Abstract: Alternative gasoline, diesel fuel, marine diesel fuel, jet fuel, and flexible fuel compositions are disclosed. The compositions include an alcohol and/or a glycerol ether or mixture of glycerol ethers, which can be derived from renewable resources. When combined with gasoline/ethanol blends, glycerol ethers can reduce the vapor pressure of ethanol and increase fuel economy. Added to diesel fuel/alcohol blends, glycerol ethers improve the cetane value of the blends. In jet fuel, glycerol ethers can replace all or part of conventional deicing additives, lowering skin toxicity, and glycerol ethers ability to reduce particulate emissions can lower the appearance of contrails. Used in marine diesel, the reduction in particulate emissions can be environmentally significant. In another embodiment, the alternative compositions comprise gasoline, ethanol, and n-butanol, and in one aspect, the ethanol and/or n-butanol can be derived from renewable resources.

Abstract: Alternative gasoline, diesel fuel, marine diesel fuel, jet fuel, and flexible fuel compositions are disclosed. The compositions include an alcohol and/or a glycerol ether or mixture of glycerol ethers, which can be derived from renewable resources. When combined with gasoline/ethanol blends, glycerol ethers can reduce the vapor pressure of ethanol and increase fuel economy. Added to diesel fuel/alcohol blends, glycerol ethers improve the cetane value of the blends. In jet fuel, glycerol ethers can replace all or part of conventional deicing additives, lowering skin toxicity, and glycerol ethers ability to reduce particulate emissions can lower the appearance of contrails. Used in marine diesel, the reduction in particulate emissions can be environmentally significant. In another embodiment, the alternative compositions comprise gasoline, ethanol, and n-butanol, and in one aspect, the ethanol and/or n-butanol can be derived from renewable resources.

Abstract: An electric power distribution switchboard (1) in which one or more functional units are equipped with a switching device compartment (3) that integrates primary and secondary functions. Within the switching device compartment (3) are included, together with the switching device (37), the current and voltage sensors (36), the position sensors for interlocking, a human machine interface (HMI) and an Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) (4) and the related local configuration point (32) to configure the IED (4). The IED (4) realizes functional unit supervision, control, protection, communication and monitoring and acts as a concentrating point of functional unit information and decisions. The switchboard (1) of the invention further comprises power supply section, an I/O section and a communication system.

Abstract: Alternative gasoline, diesel fuel, marine diesel fuel, jet fuel, and flexible fuel compositions are disclosed. The compositions include an alcohol and/or a glycerol ether or mixture of glycerol ethers, which can be derived from renewable resources. When combined with gasoline/ethanol blends, the glycerol ethers can reduce the vapor pressure of the ethanol and increasing the fuel economy. When added to diesel fuel/alcohol blends, glycerol ethers improve the cetane value of the blends. All or part of the diesel fuel in the compositions described herein can be biodiesel fuel and/or synthetic fuel derived from a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis can also use feedstocks derived from sources other than crude oil, such as methane, methanol, ethanol, lignin and glycerol, which can further reduce reliance on foreign sources of crude oil.

Abstract: A method for determining an electrical current value using at least two current sensing circuits. One current sensing circuit is provided if the current value is below a switching threshold. The other current sensing is provided if the current value is above a switching threshold. Both current sensing circuits having a processing means to process the current signal and a determining means to determine the value of the current signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a magnetic actuator in a power switching device by transmitting at least two different electrical current waveforms to the actuator. Both waveforms are sent to the actuator from a controller in the same direction to move an actuator's armature from a first position to a second position. The first current waveform causes the armature to move from the first position to the second position. The second waveform is transmitted to the actuator to keep the armature moving towards the second position without overdriving the armature.

Abstract: A power switching device for use in a power distribution network has a conductive element that is shaped in a non-cylindrical form. The non-cylindrical shape of the conductive element allows the non-conductive material such as epoxy that is used to form the body of the device to securely fasten the conductive element in place to thereby keep the conductive element from rotating when excessive rotational force is applied to the conductor. The conductive element can be shaped with a protrusion or in a C-shape.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator is provided that comprises a housing, a solenoid coil, and an armature. The armature is movably disposed in an interior cavity defined by the housing. Irregular gaps are formed between the armature and the housing to increase the initial force of the actuator and to improve the latching force of the actuator after the actuator has been actuated.

Abstract: An electric power distribution switchboard (I) in which one or more functional units are equipped with a switching device compartment (3) that integrates primary and secondary functions. Within the switching device compartment (3) are included, together with the switching device (37), the current and voltage sensors (36), the position sensors for interlocking, a human machine interface (HMI) and an Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) (4) and the related local configuration point (32) to configure the IED (4). The IED (4) realizes functional unit supervision, control, protection, communication and monitoring and acts as a concentrating point of functional unit information and decisions. The switchboard (1) of the invention further comprises power supply section, an I/O section and a communication system.