features of a memory array are described. An example method includes forming a plurality of contacts on a working surface and selectively forming a first portion of a layer of conductive lines and a second portion of the layer of conductive lines in contact with the contacts. The first portion of the layer of conductive lines formed over the working surface is separated from the second portion of the layer of conductive lines formed over the working surface by a gap. The method includes determining an overlay of at least one of the contacts formed over the working surface in the gap relative to one of the conductive lines formed over the working surface.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to determining overlay of features of a memory array are described. An example method includes forming a plurality of contacts on a working surface and selectively forming a first portion of a layer of conductive lines and a second portion of the layer of conductive lines in contact with the contacts. The first portion of the layer of conductive lines formed over the working surface is separated from the second portion of the layer of conductive lines formed over the working surface by a gap. The method includes determining an overlay of at least one of the contacts formed over the working surface in the gap relative to one of the conductive lines formed over the working surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward systems including a turbomachine blade tip shroud having a pressure side portion and a suction side portion. The pressure side portion and the suction side portion are divided by a mean camber line of a turbomachine blade, and the pressure side portion has a greater surface area than the suction side portion.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include turbine nozzles and systems employing such nozzles. Various particular embodiments include a turbine nozzle having: an airfoil having: a suction side; a pressure side opposing the suction side; a leading edge spanning between the pressure side and the suction side; and a trailing edge opposing the leading edge and spanning between the pressure side and the suction side; and at least one endwall connected with the airfoil along the suction side, pressure side, trailing edge and the leading edge, the at least one endwall including a non-axisymmetric contour proximate a junction between the endwall and the leading edge of the airfoil.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward systems including a turbomachine blade tip shroud having a pressure side portion and a suction side portion. The pressure side portion and the suction side portion are divided by a mean camber line of a turbomachine blade, and the pressure side portion has a greater surface area than the suction side portion.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include turbine buckets and systems employing such buckets. Various particular embodiments include a turbine bucket having: an airfoil having: a suction side; a pressure side opposing the suction side; a leading edge spanning between the pressure side and the suction side; and a trailing edge opposing the leading edge and spanning between the pressure side and the suction side; and a base connected with a first end of the airfoil along the suction side, pressure side, trailing edge and the leading edge, the base including a non-axisymmetric contour proximate a junction between the base and the airfoil.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a cooling structure for a stationary blade, including: an endwall coupled to a radial end of an airfoil; a chamber positioned within the endwall and radially displaced from a radially outer end of the trailing edge of the airfoil, wherein the chamber includes a pair of opposing chamber walls, one of the pair of opposing chamber walls being positioned proximal to the pressure side surface of the airfoil and the other of the pair of opposing chamber walls being positioned proximal to the suction side surface and the trailing edge of the airfoil, and wherein the cooling fluid in the chamber is in thermal communication with least a portion of the endwall positioned proximal to the pressure side surface and the trailing edge of the airfoil; and a plurality of thermally conductive fixtures positioned within the chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of calibrating apparatus for optically characterizing samples of particles of small size. Also disclosed is a method of estimating the concentration of particles in a population of small size particles.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include turbine nozzles and systems employing such nozzles. Various particular embodiments include a turbine nozzle having: an airfoil having: a suction side; a pressure side opposing the suction side; a leading edge spanning between the pressure side and the suction side; and a trailing edge opposing the leading edge and spanning between the pressure side and the suction side; and at least one endwall connected with the airfoil along the suction side, pressure side, trailing edge and the leading edge, the at least one endwall including a non-axisymmetric contour proximate a junction between the endwall and the leading edge of the airfoil.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include turbine buckets and systems employing such buckets. Various particular embodiments include a turbine bucket having: an airfoil having: a suction side; a pressure side opposing the suction side; a leading edge spanning between the pressure side and the suction side; and a trailing edge opposing the leading edge and spanning between the pressure side and the suction side; and a base connected with a first end of the airfoil along the suction side, pressure side, trailing edge and the leading edge, the base including a non-axisymmetric contour proximate a junction between the base and the airfoil.

Abstract: Turbine frequency tuning, fluid dynamic efficiency, and performance can be improved using an airfoil profile and/or an endwall contour including at least one of a pressure side bump, a pressure side leading edge bump, or a suction side trough. In particular, by including two endwall bumps on the pressure side and a trough on the suction side combined with a particular airfoil profile, performance can be further improved.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a cooling structure for a stationary blade, including: an endwall coupled to a radial end of an airfoil; a chamber positioned within the endwall and radially displaced from a radially outer end of the trailing edge of the airfoil, wherein the chamber includes a pair of opposing chamber walls, one of the pair of opposing chamber walls being positioned proximal to the pressure side surface of the airfoil and the other of the pair of opposing chamber walls being positioned proximal to the suction side surface and the trailing edge of the airfoil, and wherein the cooling fluid in the chamber is in thermal communication with least a portion of the endwall positioned proximal to the pressure side surface and the trailing edge of the airfoil; and a plurality of thermally conductive fixtures positioned within the chamber.

Abstract: A method for enhancing one or more performance parameters of a gas turbine having at least one row of clocked airfoils may generally include choosing a first, a second and a third row of airfoils where the third row is clocked relative to the first row. An unsteady computational fluid dynamics model may be used to determine at least one wake parameter of a working fluid flowing from the second row of the airfoils to the third row of the airfoils. At least one design parameter of the airfoils of the second row may be modified, and the unsteady computational fluid dynamics model may then be used to determine the effect of the airfoil design parameter modification on the at least one wake parameter. The effect on the wake parameter may be compared to a predetermined target range.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of calibrating apparatus for optically characterising samples of particles of small size. Also disclosed is a method of estimating the concentration of particles in a population of small size particles.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to turbomachines and, more particularly, to the positioning of airfoils to reduce pressure variations entering a diffuser. One embodiment includes a turbomachine comprising a diffuser, a plurality of airfoil rows, including a first airfoil row adjacent the diffuser, the first airfoil row being of a first type selected from a group consisting of stationary vanes and rotating blades, a second airfoil row adjacent the first airfoil row, the second airfoil row being of a second type different from the first type, and a third airfoil row of the first type adjacent the second airfoil row, wherein at least one of the plurality of airfoil rows is clocked, relative to another airfoil row of the turbomachine, reducing variations in airflow circumferential pressure at at least one spanwise location in the diffuser adjacent the first airfoil row in an operative state of the turbomachine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of analyzing a sample comprising sub-micron particles, comprising determining first information about the size of particles and number of particles in the sample by nanoparticle tracking analysis; determining second information about average particle size of particles in the sample by dynamic light scattering; determining from the first information third information representing the theoretical effect of the detected particles on results obtainable by dynamic light scattering; and adjusting the second information using the third information to produce fourth information representing adjusted information on average particle size.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward systems including a turbomachine blade tip shroud having a pressure side portion and a suction side portion. The pressure side portion and the suction side portion are divided by a mean camber line of a turbomachine blade, and the pressure side portion has a greater surface area than the suction side portion.

Abstract: A turbine of a turbomachine is provided and includes opposing endwalls defining a pathway for a fluid flow and a plurality of interleaved blade stages and nozzle stages arranged axially along the pathway. The plurality of the blade stages includes a last blade stage at a downstream end of the pathway and a next-to-last blade stage upstream from the last blade stage. The plurality of the nozzle stages includes a last nozzle stage between the last blade stage and the next-to-last blade stage and a next-to-last nozzle stage upstream from the next-to-last blade stage. At least one of the next-to-last blade stage and the next-to-last nozzle stage includes aerodynamic elements configured to interact with the fluid flow and to define a throat distribution producing a tip strong pressure profile in the fluid flow.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward systems including a turbomachine blade tip shroud having a pressure side portion and a suction side portion. The pressure side portion and the suction side portion are divided by a mean camber line of a turbomachine blade, and the pressure side portion has a greater surface area than the suction side portion.