Abstract: Rotor and stator assemblies that utilize magnetic bearings for supporting the rotor shaft during operation can be suitably used in corrosive environments, such as sour gas. The rotor and stator assemblies include NACE compliant magnetic bearing arrangements for sour gas applications. One embodiment includes a stator assembly that comprises a stator sleeve formed of a magnetic material, a sleeve extender coaxial to the stator sleeve formed of a non-magnetic material fixedly attached to each end of the stator sleeve, wherein a point of attachment is heat treated, and a wall formed of the non-magnetic material fixedly attached to the sleeve extender configured to hermetically house a stator and form the encapsulated stator assembly.

Abstract: Rotor and stator assemblies that utilize magnetic bearings for supporting the rotor shaft during operation can be suitably used in corrosive environments, such as sour gas. The rotor and stator assemblies include NACE compliant magnetic bearing arrangements for sour gas applications. In one embodiment, a rotor shaft assembly for a magnetic bearing arrangement comprises a rotor shaft formed of a ferromagnetic material comprising a plurality of rotor laminations disposed on the rotor shaft; and a barrier layer formed on selected exposed surfaces of the rotor shaft, wherein the barrier layer is effective to resist corrosion relative to the surface without the barrier layer.

Abstract: Rotor and stator assemblies that utilize magnetic bearings for supporting the rotor shall during operation can be suitably used in corrosive environments, such as sour gas. The rotor and stator assemblies include NACE compliant magnetic bearing arrangements for sour gas applications. One embodiment includes the use of barrier layers disposed on selected exposed surfaces of the rotor shaft assembly and/or stator assembly. Also disclosed are processes for forming encapsulated stators that exhibit improved corrosion resistance, as well as corrosion resistant materials for backup bearing races and landing sleeves.

Abstract: A method for installing an offshore wind turbine system includes driving a cylindrical annular monopile or a substructure into the soil. The monopile includes a flanged portion configured to support a wind turbine tower or a superstructure. The flanged portion extends radially from a peripheral surface of the monopile. The method further includes mounting a wind turbine tower directly on to the monopile, wherein the wind turbine is supported by the flanged portion of the monopile.

Abstract: The gas turbines of the present invention have multiple combustion chambers, and within each chamber are multiple fuel nozzles. Each nozzle has its own fuel control valve to control the fuel flowing to the nozzles. To minimize the pressure drop through the fuel control valves, multiple manifolds are employed. Each manifold supplies at least one fuel nozzle in multiple combustion chambers with fuel. The fuel control valves are mounted on the manifolds such that the weight of the fuel control valves and nozzles are carried by the manifolds, not the multiple combustion chambers. A plurality of thermocouples for measuring exhaust gas from said multiple combustion chambers are employed to sense gas exhaust temperature. In carrying out the methods of the present invention for tuning a gas turbine, it is essential to note that the most efficient gas turbine is one which has the least nitrous oxides, the least amount of unburned hydrocarbons, and the least amount of carbon monoxide for a specified energy output.

Abstract: The gas turbines of the present invention have multiple combustion chambers, and within each chamber are multiple fuel nozzles. Each nozzle has its own fuel control valve to control the fuel flowing to the nozzles. To minimize the pressure drop through the fuel control valves, multiple manifolds are employed. Each manifold supplies at least one fuel nozzle in multiple combustion chambers with fuel. The fuel control valves are mounted on the manifolds such that the weight of the fuel control valves and nozzles are carried by the manifolds, not the multiple combustion chambers. A plurality of thermocouples for measuring exhaust gas from said multiple combustion chambers are employed to sense gas exhaust temperature. In carrying out the methods of the present invention for tuning a gas turbine, it is essential to note that the most efficient gas turbine is one which has the least nitrous oxides, the least amount of unburned hydrocarbons, and the least amount of carbon monoxide for a specified energy output.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system, and storage medium for performing synchronous quality function deployment (QFD) over a computer network. The computer network includes a real-time server, a lightweight thin client server, a data storage device, and at least two client systems. The system comprises a QFD tool including: a ‘Create New QFD session’ component; an ‘Active QFD session’ component; a ‘Finished QFD session’ component; and a ‘Scheduled QFD session’ component. The lightweight thin client server executes the QFD tool and the client systems access the QFD tool in real time via the real-time server. The ‘Create New QFD session’ component includes instructions for establishing a new QFD session by a user. The ‘Active QFD session’ component includes a listing of QFD sessions that are in progress. The ‘Finished QFD session’ component enables a user to resurrect a completed QFD session.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for optimizing a product design. The method includes specifying a plurality of application parameters for the product. A plurality of predetermined factors and responses are obtained in response to the plurality of application parameters. A transfer function is obtained which relates at least one factor to at least one response. The transfer function is optimized in response to user-defined optimization criteria to generate an optimized factor and an optimized response. The optimized factor and the optimized response are then displayed.

Abstract: A cooking appliance, such as a stove or oven, includes a food-heating unit having a computer-controlled temperature controller and an Internet-accessing appliance computer having a computer program. The program downloads a cooking recipe from the Internet. The recipe includes a food list and pre-cooking directions which are displayed to a user and also includes a cooking temperature schedule which is used by the temperature controller of the food-heating unit. A cooking system includes the cooking appliance and an Internet-accessible host computer containing cooking recipes.

Abstract: A processor system and method for integrating a quality function deployment tool with a critical to quality tool is provided. Each of the tools is a computer-enabled tool. The method allows for executing quality function deployment at each of a plurality of levels with the quality function deployment tool for a system designable from a respective family of subsystem alternatives. The method further allows for generating quality matrices indicating a relationship between an original set of critical to quality characteristics and key control parameters with the critical to quality tool for the respective family of subsystem alternatives. A linking action allows for linking the quality function deployment tool to the critical to quality tool for tracking at each level the extent to which the original set of critical to quality characteristics is met by each respective family of subsystem alternatives.

Abstract: A method for assisting a user in selecting a design of experiment. The method includes obtaining a plurality of attributes associated with a plurality of experimental designs. A series of questions is presented to the user directed to objectives of the design of experiment. The user responds to the questions and one or more user-selected attributes are determined in response to the user's answers to the questions. The process selects or de-selects one or more of the experimental designs in response to the user-selected attributes and notifies the user of the selected experimental designs.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for a standardized collaborative engineering. The method includes representing design information in a standard transmission format at a client and uploading the design information in the standard transmission format to a server. The server receives the design information in the standard transmission format and converts the design information in the standard transmission format to design information in a product data management format. The server stores the design information in the product data management format.

Abstract: A method for performing design trade-off. A plurality of critical to quality parameters corresponding to features of the design are obtained. A plurality of design specifications, each design specification corresponding to one of the critical to quality parameters, are also obtained. A plurality of designs are obtained where each design includes a plurality of design values and each design value corresponds to one of the critical to quality parameters. The design values are compared to the design specifications for each of the plurality of designs. A total score is generated for each design in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A product design tradeoff method is provided. A transfer function, which generates an output in response to an input is obtained. A type of optimization to be performed is identified and the input to the transfer function is perturbed in order to achieve the type of optimization identified. Output information representing the output of the transfer function is then generated to provide the user with the result of the optimization. Generating the output information comprises generating a sensitivity matrix. The sensitivity matrix comprises a plurality of sensitivity values that indicates a relationship between a change in input versus a change in output, wherein each of the sensitivity values provides a corresponding numerical value for comparing an effect of the change in the input versus the change in the output.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for performing quality function deployment for a system having a plurality of levels. The method includes obtaining a plurality of first level critical to quality parameters and obtaining a plurality of first level key control parameters. A first level quality matrix is generated identifying an effect at least one first level key control parameter has on at least one first level critical to quality parameter. The first level key control parameters are arranged into a first group and a second group. A second level quality matrix is generated for the first group. The second level quality matrix includes second level critical to quality parameters corresponding to the first group of first level key control parameters and a second level key control parameter. The second level quality matrix identifies an effect said second level key control parameter has on at least one second level critical to quality parameter.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment is a system and method for performing engineering design. The system includes a client for receiving first design information from a first source. The system also includes a server coupled to the client via a network. The client uploads the first design information to the server, and the server determines whether the first source has authorization to submit the first design information, notifies a second source of the first design information and transmits the first design information to the second source. The server stores the design information.

Abstract: A method of generating quality matrices indicating a relationship between critical to quality characteristics and key control parameters for levels of a process. A plurality of rows of a first matrix are designated as critical to quality characteristics and a plurality of columns of the first matrix are designated as key control parameters. Each critical to quality characteristic is assigned a critical to quality weight. An interaction weight is assigned between at least one critical to quality characteristic and at least one key control parameter. A score is then generated for at least one key control parameter in response to said critical to quality weight and said interaction weight.

Abstract: A system for implementing a design for six sigma process having a plurality of sub-processes each having a plurality of sub-steps. The system includes an independent main application for implementing the design for six sigma process. A series of independent sub-process applications each implements one sub-process of the design for six sigma process. A tool library containing a plurality of executable tools is accessible by the main application and sub-process applications to access and execute the plurality of executable tools. A communications path interconnects the main application, the sub-process applications, and the tool library.

Abstract: A motor which has optimal performance along with minimal performance sensitivity with respect to manufacturing variations is described. Performance is defined by a critical-to-quality relationship. A process for designing such a robustly optimal, yet manufacturable, motor also is described.