Abstract: A torch igniter for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes an igniter body and an igniter head. The igniter body is disposed within a high-pressure case of a gas turbine engine and extends primarily along a first axis, and includes an annular wall and an outlet wall. The annular wall surrounds the first axis and defines a radial extent of a combustion chamber therewithin. The outlet wall is disposed at a downstream end of the annular wall, defines a downstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an outlet fluidly communicating between the combustion chamber and an interior of the combustor. The igniter head is removably attached to the igniter body at an upstream end of the annular wall, wherein the igniter head defines an upstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an ignition source and a fuel injector.

Abstract: A torch igniter for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes an igniter body and an igniter head. The igniter body is disposed within a high-pressure case of a gas turbine engine and extends primarily along a first axis, and includes an annular wall and an outlet wall. The annular wall surrounds the first axis and defines a radial extent of a combustion chamber therewithin. The outlet wall is disposed at a downstream end of the annular wall, defines a downstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an outlet fluidly communicating between the combustion chamber and an interior of the combustor. The igniter head is removably attached to the igniter body at an upstream end of the annular wall, wherein the igniter head defines an upstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an ignition source and a fuel injector.

Abstract: A heat pump system with a refrigerant flow path comprising, in the heating mode of operation: a compressor coupled to receive refrigerant from a heating mode first refrigerant stream and a heating mode second refrigerant stream of the refrigerant flow path; the condenser coupled to receive refrigerant from the compressor; and a heat exchanger for transferring heat between the heating mode first refrigerant stream and the heating mode second refrigerant stream, wherein the heating mode first refrigerant stream comprises: the first expansion valve coupled to receive refrigerant from the condenser; the first evaporator coupled to receive refrigerant from the first expansion valve; and the heat exchanger coupling the heating mode first refrigerant stream from the first evaporator to the compressor, wherein the heating mode second refrigerant stream comprises: the second expansion valve; the heat exchanger coupling the heating mode second refrigerant stream from the condenser to the second expansion valve; and the

Abstract: A torch igniter for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes an igniter body and an igniter head. The igniter body is disposed within a high-pressure case of a gas turbine engine and extends primarily along a first axis, and includes an annular wall and an outlet wall. The annular wall surrounds the first axis and defines a radial extent of a combustion chamber therewithin. The outlet wall is disposed at a downstream end of the annular wall, defines a downstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an outlet fluidly communicating between the combustion chamber and an interior of the combustor. The igniter head is removably attached to the igniter body at an upstream end of the annular wall, wherein the igniter head defines an upstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an ignition source and a fuel injector.

Abstract: An orbital wastewater treatment system includes a tank assembly, at least one impeller, at least one flow-diversion mechanism, at least one actuator, optionally at least one sensor disposed in the tank assembly, and a control unit. The tank assembly has three treatment zones and pairs of passages between the first zone and the second zone and between the second zone and the third zone. The impeller disposed in the tank assembly moves mixed liquor under process about the tank assembly. Multiple flow-diversion mechanisms disposed at the passages between the zones of each pair control process conditions pursuant to a predetermined schedule and/or at least partially in accordance with input from the one or more sensors.

Abstract: A swirler for inducing swirl on a liquid flow includes a swirler body defining a downstream end and an upstream end; a plurality of axial slots on an external surface of the swirler body, each of the plurality of axial slots having a slot entrance and a slot exit; and a slot relief at the slot exit. Each of the plurality of axial slots are helical and configured to impart swirl on the liquid flow as the liquid flow traverses through each of the slots.

Abstract: An orbital wastewater treatment system includes a tank assembly, at least one impeller, at least one flow-diversion mechanism, at least one actuator, optionally at least one sensor disposed in the tank assembly, and a control unit. The tank assembly has three treatment zones and pairs of passages between the first zone and the second zone and between the second zone and the third zone. The impeller disposed in the tank assembly moves mixed liquor under process about the tank assembly. Multiple flow-diversion mechanisms disposed at the passages between the zones of each pair control process conditions pursuant to a predetermined schedule and/or at least partially in accordance with input from the one or more sensors.

Abstract: A swirler for inducing swirl on a liquid flow includes a swirler body defining a downstream end and an upstream end; a plurality of axial slots on an external surface of the swirler body, each of the plurality of axial slots having a slot entrance and a slot exit; and a slot relief at the slot exit. Each of the plurality of axial slots are helical and configured to impart swirl on the liquid flow as the liquid flow traverses through each of the slots.

Abstract: Crude solid vanillin-containing material is precipitated from a solution obtained by biotransformation, and purified by a process comprising contacting it with a purification fluid selected from (a) a liquefied gas whose pressure exceeds its critical pressure and whose temperature is below its critical temperature; (b) a supercritical fluid; (c) a gas. The fluid is preferably liquid carbon dioxide. The temperature is maintained below 25° . The product may be further purified by treatment with CO2 in a fluid bed drier. The crude material is preferably one precipitated from a solution resulting from biotransformation of ferulic acid. A new strain of Amycolatopsis capable of generating high concentrations of vanillin with minimal odoriferous by-products (e.g. guaiacol) is also disclosed.

Abstract: Crude solid vanillin-containing material is precipitated from a solution obtained by biotransformation, and purified by a process comprising contacting it with a purification fluid selected from (a) a liquefied gas whose pressure exceeds its critical pressure and whose temperature is below its critical temperature; (b) a supercritical fluid; (c) a gas. The fluid is preferably liquid carbon dioxide. The temperature is maintained below 25° . The product may be further purified by treatment with CO2 in a fluid bed drier. The crude material is preferably one precipitated from a solution resulting from biotransformation of ferulic acid. A new strain of Amycolatopsis capable of generating high concentrations of vanillin with minimal odoriferous by-products (e.g. guaiacol) is also disclosed.

Abstract: Crude solid vanillin-containing material is precipitated from a solution obtained by biotransformation, and purified by a process comprising contacting it with a purification fluid selected from (a) a liquefied gas whose pressure exceeds its critical pressure and whose temperature is below its critical temperature; (b) a supercritical fluid; (c) a gas. The fluid is preferably liquid carbon dioxide. The temperature is maintained below 25°. The product may be further purified by treatment with CO2 in a fluid bed drier. The crude material is preferably one precipitated from a solution resulting from biotransformation of ferulic acid. A new strain of Amycolatopsis capable of generating high concentrations of vanillin with minimal odoriferous by-products (e.g. guaiacol) is also disclosed.

Abstract: An access system that is coupled to a communication network hosts a file for an end-user system. The access system receives the file from the end-user system. The access system stores the file in a memory in the access system. The access system receives a message from the communication network, wherein the message requests the file from the end-user system. In response to the message, the access system determines if the file may be transferred to the communication network from the memory in the access system. If the file may be transferred to the communication network from the memory in the access system, then the access system notifies the end-user system that the file will be transferred from the memory in the access system to the communication network and transfers the file from the access system to the communication network.

Abstract: An access system that is coupled to a communication network hosts a file for an end-user system. The access system receives the file from the end-user system. The access system stores the file in a memory in the access system. The access system receives a message from the communication network, wherein the message requests the file from the end-user system. In response to the message, the access system determines if the file may be transferred to the communication network from the memory in the access system. If the file may be transferred to the communication network from the memory in the access system, then the access system notifies the end-user system that the file will be transferred from the memory in the access system to the communication network and transfers the file from the access system to the communication network.

Abstract: A reverse caching system monitors residential end-user communications to cache content files when they are transferred from the residential end-users over access links to a core communication network. The reverse caching system monitors the residential end-user communications to identify requests for the content files cached in the reverse caching system. In response to identifying the requests, the reverse caching system transfers the requested content files from the reverse caching system to the core communication network.

Abstract: A reverse caching system monitors residential end-user communications to cache content files when they are transferred from the residential end-users over access links to a core communication network. The reverse caching system monitors the residential end-user communications to identify requests for the content files cached in the reverse caching system. In response to identifying the requests, the reverse caching system transfers the requested content files from the reverse caching system to the core communication network.