Abstract: A method of increasing output of a combined cycle power plant with supplemental duct firing from a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) during select periods includes guiding a reheat steam flow to at least one reheat attemperator fluidly connected to the HRSG during the select period. The method further includes increasing reheat attemperation water flow through the at least one reheat attemperator, decreasing a set point temperature of the at least one reheat attemperator for the select period to a lower set point temperature, and raising power output of the combined cycle power plant during the select period.

Abstract: A system configured to decrease the emissions of a power plant system during transient state operation is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: at least one computing device adapted to adjust a temperature of an operational steam in a power generation system by performing actions comprising: obtaining operational data about components of a steam turbine in the power generation system, the operational data including at least one of: a temperature of the components and a set of current ambient conditions at the power generation system; determining an allowable operational steam temperature range for the steam turbine based upon the operational data; generating emissions predictions for a set of temperatures within the allowable steam temperature range; and adjusting the temperature of the operational steam based upon the emissions predictions.

Abstract: A combined cycle power plant is provided and includes a gas turbine engine to generate power from combustion of a fuel and air mixture, a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) disposed downstream from the gas turbine engine to receive heat energy from the gas turbine engine from which steam is produced, the HRSG including a superheating element and a drum element, and a steam turbine engine to be receptive of the steam produced in the HRSG and to generate power from the received steam, the HRSG further including a valve operably disposed to isolate the superheating element from the drum element when a risk of condensate formation in the HRSG exists.

Abstract: Physical page layout analysis for optical character recognition is performed. A physical page layout analysis method finds constituent parts of an image and gives an initial data-type label, such as text or non-text. Within the text data, connected components are identified and analyzed. Tab-stops are detected from groups of edge-aligned connected components. The detected tab-stops are used to deduce the column layout of the page by finding column partitions. The column layout is then applied to find the polygonal boundaries of and a reading order of regions containing flowing text, headings, and pull-outs.

Abstract: A condenser is provided and includes a body into and through which steam turbine discharge is able to flow, and first and second cooling members disposed in the body, wherein the first and second cooling members are each independently receptive of first and second coolant, respectively, the first cooling member, being receptive of the first coolant, is configured to cool the discharge during at least a first cooling operation, and the second cooling member, being receptive of the second coolant, is configured to cool the discharge during a second cooling operation.

Abstract: A system comprises a first heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) operative to receive steam from a source of steam and output water to the source of steam, a second HRSG operative to receive steam from the source of steam and output water to the source of steam, a first water flow control valve operative to regulate a flow of the water output from the first HRSG to the source of steam, and a second water flow control valve operative to regulate a flow of the water output from the second HRSG to the source of steam.

Abstract: A control system for providing an optimal estimate of NOx emission in an exhaust during a selective catalytic reduction process is provided. The control system includes a continuous emission monitoring sensor configured to generate a responsive signal representing a first estimate of NOx emission; wherein the responsive signal has a first time lag between a time of measurement of NOx emission and the time when the corresponding responsive signal is made available by the continuous emission monitoring sensor, and the continuous emission monitoring sensor has a first time constant. The control system also includes a virtual sensor configured to generate a relatively faster responsive signal representing a second estimate of NOx emission. The control system further includes a processor that includes a time delay compensation circuit configured to introduce a second time lag in the relatively faster responsive signal, wherein the second time lag matches the first time lag.

Abstract: A pump housing support for use in a pump assembly, the pump assembly including a plurality of component parts which include a seal housing, a drive shaft having a rotation axis, an impeller and a pump housing, the pump housing which includes a main liner. The pump housing support comprises: a base and a mounting member which includes a body portion to which a part of the pump housing can be mounted and a locating flange extending therefrom, the locating flange having first and second locating surfaces on opposing sides thereof, wherein the main liner is located on the first locating surface and the seal housing is located on the second locating surface.

Abstract: A percutaneous pumping system for providing hemodynamic support to a patient includes a pumping sleeve that defines a lumen extending along the length of the pumping sleeve. The pumping sleeve is configured and arranged for insertion into patient vasculature. At least one rotatable magnet is disposed in the pumping sleeve. The at least one first magnet is configured and arranged to be driven to rotate by a magnetic field generated external to the pumping sleeve. At least one impeller is coupled to the at least one magnet. Rotation of the at least one magnet causes a corresponding rotation of the at least one impeller. An anchoring arrangement is coupled to the pumping sleeve. The anchoring arrangement is configured and arranged to anchor the pumping sleeve at a target pumping location when the pumping sleeve is inserted into patient vasculature.

Abstract: A method of increasing output of a combined cycle power plant with supplemental duct firing from a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) during select periods includes guiding a reheat steam flow to at least one reheat attemperator fluidly connected to the HRSG during the select period. The method further includes increasing reheat attemperation water flow through the at least one reheat attemperator, decreasing a set point temperature of the at least one reheat attemperator for the select period to a lower set point temperature, and raising power output of the combined cycle power plant during the select period.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes a fuel heater. The fuel heater includes a first heat exchanger configured to receive compressed air from a compressor and to transfer heat from the compressed air to feedwater. The fuel heater also includes a second heat exchanger configured to receive heated feedwater from the first heat exchanger and to transfer heat from the heated feedwater to a fuel.

Abstract: An investment account is managed having associated assets, including shares of different securities, transacted in accordance with a plurality of different investment styles. A cash deposit into such a multi-style investment account and a request for a cash withdrawal from the multi-style investment account are handled differently but efficiently across the different investment styles in the investment account. When cash is deposited into the investment account, the cash deposit is placed into a temporary “cash bucket” in the investment account common across different investment styles. The cash is then distributed individual “cash buckets” each associated with an investment style in the investment account in accordance with a selected cash deposit allocation.

Abstract: A system comprises a first heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) operative to receive steam from a source of steam and output water to the source of steam, a second HRSG operative to receive steam from the source of steam and output water to the source of steam, a first water flow control valve operative to regulate a flow of the water output from the first HRSG to the source of steam, and a second water flow control valve operative to regulate a flow of the water output from the second HRSG to the source of steam.

Abstract: A control system for providing an optimal estimate of NOx emission in an exhaust during a selective catalytic reduction process is provided. The control system includes a continuous emission monitoring sensor configured to generate a responsive signal representing a first estimate of NOx emission; wherein the responsive signal has a first time lag between a time of measurement of NOx emission and the time when the corresponding responsive signal is made available by the continuous emission monitoring sensor, and the continuous emission monitoring sensor has a first time constant. The control system also includes a virtual sensor configured to generate a relatively faster responsive signal representing a second estimate of NOx emission. The control system further includes a processor that includes a time delay compensation circuit configured to introduce a second time lag in the relatively faster responsive signal, wherein the second time lag matches the first time lag.

Abstract: A processor and system are provided for determining drift in an investment account having assets associated with a plurality of investment styles. An actual asset allocation of at least one portion of the investment account is determined. The at least one portion of the investment account includes both cash assets and security assets. The actual asset allocation of the at least one portion of the investment account is compared to an allocation rule. A drift of assets associated with the at least one portion is determined based on the comparison. A rebalancing of the investment account may occur based on the determined drift.

Abstract: A condenser is provided and includes a body into and through which steam turbine discharge is able to flow, and first and second cooling members disposed in the body, wherein the first and second cooling members are each independently receptive of first and second coolant, respectively, the first cooling member, being receptive of the first coolant, is configured to cool the discharge during at least a first cooling operation, and the second cooling member, being receptive of the second coolant, is configured to cool the discharge during a second cooling operation.

Abstract: One embodiment described herein includes a mammalian nail enamel. The mammalian nail enamel includes at least one film forming component; at least one plasticizer; at least one solvent; and nanoparticles of one or more of nanoclay, nanosilica, nanopigments or nanoceramics.

Abstract: A process and system are provided for determining whether to rebalance an investment account having assets associated with one of the plurality of investment styles relative to an allocation rule is determined. The determined drift is compared with a threshold value. A determination is made whether to rebalance the investment account is based on the comparison.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling exhaust steam temperatures from a finishing superheater are provided. In certain embodiments, the system includes a controller which includes control logic for predicting an exhaust temperature of steam from the finishing superheater using model-based predictive techniques (e.g., based on empirical data or thermodynamic calculations). Based on the predicted exhaust temperature of steam, the control logic may use feed-forward control techniques to control the operation of an inter-stage attemperation system upstream of the finishing superheater. The control logic may determine if attemperation is required based on whether the predicted exhaust temperature of steam from the finishing superheater exceeds a set point temperature as well as whether the inlet temperature of steam into the finishing superheater drops below a set point temperature of steam.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for fast starting and loading a combined cycle power system are described. In one example embodiment, the method includes loading the gas turbine at up to it's maximum rate, and loading the steam turbine at its maximum rate with excess steam bypassed to the condenser while maintaining the temperature of steam supplied to the steam turbine at a substantially constant temperature from initial steam admission into the steam turbine until all steam generated by the heat recovery steam generator is being admitted to the steam turbine while the gas turbine operates at up to maximum load.