Abstract: Substantially pure high pressure steam is produced within a high pressure heat exchanger. Heat for the high pressure heat exchanger is provided from an outlet of an oxy-fuel combustion gas generator which discharges a steam/CO2 mixture at high pressure and temperature. The gas generator combusts oxygen and hydrocarbon fuel and mixes with water which can include contaminates therein in the form of dissolved solids or hydrocarbons. A separator is typically provided downstream of the gas generator and upstream of the heat exchanger and the steam/CO2 mixture is discharged from the gas generator at saturation temperature. A water fraction of the steam/CO2 mixture is discharged from the separator along with dissolved solids in concentrated brine form. The water heated into steam by the heat exchanger can be at least partially water separated within a condenser downstream of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Resin impregnation of fiber bundles for use in making a composite material is described. The impregnated fiber bundles are suitable for use as a prepreg tape or for inline use in extrusion, pultrusion and filament winding operations. The improvements of the disclosed method and impregnation head enable high fiber take-off speeds without excessive damage or fraying of the fiber bundles. Encapsulated air or voids in the impregnated product are consistently less than 1% by volume of the impregnated product and decrease with increased take-off speed. These improvements are achieved by passing the fiber bundles through a multi-chambered impregnation head in which the resin is injected into a downstream chamber. The cross sectional area of the fiber bundles, the velocity of the fibers bundles, the size of the openings to the chamber, the viscosity of the resin and the pressure at which the resin is pumped into the downstream chamber all control the pressure within the downstream chamber.

Abstract: Methods and circuits are provided for monitoring a battery with the monitored battery electrically connected in an operating system. A dynamic impedance characteristic of the monitored battery is identified and compared with a predefined value. An alarm signal is generated responsive to the compared values to predict a degraded battery capacity. A leakage current value through the monitored battery is detected. An alarm signal is generated responsive to the detected leakage current value to predict a short life expectancy for the monitored battery. Visual and audible alarms are generated responsive to either of the generated alarm signals after the monitored battery has been fully charged. An alarm signal is immediately generated responsive to a detected charging current value above a predetermined value.

Abstract: A sucker rod construction including a connector member being formed to define a rod receptacle having a closed axially inner end and an open axially outer end. The rod receptacle has a plurality of axially spaced, tapered annular surfaces. The end of a cylindrical fiberglass rod is received within said rod receptacle through the outer end and cooperates therewith to define an annular chamber between the outer surface of the end of the rod and the tapered annular surfaces. A bonding material is positioned in the annular chamber and bonds the outer surface of the end of the rod and the tapered annular surfaces. Each of the annular surfaces has an angle of taper with respect to the outer surface of the fiberglass rod, and each angle of taper is progressively less toward the open end by at least one and one-half degrees.