Abstract: A pulsed electrical charge or voltage may be applied to a pulsed fuel stream or combustion reaction supported by the fuel stream. The pulsed charge or voltage may be used to affect fuel mixing, flame trajectory, heat transfer, emissivity, reaction product mix, or other physical property of the combustion reaction.

Abstract: Combustion control electrode assemblies, combustion control systems using such assemblies, and methods of manufacturing and using such assemblies are disclosed. The electrode assemblies may include one or more electrodes including a sintered refractory metal material for heat and/or wear resistance. In an embodiment, an electrode assembly for a combustion control system may include at least one substrate and at least one electrode formed on the at least one substrate. The at least one electrode may include a sintered refractory metal material. The at least one electrode may be configured to be mounted proximate to or contacting a flame. The electrode assembly may further include at least one voltage source operatively coupled to the at least one electrode. The at least one electrode and the at least one voltage source may be collectively configured to apply an electric field to one or more regions at least proximate to the flame.

Abstract: An electrically stabilized burner is configured to support a combustion reaction such as a combustion reaction substantially at a selected fuel dilution and with a mixing rate selected to maximize the reaction rate without quenching the combustion reaction.

Abstract: A system is configured to apply a voltage, charge, and/or an electric field to a combustion reaction responsive to acoustic feedback from the combustion reaction.

Abstract: A combustion system includes a subsystem for electrically biasing or charging a flame and a virtual electrode launcher configured to launch a virtual electrode in proximity to the flame or combustion gas produced by the flame.

Abstract: An inertial electrode launcher may be configured to project charged particles or a voltage comprising an inertial electrode proximate a flame or combustion gas produced by the flame.

Abstract: A supersonic compressor including a rotor to deliver a gas at supersonic conditions to a diffuser. The diffuser includes a plurality of aerodynamic ducts that have converging and diverging portions, for deceleration of gas to subsonic conditions and then for expansion of subsonic gas, to change kinetic energy of the gas to static pressure. The aerodynamic ducts include vortex generating structures for controlling boundary layer, and structures for changing the effective contraction ratio to enable starting even when the aerodynamic ducts are designed for high pressure ratios, and structures for boundary layer control. In an embodiment, aerodynamic ducts are provided having an aspect ratio of in excess of two to one, when viewed in cross-section orthogonal to flow direction at an entrance to the aerodynamic duct.

Abstract: A vortex generator, or an array of vortex generators, for attenuating flow separation during flow of fluid over a surface. Vortex generators include a base with a forward end and a leading edge extending outward and rearward from the forward end to an outward end. The leading edge includes a first angular discontinuity at a height H1 above the base, and a second angular discontinuity at a height H2 above the base. The vortex generator(s) are configured for generating, adjacent a surface, at least two (2) vortices V1 and V2 in a fluid, and turning the outermost generated vortice toward the surface over which the fluid is passing.

Abstract: A geometry for an IC combustion chamber is disclosed that increases the air-fuel mixing efficiency within the chamber. The piston head includes a squish surface portion for generating a squish jet, and a bowl portion that cooperatively with the cylinder head defines a combustion volume. A horizontal channel extends between the squish surface portion and the bowl portion, and is adapted to provide a high-momentum jet into the bowl portion. A transverse channel may also be provided that directs the squish flow toward the horizontal channel, thereby generating a toroidal vortex therein. A premix fuel injector may inject fuel near the upstream end of the horizontal channel. A converging nozzle portion near the distal end of the horizontal channel may increase the flow speed into the bowl portion. A chamber fuel injector is disposed near the downstream end of the horizontal channel.

Abstract: The production rate, useful life and operating efficiency of electric submergible pumping systems (ESP) is improved by operating the system so that the motor (220, 320) is cooled by two passes of production. Production fluids remove waste heat from the motor (220, 320) by passing the fluid in contact with the exterior of the motor (220, 320). The improved cooling permits the motor to be operated at a lower temperature improving life and efficiency, and/or to be operated at higher power at a similar temperature. Additionally, oversized and excess equipment is not required, further improving performance and economics for the user. In another aspect, the invention is a method of pumping fluids using a motor having vortex generators (366) on its exterior surfaces or on the interior surfaces of a surrounding shroud.

Abstract: The production rate, useful life and operating efficiency of electric submergible pumping systems (ESP) is improved by operating the system so that the motor is cooled by two passes of production. The two passes of production fluid are achieved by employing a shroud with the inlet at the opposite end of the production fluid intake or by installing the motor below the perforations that allow production fluids to enter a well. The motor is designed with an internal conduit through which the production fluids are pumped. Production fluids remove waste heat from the motor by passing in fluid contact with the exterior of the motor and again by passing through the internal conduit of the motor. The improved cooling permits the motor to be operated at a lower temperature improving life and efficiency, and/or to be operated at higher power at a similar temperature. Additionally, oversized and excess equipment is not required, further improving performance and economics for the user.

Abstract: A method for reducing the exhaust pollution emissions in a two-stroke sliding vane internal combustion engine. First, fresh air is inducted into a vane cell, and fuel is injected into the cell at an ultra-lean fuel-air equivalence ratio less than about 0.65. The fuel is injected at a location such that a circumferential distance at mid-cell-height to the stator site at the onset of combustion is at least about 4 times a vane cell height at intake. The ultra-lean fuel-air combination is then compressed and thoroughly premixed prior to combustion to a dimensionless concentration fluctuation fraction below about 0.25. The ultra-lean, thoroughly premixed fuel-air combination is then combusted. The combusted fuel-air combination is purged after an expansion cycle. The premixing step prior to combustion may use inclined airfoils within the intake duct to produce counter-rotating mixing vortices.

Abstract: A sliding vane engine, where the vanes slide with at least of one of an axial and radial component of vane motion, and where the compression ratio of the engine may be variably controlled. The engine includes a stator and a rotor in relative rotation, and a plurality of vanes in rotor slits defining one or more main chamber cells and one or more vane slit cells. The vanes contain extended pins that move in a pin channel for controlling the sliding motion of the vane. Fuel is mixed by incorporating air turbulence generators at or near the intake region. The intake and exhaust regions of the engine also incorporate a wave pumping mechanism for injecting and scavenging air from the main chamber cells and the vane slits. The compression ratio of the engine may be varied while the engine is in operation, and the engine geometry provides for an extended temporal duration at about peak compression. The engine is insulated by using segmented ceramic inserts on the stator and rotor surfaces.

Abstract: A device for mixing two gaseous components, particularly in the context of a burner in which it is desired to mix the two gaseous components prior to combustion. The device includes a tangential inlet flow duct which opens into an inlet flow gap. A first gaseous component flows in through this inlet flow gap, and a second gaseous component flows through inlet flow nozzles provided in the region of the inlet flow gap. The arrangement achieves particularly intimate mixing, such that an improved burner is provided. Ramps are disposed in the region of the inlet flow duct, with the ramps including an end having a separation edge in the inlet flow gap. The inlet flow nozzles are arranged in the region around the separation edge such that mixing is promoted by longitudinal vortices occurring in the region.

Abstract: Concretions, such as kidney stones, are nonsurgically fragmented by apparatus which produces focused shock waves. A truncated ellipsoidal reflector is positioned against the patient such that one focus thereof is coincident with the concretion. The reflector is filled with a liquid medium having an acoustical impedance similar to living tissue. A laser beam is focused at the remaining focus, thereby producing a shock wave which is coupled through the liquid medium and the patient's tissue and focused at the concretion. By controlling the energy level and duration of the laser beam, a fragmenting tensile stress is imparted to the concretion.

Abstract: The high velocity gradients associated with the shear layer or boundary layer of a supersonic gas stream, especially the potential core thereof, are applied to form fibers of a melted material projected across such gradients. Optimization of the effects of such gradients is sought by sustaining the magnitude of the gradients as long as possible by minimizing shear layer growth rate and/or stabilizing the rate of vortex formation, and by synchronizing the rate of projection of melt with the rate of vortex production. Provisions such as vortex triggering or density loading are made for reducing the shear layer growth rate. Provisions are also made for intermittently feeding melt at a rate synchronized with the rate of vortex formation. Provisions for regulating the temperature in the shear layer are made such as appropriately controlling stagnation gas temperature, causing an exothermal reaction within the gas stream, or causing combustion of the gas stream within an oxygen containing fiberization chamber.