Abstract: An energy storage system has a pressure vessel that is exposed to ambient temperatures and that contains a working fluid which is condensable at ambient temperatures (CWF); a liquid reservoir in communication with one of the vessels and containing a liquid that is unvaporizable in the reservoir and in the vessel; and apparatus for delivering the liquid from the reservoir to the vessel. The CWF is compressible within the vessel upon direct contact with the liquid and is storable in a liquid state after being compressed to its saturation pressure. In a method, at least some of the liquid located in the vessel is propelled by the CWF towards a turbine to produce power. In one embodiment, a module has a first vessel having at least four ports, a second vessel at ambient temperatures, and a flow control component operatively connected to a corresponding conduit for selectively controlling fluid flow.

Abstract: Turbine apparatus includes turbine wheels by which introduced motive fluid is expanded; a horizontally disposed turbine shaft which is rotatably supported by inlet-side and outlet-side bearings, such that the turbine wheels are fixedly connected to the turbine shaft between the inlet-side and outlet-side bearings; a turbine housing by which the turbine wheels and the outlet-side bearing are encased; and a bearing cartridge in which the inlet-side bearing is housed that is mounted externally to the turbine housing. The bearing cartridge is separable from the turbine housing to facilitate a maintenance operation when the inlet-side bearing is disengaged from the turbine shaft. In a method for accessing a malfunctioning inlet-side component contactable with the turbine shaft in order to perform a maintenance operation, the bearing cartridge is dismounted from a surface of the turbine housing and the bearing cartridge is axially displaced in a direction away from the turbine housing.

Abstract: An energy storage system has a pressure vessel that is exposed to ambient temperatures and that contains a working fluid which is condensable at ambient temperatures (CWF); a liquid reservoir in communication with one of the vessels and containing a liquid that is unvaporizable in the reservoir and in the vessel; and apparatus for delivering the liquid from the reservoir to the vessel. The CWF is compressible within the vessel upon direct contact with the liquid and is storable in a liquid state after being compressed to its saturation pressure. In a method, at least some of the liquid located in the vessel is propelled by the CWF towards a turbine to produce power. In one embodiment, a module has a first vessel having at least four ports, a second vessel at ambient temperatures, and a flow control component operatively connected to a corresponding conduit for selectively controlling fluid flow.

Abstract: A well pumping apparatus including a discharge head (110), a drive string rod (130) in fluid communication with an inner cavity (142) of a production tubing (140), a pre-lubrication port (160) at the discharge head, and lubrication cups (134) installed along the drive string rod adjacent to sets of bearings (150) distributed along the drive string rod.

Abstract: Turbine apparatus includes turbine wheels by which introduced motive fluid is expanded; a horizontally disposed turbine shaft which is rotatably supported by inlet-side and outlet-side bearings, such that the turbine wheels are fixedly connected to the turbine shaft between the inlet-side and outlet-side bearings; a turbine housing by which the turbine wheels and the outlet-side bearing are encased; and a bearing cartridge in which the inlet-side bearing is housed that is mounted externally to the turbine housing. The bearing cartridge is separable from the turbine housing to facilitate a maintenance operation when the inlet-side bearing is disengaged from the turbine shaft. In a method for accessing a malfunctioning inlet-side component contactable with the turbine shaft in order to perform a maintenance operation, the bearing cartridge is dismounted from a surface of the turbine housing and the bearing cartridge is axially displaced in a direction away from the turbine housing.

Abstract: A well pumping apparatus including a discharge head (110), a drive string rod (130) in fluid communication with an inner cavity (142) of a production tubing (140), a pre-lubrication port (160) at the discharge head, and lubrication cups (134) installed along the drive string rod adjacent to sets of bearings (150) distributed along the drive string rod.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microfluidics and/or epigenetic sequencing. In one set of embodiments, cells contained within a plurality of microfluidic droplets are lysed and the DNA (e.g., from nucleosomes) within the droplets are labeled, e.g., with adapters containing an identification sequence. The adapters may also contain other sequences, e.g., restriction sites, primer sites, etc., to assist with later analysis. After labeling with adapters, the DNA from the different cells may be combined and analyzed, e.g., to determine epigenetic information about the cells. For example, the DNA may be separated on the basis of certain modifications (e.g., methylation), and the DNA from the separated nucleosomes may be sequenced using techniques such as chromatin immunoprecipitation (“CUP”). In some cases, the DNA sequences may also be aligned with genomes, e.g., to determine which portions of the genome were epigenetically modified, e.g., via methylation.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microfluidics and/or epigenetic sequencing. In one set of embodiments, cells contained within a plurality of microfluidic droplets are lysed and the DNA (e.g., from nucleosomes) within the droplets are labeled, e.g., with adapters containing an identification sequence. The adapters may also contain other sequences, e.g., restriction sites, primer sites, etc., to assist with later analysis. After labeling with adapters, the DNA from the different cells may be combined and analyzed, e.g., to determine epigenetic information about the cells. For example, the DNA may be separated on the basis of certain modifications (e.g., methylation), and the DNA from the separated nucleosomes may be sequenced using techniques such as chromatin immunoprecipitation (“ChIP”). In some cases, the DNA sequences may also be aligned with genomes, e.g., to determine which portions of the genome were epigenetically modified, e.g., via methylation.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microfluidics and/or epigenetic sequencing. In one set of embodiments, cells contained within a plurality of microfluidic droplets are lysed and the DNA (e.g., from nucleosomes) within the droplets are labeled, e.g., with adapters containing an identification sequence. The adapters may also contain other sequences, e.g., restriction sites, primer sites, etc., to assist with later analysis. After labeling with adapters, the DNA from the different cells may be combined and analyzed, e.g., to determine epigenetic information about the cells. For example, the DNA may be separated on the basis of certain modifications (e.g., methylation), and the DNA from the separated nucleosomes may be sequenced using techniques such as chromatin immunoprecipitation (“ChIP”). In some cases, the DNA sequences may also be aligned with genomes, e.g., to determine which portions of the genome were epigenetically modified, e.g., via methylation.

Abstract: A turbine shaft bearing apparatus in a turbine module includes two axially spaced turbine shaft bearings, including an outlet side bearing protected from overheating by a solid bearing housing which surrounds the outlet side bearing. The bearing housing being provided with a support including conduit for a lubricating medium. The turbine module has plurality of axially spaced turbine wheels connected to a common turbine shaft and coaxial therewith; an inlet through which motive fluid vapor is introduced to a first stage of the turbine wheels; a structured bleeding exit opening formed in an outer turbine casing of the turbine module; and a passage defined between two of the turbine wheels and in fluid communication with the bleeding exit opening, wherein expanded motive fluid vapor may be extracted through the structured bleeding exit opening and supplied to a heat exchange component for heating the motive fluid condensate.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microfluidics and/or epigenetic sequencing. In one set of embodiments, cells contained within a plurality of microfluidic droplets are lysed and the DNA (e.g., from nucleosomes) within the droplets are labeled, e.g., with adapters containing an identification sequence. The adapters may also contain other sequences, e.g., restriction sites, primer sites, etc., to assist with later analysis. After labeling with adapters, the DNA from the different cells may be combined and analyzed, e.g., to determine epigenetic information about the cells. For example, the DNA may be separated on the basis of certain modifications (e.g., methylation), and the DNA from the separated nucleosomes may be sequenced using techniques such as chromatin immunoprecipitation (“ChIP”). In some cases, the DNA sequences may also be aligned with genomes, e.g., to determine which portions of the genome were epigenetically modified, e.g., via methylation.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microfluidics and/or epigenetic sequencing. In one set of embodiments, cells contained within a plurality of microfluidic droplets are lysed and the DNA (e.g., from nucleosomes) within the droplets are labeled, e.g., with adapters containing an identification sequence. The adapters may also contain other sequences, e.g., restriction sites, primer sites, etc., to assist with later analysis. After labeling with adapters, the DNA from the different cells may be combined and analyzed, e.g., to determine epigenetic information about the cells. For example, the DNA may be separated on the basis of certain modifications (e.g., methylation), and the DNA from the separated nucleosomes may be sequenced using techniques such as chromatin immunoprecipitation (“ChIP”). In some cases, the DNA sequences may also be aligned with genomes, e.g., to determine which portions of the genome were epigenetically modified, e.g., via methylation.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microfluidics and/or epigenetic sequencing. In one set of embodiments, cells contained within a plurality of microfluidic droplets are lysed and the DNA (e.g., from nucleosomes) within the droplets are labeled, e.g., with adapters containing an identification sequence. The adapters may also contain other sequences, e.g., restriction sites, primer sites, etc., to assist with later analysis. After labeling with adapters, the DNA from the different cells may be combined and analyzed, e.g., to determine epigenetic information about the cells. For example, the DNA may be separated on the basis of certain modifications (e.g., methylation), and the DNA from the separated nucleosomes may be sequenced using techniques such as chromatin immunoprecipitation (“ChIP”). In some cases, the DNA sequences may also be aligned with genomes, e.g., to determine which portions of the genome were epigenetically modified, e.g., via methylation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a turbine shaft bearing apparatus, comprising two axially spaced, inlet side and outlet side bearings for providing support to a turbine shaft to which are connected a plurality of turbine wheels such that the turbine shaft, the two spaced bearings, and the plurality of turbine wheels are all coaxial, wherein the outlet side bearing is protected from overheating by motive fluid expanded by one or more of the plurality of turbine wheels or stages by a solid bearing housing which surrounds the outlet side bearing which is supported and provided with a conduit through which a lubricating medium for lubricating said outlet side bearing is supplied from a port external to said turbine.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microfluidics and/or epigenetic sequencing. In one set of embodiments, cells contained within a plurality of microfluidic droplets are lysed and the DNA (e.g., from nucleosomes) within the droplets are labeled, e.g., with adapters containing an identification sequence. The adapters may also contain other sequences, e.g., restriction sites, primer sites, etc., to assist with later analysis. After labeling with adapters, the DNA from the different cells may be combined and analyzed, e.g., to determine epigenetic information about the cells. For example, the DNA may be separated on the basis of certain modifications (e.g., methylation), and the DNA from the separated nucleosomes may be sequenced using techniques such as chromatin immunoprecipitation (“ChIP”). In some cases, the DNA sequences may also be aligned with genomes, e.g., to determine which portions of the genome were epigenetically modified, e.g., via methylation.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for shearing and tagging chromatin DNA. The disclosed methods include contacting chromatin DNA with at least one transposome, that includes a transposase enzyme. The transposon is made up of a first DNA molecule that includes a first transposase recognition site and a second DNA molecule that includes a second transposase recognition site, wherein the transposase integrates the first and second DNA molecules into chromatin DNA. The first and second DNA molecules of the transposon can be disconnected, such that upon integration of the transposon the chromatin bound DNA is sheared and tagged with the first and second DNA molecules, for example to prepare a library of sheared and tagged chromatin DNA fragments.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to microfluidics and/or epigenetic sequencing. In one set of embodiments, cells contained within a plurality of microfluidic droplets are lysed and the DNA (e.g., from nucleosomes) within the droplets are labeled, e.g., with adapters containing an identification sequence. The adapters may also contain other sequences, e.g., restriction sites, primer sites, etc., to assist with later analysis. After labeling with adapters, the DNA from the different cells may be combined and analyzed, e.g., to determine epigenetic information about the cells. For example, the DNA may be separated on the basis of certain modifications (e.g., methylation), and the DNA from the separated nucleosomes may be sequenced using techniques such as chromatin immunoprecipitation (“ChIP”). In some cases, the DNA sequences may also be aligned with genomes, e.g., to determine which portions of the genome were epigenetically modified, e.g., via methylation.