Abstract: A combined refrigeration and power plant. The power plant comprises an internal combustion engine an air cycle machine refrigerator driven by the internal combustion engine and configured to refrigerate atmospheric air to provide working fluid to combined refrigeration and power generation cycle, a refrigerated air storage unit configured to store working fluid produced by the air cycle machine refrigerator; and first and second heat exchangers. The first heat exchanger arrangement is configured to exchange heat between a device to be cooled and the working fluid, and the second heat exchanger arrangement is configured to exchange heat between the working fluid downstream of the first heat exchanger in the combined refrigeration and power generation cycle and waste heat from the internal combustion engine; and a generator turbine configured to receive heated working fluid from the second heat exchanger arrangement, and configured to power an electrical generator.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrical system for an aircraft, comprising: a first main generator connected to at least one load via a first bus; a second main generator connected to at least one load via a second bus; a first and a second auxiliary generator associated with the first and second buses, the auxiliary generators being driven by a common prime mover.

Abstract: A thrust demand signal is provided to a processor of a gas turbine engine and is modified, according to growth time constants of a rotor and/or a casing of the engine, in order to control the rotational speed or the rate of change of rotational speed of the engine so as to prevent contact between the rotor and the casing.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a plurality of properties relating to a hydrocarbon fluid flow through a pipeline at a tree for a subsea hydrocarbon extraction facility, the method comprising locating a plurality of sensors at or near a position which is optimum for monitoring the at least one of the plurality of properties in regard to the configuration of the pipeline, the sensors being configured to monitor at least one of the plurality of properties.

Abstract: A computerised aircraft engine maintenance planning system for maintaining an aircraft engine fleet comprising a plurality of aircraft engines, each engine in the fleet comprising an engine health monitoring system configured to provide data indicative of an incipient fault for a respective engine. The planning system comprises: a fault forwarding sub-system configured to receive indications of incipient faults from respective engine health monitoring systems, the fault forwarding system being configured to identify two or more engines having linked incipient faults; and a queuing sub-system configured to assign each engine identified as having an incipient fault to a virtual maintenance queue position; wherein the queuing sub-system is configured to group engines having linked incipient faults to adjacent queue positions.

Abstract: A method of controlling an aircraft electrical system (40). The electrical system (40) comprises an alternating current electrical machine (56, 58) comprising a plurality of phases, each phase having a power rating, the electrical machine (56, 58) being configured to operate on failure of one or more phases. The method comprises: determining a power requirement; sensing a fault of one or more phases of the electrical machine (56, 58), and controlling the electrical machine (56, 58) to operate in a fault condition, in which the remaining phases of the electrical machine (56, 58) provide the electrical power requirement; and providing an overrating signal to a flight computer (66) of the aircraft (2) where the power provided by each phase exceeds the power rating of the respective phase.

Abstract: A method of controlling an aircraft electrical system (40). The electrical system (40) comprises an alternating current electrical machine (56, 58) comprising a plurality of phases, each phase having a power rating, the electrical machine (56, 58) being configured to operate on failure of one or more phases. The method comprises: determining a power requirement; sensing a fault of one or more phases of the electrical machine (56, 58), and controlling the electrical machine (56, 58) to operate in a fault condition, in which the remaining phases of the electrical machine (56, 58) provide the electrical power requirement; and providing an overrating signal to a flight computer (66) of the aircraft (2) where the power provided by each phase exceeds the power rating of the respective phase.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a subsea structure is presented. The system includes a sensor disposed on or about one or more tubular components of the subsea structure, where the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure include a riser, a flow-line, and a subsea umbilical. Moreover, the system includes a controller operatively coupled to the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure and configured to detect an anomaly in the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure. A method for monitoring the subsea structure is also presented.

Abstract: A thrust demand signal is provided to a processor of a gas turbine engine and is modified, according to growth time constants of a rotor and/or a casing of the engine, in order to control the rotational speed or the rate of change of rotational speed of the engine so as to prevent contact between the rotor and the casing.

Abstract: A bleed air system for an aircraft has a gas turbine engine and operating method. The system includes an environmental control system (ECS) for providing cabin airflow to the aircraft, including operating modes such as first and second air cycle machine operating modes and heat exchanger operating modes. The ECS includes first, second and third bleed ports each configured to provide engine bleed air from gas turbine engine compressors to the ECS. The ECS includes a bleed air system sensor arrangement configured to sense one or more bleed air system conditions, an environmental control system controller that selects an environmental control system operating mode that provides required cabin air flow and temperature at an optimal specific fuel consumption of the gas turbine engine at the sensed system conditions, and a bleed port valve controller which determines an operating pressure required to operate the environmental control system in the selected mode.

Abstract: An electric vehicle charging station is described. The charging station includes an input connector configured for coupling with an alternating current (AC) power source and an output connector configured for coupling with an electric vehicle. The charging station also includes a variable-output transformer comprising a primary side and a secondary side. The primary side is coupled to the input connector and the secondary side is coupled to the output connector and configured to be in selective electromagnetic communication with an energy storage device associated with the electric vehicle. The charging station also includes a controller coupled to the transformer and configured to determine a level of voltage to provide to the electric vehicle.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrical system for an aircraft, comprising: a first main generator connected to at least one load via a first bus; a second main generator connected to at least one load via a second bus; a first and a second auxiliary generator associated with the first and second buses, the auxiliary generators being driven by a common prime mover.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a subsea structure is presented. The system includes a sensor disposed on or about one or more tubular components of the subsea structure, where the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure include a riser, a flow-line, and a subsea umbilical. Moreover, the system includes a controller operatively coupled to the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure and configured to detect an anomaly in the one or more tubular components of the subsea structure. A method for monitoring the subsea structure is also presented.

Abstract: A method of operating an electrical power generation system on an aircraft. The method includes assessing a required electrical power of the aircraft, assessing whether a first and a second electrical power source are able to provide the required electrical power in combination, assessing a predetermined condition, determining an operating mode of the first and second electrical power sources to match the predetermined condition, and operating the first and second electrical power sources according to the determined operating mode.

Abstract: A system and method for a propulsion system includes an electric motor and an energy storage unit configured to supply a primary power to the electric motor. The propulsion system also includes a plurality of auxiliary power units (APUs) configured to supply a secondary power to at least one of the electric motor and the energy storage unit. Each of the plurality of APUs includes a free-piston engine configured to generate a mechanical output, a linear generator configured to transform the mechanical output to an electrical power, and a controller. The controller receives a power command from the electric motor and/or the energy storage unit, determines an amount of secondary power needed to meet the power command, and selectively activates a number of the plurality of APUs to generate the needed amount of secondary power.

Abstract: A method for providing auxiliary electrical power to an underwater well installation, the installation being linked to a surface location via an umbilical cable, to supplement any electrical power received at the installation from the umbilical cable, comprises the steps of: providing power generation means at the installation; and providing an electrical power output line for transferring electrical power generated by the power generation means to the installation.

Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system includes an electric machine (EM) configured to generate an unconditioned output. The vehicle propulsion system also includes a continuously variable transmission (CVT) having an input side and an output side, the input side mechanically coupled to the EM and configured to receive the unconditioned output from the EM and produce a conditioned output on the output side. A fixed-ratio transmission is mechanically coupled to the output side of the CVT and configured to receive the conditioned output from the CVT and produce a reconditioned output.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a plurality of properties relating to a hydrocarbon fluid flow through a pipeline at a tree for a subsea hydrocarbon extraction facility, the method comprising locating a plurality of sensors at or near a position which is optimum for monitoring the at least one of the plurality of properties in regard to the configuration of the pipeline, the sensors being configured to monitor at least one of the plurality of properties.

Abstract: A system and method for a propulsion system includes an electric motor and an energy storage unit configured to supply a primary power to the electric motor. The propulsion system also includes a plurality of auxiliary power units (APUs) configured to supply a secondary power to at least one of the electric motor and the energy storage unit. Each of the plurality of APUs includes a free-piston engine configured to generate a mechanical output, a linear generator configured to transform the mechanical output to an electrical power, and a controller. The controller receives a power command from the electric motor and/or the energy storage unit, determines an amount of secondary power needed to meet the power command, and selectively activates a number of the plurality of APUs to generate the needed amount of secondary power.

Abstract: An electric vehicle charging station is described. The charging station includes an input connector configured for coupling with an alternating current (AC) power source and an output connector configured for coupling with an electric vehicle. The charging station also includes a variable-output transformer comprising a primary side and a secondary side. The primary side is coupled to the input connector and the secondary side is coupled to the output connector and configured to be in selective electromagnetic communication with an energy storage device associated with the electric vehicle. The charging station also includes a controller coupled to the transformer and configured to determine a level of voltage to provide to the electric vehicle.