Abstract: A centrifugal compressor comprises at least one stage suited to separate a liquid phase and a gas phase with the aid of at least one of a hydrophobic, super-hydrophobic, hydrophilic or super-hydrophilic surface layer, wherein the hydrophobic and/or super-hydrophobic surface layer is disposed on at least one of an inlet guide vane, impeller, return channel straight hub, or exiting hub bend; and the hydrophilic and/or super-hydrophilic surface is disposed on at least one of the impeller casing, diffuser casing, exiting casing bend, return channel straight hub, exiting hub bend, collection point, or drain.

Abstract: An article and method of forming the article is disclosed. The article includes a heat source, a substrate, and a thermal interface element having a plurality of freestanding nanosprings disposed in thermal communication with the substrate and the heat source. The nanosprings of the article include at least one inorganic material and also at least 50% of the nanosprings have a thermal conductivity of at least 1 watt/mK per nano spring.

Abstract: Disclosed is an actuator that includes a cylinder having an input port, a piston disposed at least partially inside of the cylinder, and one or more piston rings disposed in a circumferential piston ring groove or grooves. The actuator also includes at least one spring, inserted into the circumferential piston ring groove adjacent to the one or more piston rings and a high pressure side of said piston ring. The spring preloads the one or more piston rings to seal between a low pressure face of the one or more piston rings and a low pressure face of the circumferential piston ring groove. The invention also includes a method for moving an adjustable seal in a radial direction using the piston-ring sealed actuator. The method includes moving the adjustable seal in an axial direction, breaking a primary axial contact between the adjustable seal and a primary sealing face.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor comprises at least one stage suited to separate a liquid phase and a gas phase with the aid of at least one of a hydrophobic, super-hydrophobic, hydrophilic or super-hydrophilic surface layer, wherein the hydrophobic and/or super-hydrophobic surface layer is disposed on at least one of an inlet guide vane, impeller, return channel straight hub, or exiting hub bend; and the hydrophilic and/or super-hydrophilic surface is disposed on at least one of the impeller casing, diffuser casing, exiting casing bend, return channel straight hub, exiting hub bend, collection point, or drain.

Abstract: A method for removing sand particles from a substrate is described. The method includes the step of treating the substrate with an acid solution comprising HxAF6, wherein A is selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Ti, Zr, Al, and Ga; and wherein HxAF6 is present at a concentration in the range from about 5 weight percent to about 40 weight percent.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing an article having a wetting-resistant surface. The method includes providing a substrate. The method further includes disposing a coating mixture on a surface of the substrate, wherein the coating mixture comprises a braze material and a texture-providing material. The method further includes heating the braze material to bond the texture-providing material to the surface of the substrate to form the article having the wetting-resistant surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing an article having a wetting-resistant surface. The method includes providing a mixture comprising a plurality of micron-sized first particles and a plurality of nano-sized second particles, and a binder; depositing the mixture onto a substrate to form a wetting-resistant surface via a thermal spray process. The mixture is deposited without substantial melting of the first and second particles. The wetting-resistant surface has wettability sufficient to generate, with a reference fluid, a static contact angle of greater than about 90 degrees.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a subsea separation vessel for the separation of a mixture comprising oil and water comprising (a) at least one inlet for introducing a oil-water mixture; (b) a flow path for conducting the oil-water mixture; (c) at least one oil-water separation structure; and (d) at least one fluid outlet. The oil-water separation structure includes a multifunctional surface. The oil-water separation structure is located within the flow path and wherein the multifunctional surface is superhydrophobic with respect to water, and either oleophilic or superoleophilic with respect to oil. A method for separating oil from an oil-water mixture is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an heat transfer device comprising a shell; the shell being an enclosure that prevents matter from within the shell from being exchanged with matter outside the shell; the shell having an outer surface and an inner surface; and a porous layer disposed on the inner surface of the shell; the porous layer having a thickness effective to enclose a region between opposing faces; the region providing a passage for the transport of a fluid; the porous layer having a thermal conductivity of about 0.1 to about 2000 watts per meter-Kelvin and a mass flow rate of about 10?9 to about 10?4 kilograms per second.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an heat transfer device that includes a shell; the shell being an enclosure that prevents matter from within the shell from being exchanged with matter outside the shell; the shell having an outer surface and an inner surface; and a particle layer disposed on the inner surface of the shell; the particle layer having a thickness effective to enclose a region for transferring a fluid between opposing faces; the particle layer including a first layer and a second layer; the second layer being disposed upon the first layer; the first layer having average particle sizes of about 10 to about 10,000,000 nanometers; the second layer having average particle sizes of about 10 to about 10,000 nanometers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a heat transfer device that includes a shell; the shell being an enclosure that prevents matter from within the shell from being exchanged with matter outside the shell during the operation of the heat transfer device; the shell having an outer surface and an inner surface; and a porous layer disposed on the inner surface of the shell; the porous particle layer having a thickness effective to enclose a vapor space between opposing faces; the vapor space being effective to provide a passage for the transport of a fluid; the heat transfer device having a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to about 10 watts per meter-Kelvin and a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially similar to that of a semiconductor.

Abstract: A protective shield for a device exposed to heat includes a granular fill layer, a nano particle layer, a metallic foam layer, a thermal barrier coating, or combinations thereof. The shield is configured for providing thermal resistance, and damping of vibrations, and acoustics to the device.

Abstract: An article comprising a hybrid surface for promoting dropwise liquid condensation is disclosed herein. The article comprises an array, wherein the array comprises a plurality of raised structures. The plurality of raised structures comprise at least one geometric shape. The plurality of raised structures also comprise a hydrophobic surface. The article also comprises a plurality of hydrophilic pores interspersed between the plurality of raised structures. Methods for constructing a hybrid surface for promoting dropwise liquid condensation are disclosed herein. A heat transfer device comprising a hybrid surface for promoting dropwise liquid condensation is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A turbine engine component includes at least one treated surface wherein the treated surface has a surface roughness (Ra) of less than 12 microinches; and a hard coating disposed on the superfinished surface, wherein the hard coating is a nitride and/or a carbide material at a thickness of less than 50 microns formed using electron beam physical vapor deposition, cathodic arc evaporation, or magnetron sputtering. disclosed are methods for substantially preventing micropitting on a surface of a turbine engine component.

Abstract: Articles having surfaces with enhanced wetting properties are presented. One embodiment is an article having a surface configured for promoting a phase transformation from a liquid phase to a vapor phase. The article comprises an element comprising a surface disposed to be in contact with a liquid to be transformed to a vapor, and the surface comprises a plurality of surface features having a median feature size, a, and a median feature spacing, b, such that the ratio b/a is up to about 8. The surface comprises a material disposed to contact the liquid, and this material has a nominal wettability sufficient to generate a nominal contact angle of up to about 80 degrees with a drop of the liquid. Another embodiment is a fuel rod for a nuclear reactor comprising a surface configured as described above.

Abstract: An atomizer, comprising a pre-filming region comprising a surface configured to reduce a mean drop size of a liquid to be atomized, wherein the surface has an effective contact angle, with reference to the liquid, of less than about 30 degrees; and a lip portion disposed at an end of the pre-filming region and configured to create hydrodynamic instabilities in a liquid film, wherein the lip portion comprises an alternating pattern of wetting and non-wetting surfaces, wherein the non-wetting surface comprises a contact angle, with reference to the liquid, of greater than 90 degrees, and the wetting surface comprises a contact angle, with reference to the liquid, of less than 90 degrees.

Abstract: A method of preventing thermal hydrocarbon degradation deposits on a surface of a gas turbine component, the method includes providing the turbine component comprising the surface configured for contacting a hydrocarbon fluid, wherein the substrate comprises a material having a nominal liquid wettability sufficient to generate, with reference to an oil, a nominal contact angle, disposing a plurality of features on the substrate to form an anti-deposition surface texture, wherein the plurality of features have a size, shape, and orientation selected such that the surface has an effective wettability sufficient to generate, with reference to an oil, an effective contact angle of greater than the nominal contact angle, and the features comprise a width dimension (a), and a spacing dimension (b), wherein the features prevent the hydrocarbon fluid from penetrating into the surface texture and thereby reduce the adhesion of the thermal hydrocarbon deposits to the surface.

Abstract: A barrier seal system comprises a rotatable shaft disposed within an outer housing. The rotatable shaft axially extends from a high-pressure region to a low-pressure region within the outer housing. At least a portion of the rotatable shaft, typically the portion disposed adjacent to the low-pressure region, comprises an oleophobic surface. The system further comprises a barrier seal that radially extends from the outer housing to the rotatable shaft and defines a gap between the barrier seal and the rotatable shaft. A barrier gas injector is provided for injecting a barrier gas into the gap to flow from the high-pressure region to the low-pressure region.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing an article having a wetting-resistant surface. The method includes providing a mixture comprising a plurality of micron-sized first particles and a plurality of nano-sized second particles, and a binder; depositing the mixture onto a substrate to form a wetting-resistant surface via a thermal spray process. The mixture is deposited without substantial melting of the first and second particles. The wetting-resistant surface has wettability sufficient to generate, with a reference fluid, a static contact angle of greater than about 90 degrees.

Abstract: The article comprising an antifouling surface is provided. The surface comprises a material having a nominal liquid wettability sufficient to generate, with reference to an oil, a nominal contact angle of at least about 30 degrees; and a texture comprising a plurality of features disposed on the surface. The features have a size, shape, and orientation selected such that the surface has an effective wettability sufficient to generate, with reference to an oil, an effective contact angle greater than the nominal contact angle. The features comprise a height dimension (h), a width dimension (a), a spacing dimension (b) such that, ratio b/a is less than about 4, and ratio h/a is less than about 10. In one embodiment, a turbine component comprising an antifouling surface is provided.