Abstract: A process for combusting a high-moisture fuel to generate steam, the process comprising heating a high-moisture solid fuel while contacting the high-moisture solid fuel with an oxygen-depleted gas stream to produce a dried solid fuel and a moist oxygen-depleted gas stream; combusting the dried solid fuel with a combustion air stream to produce a combustion products stream; transferring heat to generate steam by indirect heat exchange with the combustion products stream; dividing the combustion products stream into a first portion and a second portion; transferring heat to the recirculating thermal fluid by indirect heat exchange with the first portion of the combustion products stream; and transferring heat to preheat the combustion air stream by indirect heat exchange with the second portion of the combustion products stream; and recombining the first portion of combustion products stream and the second portion of the combustion products stream.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (“HVAC”) system. The HVAC system may include a refrigeration circuit and a blower system. The refrigeration circuit may include a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an indoor heat exchanger. The blower system may include a first direct-drive blower and a second direct-drive blower. The first direct-drive blower may flow air over the indoor heat exchanger. The second direct-drive blower may flow air over the indoor heat exchanger and the second direct-drive blower may operable and positionable relative to the indoor heat exchanger independently from the first direct-drive blower.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for controlling a reinforcement learning agent in an environment. One of the methods may include maintaining data specifying a base policy set comprising a plurality of base policies for controlling the agent; receiving a current observation characterizing a current state of the environment; generating, for each of the plurality of base policies, one or more predicted future observations characterizing respective future states of the environment that are subsequent to the current state of the environment; using the predicted future observations generated for the plurality of base policies to determine a respective estimated value for each composite policy in a composite policy set with respect to the current state of the environment; and selecting an action using the respective estimated values for the composite policies.

Abstract: Systems, method, and computer readable medium are provided for a controller for a generator. The system includes a rectifier for converting a first AC signal generated by the generator to a first DC signal; a first DC-DC associated with energy storage and a first mode; a second DC-DC associated with an inverter and a second mode; a switch for alternately toggling between the first DC-DC and the second DC-DC, wherein the first mode prevents output to the electrical grid, and the second mode enables inversion of the second DC signal to a second AC signal via the inverter; and a processor that uses the indicator to operate the switch to operate the generator in the first mode when a connection to the grid does not conform with a parameter, and operate the generator in the second mode when the connection to the grid conforms with the parameter.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media including instructions for coordinated braking of a plurality of geographically-associated fluid turbines.

Abstract: A fluid turbine may include a vertically-orientable shaft having at least one opening extending transversely therethrough, a first blade portion configured for vertical orientation on first side of the shaft, a second blade portion configured for vertical orientation on a second opposite side of the shaft, at least one rod extending through the shaft opening and connectable at a first end to the first blade portion and at a second end to the second blade portion. A reinforcing sleeve may extend through the shaft opening and may be interposed between the rod and the shaft opening for reinforcing at least one of the shaft, the at least one shaft opening, or the rod against forces exerted by the first and second blade portions when fluid impacts the first and second blade portions.

Abstract: Systems, method, and computer readable medium are provided for producing a DC output, comprising: a turbine for generating a variable AC from a variable flow; a rectifier for converting the variable AC to a variable first DC; a first DC-DC associated with a storage component; a second DC-DC associated with an inverter; a dual mode circuit for alternately toggling between the first DC-DC and the second DC-DC; and a controller for: operating the circuit to store the first DC in the storage component when the first DC is below a target level, and release energy at the target level using the first DC-DC when the energy reaches the target level; operating the circuit to convert the variable DC to the target level using the second DC-DC when the variable DC is above the target level; and output a target level DC including the released energy or the second DC.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a system including a single source of electric power for work site operations. In regard to hydraulic fracturing stimulation of a wellbore, the system includes a single source of electric power for starting one or more frac pumps comprising engines with electric starters.

Abstract: A wind estimation system for an aircraft includes a first sensor configured to sense a first position associated with an aircraft control component in a wind condition, a second sensor configured to sense a first configuration associated with a rotor system of the aircraft in the wind condition, and at least one controller in communication with at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor. The at least one controller is configured to determine a tip-path-plane angle of the aircraft based on the first position and the first configuration, and determine at least one of a current wind speed or current wind direction based on the tip-path-plane angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to particular burners, particularly to non-premixed or partially-premixed fuel burners with flexibility to oxygen enrich the burner. Accordingly, said burners may be used in applications that needs operation of a burner in both air-fuel, and/or oxy-fuel and/or air-oxy-fuel mode depending on furnace operation needs. The invention further relates to furnaces including the burners and methods of operating the burners.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an inductor thermal management system includes an inductor, and a heat sink. The heat sink includes a cavity and a spacer adapted to situate the inductor within the cavity and separate the inductor from at least one wall of the cavity such that heat is transferred from the inductor into the heat sink multi-directionally.

Abstract: The invention relates to particular burners, particularly to non-premixed or partially-premixed dual-fuel burners with flexibility to change the heat input from the two fuels. Accordingly, said burners may be used in applications that needs operation of a bummer in both single-fuel, and/or duel-fuel mode depending on furnace operation needs. The invention further relates to methods of operating the burners.

Abstract: The invention relates to particular burners, particularly to non-premixed or partially-premixed dual-fue burners with flexibility to change the heat input from the two fuels. Accordingly, said burners may be used in applications that needs operation of a burner in both single-fuel, and/or duel-fuel mode depending on furnace operation needs. The invention further relates to furnaces including the burners and methods of operating the burners.

Abstract: The invention relates to particular burners, and e.g. to a burner comprising a central main fuel lance, a pilot fuel conduit, a main oxidant conduit, an auxiliary oxidant conduit, and optionally a secondary fuel conduit, which are arranged in a particular and advantageous way to surround each other at least in their downstream sections. The invention further relates to furnaces including the burners and methods of operating the burners. Among others, the burners of the present invention allow a particularly advantageous way of including a pilot burner as an integral part of the main burner to ignite liquid fuel flame in a cold furnace. If required, the pilot flame can assist in extending the flammability limit or operating range of the liquid fuel burner.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting green energy sources on a flat roof, includes multiple roof trusses for mounting atop the roof. The roof trusses support beams on which wind turbines are mounted. The roof trusses are secured to the roof with weighted bases. In addition to supporting wind turbines, the roof trusses may also support solar panels angled relative to a pitch of the roof.

Abstract: A controllable main breaker includes a main breaker sized to fit within an existing panel slot of an electrical panel. The main breaker comprises a trigger to open the main breaker in response to a thermal fault or overcurrent event. The controllable main breaker further includes an auxiliary shell sized to fit within at least one adjacent breaker slot. The auxiliary shell includes a controllable actuator that mechanically opens the main breaker.

Abstract: System, methods, and computer readable medium are disclosed for altering orientation of fluid turbines within a cluster. Altering orientation of fluid turbines within a cluster includes a first turbine assuming a first orientation relative to a direction of fluid flow; a second turbine in proximity to the first turbine, and assuming a second orientation relative to the first orientation, wherein the first and/or second orientations are adjustable to mitigate interference with downstream turbine operation; a processor for receiving an indication that the first turbine imposes interference on the second turbine; based on the indication, determine a third orientation enabling the first and second turbines to produce greater aggregate electrical energy than would be produced with the first turbine in the first orientation and the second turbine in the second orientation; and transmit a signal for changing one of the first and second orientations to the third orientation.

Abstract: A support system may secure a wind turbine above an angled roof. The angled roof may have a first angled surface, an opposite second angled surface, and a peak between the first angled surface and the second angled surface. The support surface may have a first weighted ballast located along a portion of the first angled surface and a second weighted ballast located along a portion of the second angled surface. The support system may have a connector extending between and connecting a portion of the first weighted ballast and a portion of the second weighted ballast. The connector may extend over the peak. The support system may have a mounting portion on the connector for securing a wind turbine to the connector. The first weighted ballast and the second weighted ballast may be sized and weighted to maintain the wind turbine above the peak during wind conditions.

Abstract: A vehicle control and interface system described herein assists an operator of an aerial vehicle with the operation of an aerial vehicle, including automated control of the aerial vehicle during flight. The system can generate a graphical user interface (GUI) on which lateral guidance and vertical guidance initiation elements are displayed. The system can conditionally disable the vertical guidance initiation element from operator interaction until at least the operator interacts with the lateral guidance initiation element (e.g., to prevent an undesirable roll maneuver during descent). If the operator interacts with the vertical guidance initiation element before engaging lateral guidance, the aerial vehicle may maintain a current altitude rather than climb or descend according to a target vertical guidance route. In this way, the GUI reformats elements based on the operational state of the aerial vehicle and reduces a risk of operational error.

Abstract: A vehicle control and interface system configured to provide dynamic flight envelope protection of an aerial vehicle is described. In particular, the system dynamically calculates allowable trajectory limits for each axis of control through all phases of flight of an aerial vehicle and provides a visualization of the calculated limits on a graphical user interface. During normal operation, the system does not allow the operator to exceed the calculated limits. Responsive to receiving specified user input to modify vehicle navigation, however, the system causes the aircraft to enter an extended envelope by degrading vehicle parameters according to a hierarchy. Moreover, the system is configured to allow the vehicle to operate in a degraded flight state during a prolonged loss of a sensor signal by setting an adjustable hover trim position of each inceptor device and allowing an operator to control horizontal acceleration of the vehicle.