Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to devices, systems and methods for producing liquid impregnated surfaces with enhanced durability. In some embodiments, a liquid-impregnated surface includes a first surface having a first roll off angle. A plurality of solid features are disposed on the first surface, such that a plurality of interstitial regions are defined between the plurality of solid features. An impregnating liquid is disposed in the interstitial regions. Furthermore, the interstitial regions are dimension and configured such that that the surface remains impregnated by the impregnating liquid. The impregnating liquid disposed in the interstitial regions defines a second surface which has a second roll off angle less than the first roll off angle. The apparatus also includes a liquid delivery mechanism configured to transfer the impregnating liquid to the interstitial regions.

Abstract: A seal assembly comprising a first movable stator member movable between a sealing position and a non-sealing position, a second fixed stator member, the first stator member being movable relative to the second stator member, the seal assembly further comprising at least one flexure member coupled to the second stator member, and at least one biasing member coupled between the at least one flexure and the movable stator for biasing the movable stator to a non-sealing position.

Abstract: An abradable structure is provided on an inner face of a stationary component of the rotary machine or on a rotating component. During operation of the rotary machine, operating fluid pressure biases the stationary component against the rotating component, allowing minimal clearances to be maintained between the rotating component and the stationary component resulting in reduced fluid leakage and increased efficiency of the rotary machine. During start-up, shut down, or other transient conditions of the machine, a retractable mechanism biases the stationary component away from the rotating component ensuring preservation of a plurality of teeth provided on the stationary component or the rotating component.

Abstract: An apparatus for the transfer of heat is presented. The apparatus comprises a textured heat transfer surface disposed to promote condensation of a vapor medium to a liquid condensate, the surface comprising a plurality of surface texture features disposed on the heat transfer surface. The plurality of features has a median size, a median spacing, and a median height displacement such that the force exerted by the surface to pin a drop of condensate to the surface is equal to or less than an external force acting to remove the drop from the surface. Also included are heat pumps, systems for power generation, and distillation systems comprising the apparatus.

Abstract: An article having low wettability is presented. The article comprises a body portion and a surface portion disposed on the body portion. The surface portion comprises a plurality of features disposed on the body portion, and the features have a size, shape, and orientation selected such that the surface portion has a wettability sufficient to generate, with a reference liquid, a contact angle of at least about 100 degrees. The features comprise a height dimension (h) and a width dimension (a), and are disposed in a spaced-apart relationship characterized by a spacing dimension (b). The ratio of b/a and the ratio of h/a are such that the drop exhibits metastable non-Wenzel behavior.