Patents Issued in April 28, 2011
  • Publication number: 20110094196
    Abstract: An ecologically clean water condensation engine exposed to a humid wind, said water condensation engine includes a cascade of sequential profiled horn-tubes and a set of wing-like profiled details. The cascade of sequential profiled horn-tubes forms a fast and cooled out-flowing air flux, which reaches the set of wing-like profiled details. The set of wing-like profiled details acts on the fast and cooled out-flow air flux, which in turn provide acceleration of air portions and eddying and vortices with in the air portions. The air portions inherently undergo a decrease in inner pressure accompanied by a further temperature decrease, thereby, triggering condensation of water-vapor into water-aerosols and the water-aerosols collect into drops of dew upon surfaces of the wing-like profiled details.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventor: Yuri Abramov
  • Publication number: 20110094197
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter system (10), particularly for an internal combustion engine, comprising a filter element (18) having a filter medium (20) that in particular is folded in a star shape, the filter medium having a coaxial form, and having at least one end and sealing body (22) that is made from an elastic potting compound and is disposed on a front of the filter medium (20). At least part of a support body (40) is embedded in the elastic potting compound of the end and sealing body (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: MANN+HUMMEL GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Ruhland, Eric Gillenberg, Oliver Steins
  • Publication number: 20110094198
    Abstract: A fixed air filter rack apparatus for non-standard sized HVAC units is disclosed. The main embodiment of the fixed filter rack apparatus consists of two piece construction and is made to fit standard sized commercially available filters. The fixed rack apparatus is inserted into the filter slot of the air handler and permanently attached via a single screw or bolt. The standard sized filter is then inserted into the filter rack apparatus such that it makes a seal between the filter and the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventor: Rick Pindell
  • Publication number: 20110094199
    Abstract: A grain conveying apparatus and system for conveying and separating elements of a grain mixture of a first minimum size, such as cob pieces, and a second maximum size smaller than the first minimum size, such as grain or corn, including an upper passage having at least one aperture generally smaller than the cob pieces and larger than the grain or corn. As the grain mixture is conveyed through the upper passage, the cob pieces will pass across the apertures, and the grain or corn will pass through the apertures to the lower passage thereby separating the elements of the grain mixture as it is conveyed from a source bin to separate receiving bins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventor: Herbert M. Farley
  • Publication number: 20110094200
    Abstract: A windrow merger including three pickup and transfer units, a folding system, and a plurality of float mechanisms. The folding system employs simultaneous rearward, outward, and upward folding motion so as to ensure none of the units interfere with the other units while folding, and likewise while unfolding. The folding system can further fold and unfold each of the three pickup and transfer units at the same time. During merging operations, the plurality of float mechanisms of the windrow merger limits the range of motion of each pickup and transfer unit. The float mechanisms further transfer a portion of the weight of each pickup and transfer unit from the ground to the frame of the merger. The units of the windrow merger can also include a rub rail having a surface that reduces swirling or clumping of material as the material is conveyed toward an end of the windrow merger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Oxbo International Corporation
    Inventors: Steven S. Dow, Paul W. Dow
  • Publication number: 20110094201
    Abstract: A center draper belt for a center conveyor of a draper platform that is configured to carry a crop mat of severed plant stalks in a first direction, the crop mat having a maximum operating thickness, the belt comprises a generally planar web having first and second longitudinally side edges disposed on opposite sides of the web; and first and second ridges fixed to the longitudinal side edges and extending upward therefrom to stop plant stalks of a bottom layer of the crop mat from being propelled off the side edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Duane Bomleny, Terry Demay, William Payne Conrad, Todd Neil Signer
  • Publication number: 20110094202
    Abstract: A windrow merger including three pickup and transfer units, a folding system, and a plurality of float mechanisms. The folding system employs simultaneous rearward, outward, and upward folding motion so as to ensure none of the units interfere with the other units while folding, and likewise while unfolding. The folding system can further fold and unfold each of the three pickup and transfer units at the same time. During merging operations, the plurality of float mechanisms of the windrow merger limits the range of motion of each pickup and transfer unit. The float mechanisms further transfer a portion of the weight of each pickup and transfer unit from the ground to the frame of the merger. The units of the windrow merger can also include a rub rail having a surface that reduces swirling or clumping of material as the material is conveyed toward an end of the windrow merger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Oxbo International Corporation
    Inventors: Steven S. Dow, Paul W. Dow
  • Publication number: 20110094203
    Abstract: The invention relates to a twisting machine capable of independently controlling the twisting speed of a thread or plurality of threads and the winding speed of the twisted threads i.e. the twisting density in a certain length and the method of the same. Thus, a twisting machined is provided comprising: a spindle (1) extending in an axial direction from a first end to a second end thereof; drive means for rotatably driving the spindle (1); a rotor coaxially mounted to the spindle adjacent the second end thereof; winding means for winding thread onto a bobbin; a stationary carrier supported over the rotor on the opposite side thereof from the spindle, the carrier supporting the bobbin thereon; and thread guide means spaced in the axial direction from the carrier, wherein in use, thread extends from the spindle via the radially outer edge of the rotor to the thread guide means, characterized in that the machine comprises means for independently moving the spindle and the winding means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventor: Mehmet Agrikli
  • Publication number: 20110094204
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a turbofan jet engine nacelle intended to be attached to a structure of an aircraft by an engine strut and comprising a forward air inlet section, a mid-section intended to surround a jet engine fan, and an aft section having an internal structure intended to serve as a casing for an aft portion of the jet engine and, together with an external structure (5), defining a flow duct (7) for a secondary stream, the internal structure having substantially radial extensions (61) passing through the duct and via which it is connected to an inner panel (51) of the external structure by means of at least one corresponding stiffener (110) having a right-angled general shape, characterized in that the stiffener is also fastened in an external panel (52) of the external structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: AIRCELLE
    Inventors: Florent Bouillon, Pat Dunleavy
  • Publication number: 20110094205
    Abstract: A system is provided for inerting a volume in a vehicle has at least one exhaust gas extraction point on at least one internal combustion engine of the vehicle, and exhaust gas line for routing exhaust gas from the exhaust gas extraction point to the volume, and at least one exhaust gas inlet on the volume for introducing exhaust gas to generate a low-activity environment in the volume. Precisely in vehicles with internal combustion engines, using exhaust gas for inerting a volume makes it possible to suggest an especially simple, cost-effective and robust solution to guard against the formation of an ignitable mixture in the volume or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Bernd REHLING
  • Publication number: 20110094206
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a reductant injection apparatus includes an injector attachment portion to which a reductant injector is coupleable. The apparatus also includes a perforated tubular portion coupled to the injector attachment portion. The perforated tubular portion includes an inlet, an outlet, and a diverging sidewall extending from the inlet to the outlet. Additionally, a plurality of perforations is formed in the sidewall. A reductant spray can be injected into the perforated tubular portion via the inlet. Further, a portion of a bulk exhaust gas stream can be diverted into the perforated tubular portion through the plurality of perforations, through the perforated tubular element, and out of the perforated tubular portion through the plurality of perforations. The portion of exhaust gas stream can then be rejoined with the bulk exhaust gas stream downstream of the perforated tubular portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC
    Inventors: Z. Gerald Liu, Jim Clerc, Jason Drost, Jim Burke, Mihai Chiruta, Achuth Munnannur
  • Publication number: 20110094207
    Abstract: Described is a method for cleaning the exhaust gases of internal combustion engines, which method is suitable for reducing harmful gases and particle emissions. Here, the exhaust gas to be cleaned is conducted, under operating conditions, with a discontinuous profile of the air ratio ? across a wall-flow filter substrate which comprises a catalytically active coating containing one storage material. The storage material is suitable for temporarily storing one or more exhaust-gas components under certain operating conditions and releasing said exhaust-gas components again in a targeted fashion in the event of a suitable change in the operating conditions. The coating is configured such that the component has a gradient of the storage material concentration and/or of the total coating amount, with the highest concentration of the storage material in the longitudinal direction of the component being present on the inflow side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Anke Woerz, Wilfried Mueller, Martin Votsmeier, Franz Dornhaus, Martin Roesch
  • Publication number: 20110094208
    Abstract: In a method and device for controlling an exhaust gas post-treatment for an internal combustion engine with at least one cylinder (Z1-Z4) and one combustion chamber (26) and one exhaust gas tract (14) in which is disposed an SCR catalyst (34), a humidity parameter (HDT EXH) of an exhaust gas in the exhaust gas tract (14) is determined upstream of the SCR catalyst (34) of the internal combustion machine. A control signal for an actuator for introducing ammonia into the exhaust gas is determined as a function of the humidity parameter (HDT_EXH) of the exhaust gas, and the actuator is adjusted accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Bauer, Tahar Zrilli
  • Publication number: 20110094209
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for correcting a model for determining the amount of reducing agent to inject for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides contained in exhaust gases, which includes the following steps: determining an amount of reducing agent to inject based on the amount of nitrogen oxides emitted and an initial mathematical model; determining, by taking a measurement from the catalyst of the amount and/or nature of the gas, whether or not the reducing reaction is carried out under correct conditions; if an anomaly is detected, adjusting the amount of reducing agent to inject; and if the use of said method leads to a number of repeated adjustments of the same nature greater than a predetermined value N: the mathematical model is corrected, and the initial mathematical model is replaced by the corrected model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA
    Inventor: Christophe Charial
  • Publication number: 20110094210
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification apparatus for a diesel engine mounted on a vehicle includes a regenerative diesel particulate filter, an accumulated amount detector, an exhaust gas temperature raising unit, and a forcible regeneration control unit. The forcible regeneration control unit measures an automatic regeneration enable time in which an automatic regeneration condition for regenerating the filter is satisfied when the diesel engine is operating, determines from the automatic regeneration enable time whether the probability is high in which a regeneration will be completed without being interrupted when the automatic regeneration condition is continuously satisfied, performs automatic regeneration when determining that the probability of regeneration being completed is high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Takanori SUZUKI, Yasuyuki KOMADA, Hiroshi NINAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20110094211
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying catalyst includes a monolithic substrate (2), and a transition metal oxide layer (3) formed in the monolithic substrate (2). The transition metal oxide layer (3) contains transition metal oxide powder including: transition metal oxide particles (10); a first compound (20) on which the transition metal oxide particles (10) are supported; and a second compound (30) that surrounds a single body or an aggregate of the transition metal oxide particles (10) and the first compound (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroto Kikuchi, Masanori Nakamura, Hironori Wakamatsu, Katsuo Suga, Toshiharu Miyamura, Jun Ikezawa, Tetsuro Naito, Junji Ito
  • Publication number: 20110094212
    Abstract: A system and method for compressing and expanding air in a compressed air energy storage (CAES) system is disclosed. A CAES system is provided that is alternately operable in a compression mode and an expansion mode and includes therein a motor-generator unit and a drive shaft connected to the motor-generator unit that is configured to transmit rotational power to and from the motor-generator unit. The CAES system also includes at least one reversible compressor-expander unit coupled to the drive shaft and configured to selectively compress and expand air, and an air storage unit connected to the reversible compressor-expander unit and configured to store compressed air received therefrom, with the at least one reversible compressor-expander unit compressing air during the compression mode and expanding air during the expansion mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Gabor Ast, Stephanie Marie-Noelle Hoffmann, Matthew Lehar, Alexander Simpson, Christian Aalburg, Thomas Frey, Matthias Finkenrath, Richard Aumann
  • Publication number: 20110094213
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic control system for pump control is disclosed. The hydraulic actuator is configured to control the inclination of a swashplate. The position of the hydraulic actuator is controlled by controlling the flow of pressurized fluid into and out of two pressure chambers, one on either side of the actuator. A fluid passageway is provided that selectively connects the passageway to tank. The passageway has an orifice for each pressure chamber, and the actuator is configured to selectively block all or a portion of one or more of the orifices, depending on the position of the actuator. The components of the control system are configured such that the actuator will return to a neutral or near-neutral position upon loss of electric power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Hongliu Du
  • Publication number: 20110094214
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuator for pump control is disclosed. The hydraulic actuator includes two hydraulically isolated chambers for actuation in one direction and two hydraulically isolated chambers for actuation in an opposite direction. Each of the four chambers is connected to a source of high pressure fluid by an electronically controlled pressure reducing valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Thomas Nelson, Brian Mintah, Michael G. Cronin
  • Publication number: 20110094215
    Abstract: An apparatus for and method of displacing a body, such as a projectile, piston, or the distal edge of a sunshade cover or energy absorbing honeycomb matrix, utilizing momentum generated by the rapid actuation of an active material element, such as a Martensitic shape memory alloy wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nilesh D. Mankame, Nancy L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110094216
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an energy harvesting system. The energy harvesting system includes a fluid, a heat engine, and a component. The fluid has a first fluid region at a first temperature and a second fluid region at a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The heat engine is configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy and includes a shape-memory alloy disposed in contact with each of the first fluid region and the second fluid region. The component is driven by the heat engine in response to the temperature difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., HRL Laboratories
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, James Holbrook Brown, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Paul W. Alexander
  • Publication number: 20110094217
    Abstract: An electrostrictive composite includes a flexible polymer matrix and a carbon nanotube film structure. The carbon nanotube film structure is located on a surface of the flexible polymer matrix, and at least partly embedded into the flexible polymer matrix through the first surface. The carbon nanotube film structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes combined by van der Waals attractive force therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicants: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: LU-ZHUO CHEN, CHANG-HONG LIU, JIA-PING WANG, SHOU-SHAN FAN
  • Publication number: 20110094218
    Abstract: Brake installation consisting of a master cylinder associated with a brake booster furnished with a motor driving an actuator piston and acting on the primary piston of the master cylinder by means of a reaction disk against which the piston rests. For a safety operation, the hydraulic actuator connected to the control rod actuated by the brake pedal rests on the rear face of the reaction disk. The actuator piston is combined with an auxiliary piston in order to interact with the reaction disk and it is guided by its sleeve-shaped portion in a bore of the body of the brake booster. An adapting shim is supported by the auxiliary piston in order to receive as a support the end of a rear rod, secured to the primary piston of the master cylinder. The thickness of the assembly formed by the adapting shim and the auxiliary piston is defined on mounting of the master cylinder and of the brake booster as a function of the free travel measured previously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Philippe Richard, François Gaffe, Bastien Cagnac
  • Publication number: 20110094219
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for a charge air cooler coupled to an engine. One example method comprises collecting condensate discharged from the cooler in a condensation trap coupled to an outside surface of a bend in an outlet duct of the cooler; during a first condition, temporarily storing the condensate in a reservoir of the condensation trap; and, during first and second conditions, releasing the condensate to the outlet duct in a direction of airflow via a tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: James Raymond Palm
  • Publication number: 20110094220
    Abstract: A method of turbo-charger surge detection may include the steps of measuring a rate of air flow through a turbo-charger compressor, measuring a temperature of the air flow, calculating a standard mass flow rate of the air flow at the rate and the temperature, measuring a pressure ratio across the turbo-charger compressor, calculating a surge mass flow rate at a surge line of the compressor at the pressure ratio, comparing the standard mass flow rate to the surge mass flow rate, and reducing an EGR flow or reducing the pressure ratio by opening a vane of the compressor if the standard mass flow rate is lower than the surge mass flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Geyer, Gregory J. Birky
  • Publication number: 20110094221
    Abstract: A turbocharger control system for a high-pressure turbocharger and a low-pressure turbocharger includes a turbo mode determination module and a transition control module. The turbo mode determination module determines a transition from a dual turbo mode to a single turbo mode. The high-pressure turbocharger is active in the dual turbo mode and idle in the single turbo mode. The transition control module determines a turbine efficiency of the high-pressure turbocharger and controls the high-pressure turbocharger during the transition based on a predetermined maximum turbine efficiency equation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Ping Ge, Donald R. Meyer
  • Publication number: 20110094222
    Abstract: A regulated two-stage turbocharger system is described. The turbocharger system includes high-pressure and low-pressure turbocharger units in communication with one another. The turbocharger system includes a valve system having valve members that are independently controllable so as to selectively control the gas flow into the turbine portions of the high-pressure turbocharger and the low-pressure turbocharger units. The valve members are asymmetric, e.g., they possess differing areas (e.g., perimeters, diameters and/or the like) with respect to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Grissom, Matthew B. Delavan
  • Publication number: 20110094223
    Abstract: An opposed piston engine includes at least one cylinder with inlet and exhaust ports and opposed pistons disposed in the cylinder for reciprocating opposed motion toward and away from each other. An auxiliary system pumps liquid coolant separately to the cylinder and pistons. Another auxiliary system controls the flow of intake and exhaust gas in the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Achates Power, Inc.
    Inventors: James U. Lemke, Ronald J. Hoffman, Michael H. Wahl, Patrick R. Lee
  • Publication number: 20110094224
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an engine block for internal combustion, a turbocharger for delivering pressurized intake air to the engine block, a turbogenerator for recovering heat energy from the exhaust gas downstream of the turbocharger to generate electricity, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system comprising an EGR-pump drawing exhaust gas from an EGR inlet located between the turbocharger and the turbogenerator, wherein the EGR-pump controllably delivers exhaust gas to an EGR mixer in the pressurized intake air stream at a location between the turbocharger and the engine block. An electronic control unit (ECU) is adapted to command the EGR-pump to deliver a desired EGR flow-rate to the engine block based on look-up tables and either open-loop and/or closed-loop control algorithms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Alan D. Sheidler, Carl T. Vuk
  • Publication number: 20110094225
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a crankcase which accommodates cylinders, having at least one exhaust turbocharger and having an oil circuit containing at least one oil pump, in which engine oil is siphoned by at least one oil pump and delivered to the cylinders for lubrication, and in which the or each exhaust turbocharger is coupled to the oil circuit such that siphoned engine oil can be distributed to bearings of the respective turbocharger via an inlet line leading to the respective exhaust turbocharger and can then be expelled from the bearings of the respective exhaust turbocharger in the direction of an oil sump via an outlet line leading away from the respective exhaust turbocharger. The respective outlet line of the respective exhaust turbocharger is assigned a pressure limiting device, with the aid of which a vacuum prevailing at the bearings of the respective exhaust turbocharger can be limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bruno Kistner, Bernhard Freiermuth, Christoph Müller
  • Publication number: 20110094226
    Abstract: Process and apparatus are provided for a high energy efficiency chemical combustion process. The process provides two reaction steps, both of which are exothermic. First, a reduced oxygen carrier is contacted with oxygen in a reactor to form an oxidized oxygen carrier, such as metal oxide or metal suboxide, and then the oxidized oxygen carrier is fed to a second reactor and combusted with a fuel. The reaction produces the reduced oxygen carrier and carbon dioxide. The reduced oxygen carrier from the second reactor is recycled back to said first reactor. Carbon monoxide can also be produced during the process depending on stoichiometric amounts of the reactants. Though the process can be performed in various types of reactor systems, one preferred embodiment is the flash furnace with the production of fly ash during combustion. The process is highly efficient and produces a large amount of usable work.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Lawrence F. McHugh, Leonid N. Shekhter
  • Publication number: 20110094227
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a waste heat recovery system includes a Rankine cycle system that circulates a working fluid that absorbs heat from exhaust gas. The Rankine cycle system includes an evaporator that may transfer sensible heat from the exhaust gas to the working fluid to produce cooled exhaust gas. The Rankine cycle system also includes an economizer that may transfer latent heat from the exhaust gas to the working fluid. The economizer is a carbon steel heat exchanger with a corrosion resistant coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gabor Ast, Herbert Kopecek, Thomas Frey, Sebastian Freund, Pierre Huck
  • Publication number: 20110094228
    Abstract: A method of increasing the power of a carbonaceous fuel combusting boiler system includes the steps of (a) feeding carbonaceous fuel into a furnace of the boiler system, (b) feeding oxidant gas into the furnace for combusting fuel to produce exhaust gas, (c) discharging the exhaust gas from the furnace via an exhaust gas channel, (d) conveying a stream of feedwater from a boiler economizer arranged in the exhaust gas channel to evaporating and superheating heat exchange surfaces arranged in the furnace and in the exhaust gas channel for converting the feedwater to superheated steam, (e) expanding the superheated steam in a high-pressure steam turbine for generating power, (f) extracting steam from the high-pressure steam turbine at a decreased rate for preheating the feedwater, (g) conveying steam from the high-pressure steam turbine at an increased rate to a reheater arranged in the exhaust gas channel for generating reheated steam, (h) expanding the reheated steam in an intermediate pressure steam turbine f
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: FOSTER WHEELER ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhen Fan, Horst Hack, Andrew Seltzer
  • Publication number: 20110094229
    Abstract: A system includes a drive shaft, a motor-generator coupled to the drive shaft, a compressor coupled to the drive shaft and configured to output compressed air to a cavern, and a turbine coupled to the drive shaft and configured to receive air from the cavern. The system includes a first thermal energy storage (TES) device, a combustor configured to combust a flammable substance and generate an exhaust stream to the turbine, and controller. The controller is configured to control flow of the air to heat the air as it passes through the first TES, cause the flammable substance to flow to the combustor, operate the combustor to combust the air with the flammable substance to generate an exhaust stream into the turbine, and control the motor-generator to generate electrical energy from energy imparted thereto from the turbine via the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Sebastian W. Freund, Mathias Finkenrath
  • Publication number: 20110094230
    Abstract: A system includes a compression system fluidly coupled to a compartment to compress a first quantity of gas for storage in the compartment, the compression system including a compression path to convey the first quantity of gas; an expansion system fluidly coupled to the compartment to expand a second quantity of gas from the compartment, the expansion system including an expansion path to convey the second quantity of gas; a first path fluidly coupled to the compression path to convey the first quantity of gas to the compartment; a second path fluidly coupled to the expansion path to convey the second quantity of gas from the compartment to the expansion system; and a separation unit fluidly coupled to one of the first path, second path, compression path, and expansion path, wherein the separation unit removes a quantity of carbon dioxide from one of the first and second quantities of gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Matthias Finkenrath, Gabor Ast, Matthew Lehar, Thomas Frey, Samuel David Draper, Richard Aumann, Stephanie Marie-Noelle Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20110094231
    Abstract: An ACAES system operable in a compression mode and an expansion mode of operation is disclosed and includes a compressor system configured to compress air supplied thereto and a turbine system configured to expand compressed air supplied thereto, with the compressor system including a compressor conduit and the turbine system including a turbine conduit. The ACAES system also includes a plurality of thermal energy storage (TES) units positioned on the compressor and turbine conduits and configured to remove thermal energy from compressed air passing through the compressor conduit and return thermal energy to air passing through the turbine conduit. The compressor conduit and the turbine conduit are arranged such that at least a portion of the plurality of TES units operate at a first pressure state during the compression mode of operation and at a second pressure state different from the first pressure state during the expansion mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventor: Sebastian W. Freund
  • Publication number: 20110094232
    Abstract: A nozzle includes a center body and a shroud surrounding the center body to define an annular passage. An arcuate annular guide extending from a point radially inward of the shroud to a point radially outward of the shroud defines a first airflow between the arcuate annular guide and the shroud and a second airflow between the arcuate annular guide and the center body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: JASON THURMAN STEWART, JONATHAN DWIGHT BERRY, MICHAEL JOHN HUGHES
  • Publication number: 20110094233
    Abstract: A combustion device includes: a combustion liner in which a combustion chamber is formed; a main burner provided at a top portion of the combustion liner and including a premix passage configured to annularly inject a pre-mixed gas of a fuel and air into the combustion chamber and a radial swirler configured to introduce the fuel and the air to the premix passage in a radially inward direction; and a fuel injection pipe configured to inject the fuel to the radial swirler from an entrance side of the radial swirler, and the radial swirler is divided into a plurality of swirler stages by dividing plates in an axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kashihara, Yasushi Yoshino
  • Publication number: 20110094234
    Abstract: The present application provides a combustor. The combustor may include a number of nozzles, a first fuel source with a low reactivity fuel therein, a second fuel source with a high reactivity fuel therein, and a primary valve for varying the flow of the low reactivity fuel and the high reactivity fuel delivered to the nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdul Rafey Khan, Willy Steve Ziminsky
  • Publication number: 20110094235
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine includes a plurality of nozzles provided in an array; a baffle plate configured to provide a desired air flow distribution to the array of nozzles; and a casing comprising a plurality of holes in an outer surface. The casing extends from a headend of the combustor to the baffle plate. A method of distributing an air flow in a combustor of a gas turbine includes providing an air flow to the outer surface of the casing; directing the air flow around the baffle plate; and distributing the air flow through the baffle plate to the array of nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Jason Mulherin, John Charles Intile
  • Publication number: 20110094236
    Abstract: A power generation system includes a first compressor, a second compressor, a combustor configured to receive compressed air from the second compressor to produce an exhaust stream, a first turbine, and a power turbine. The first turbine is configured to receive the exhaust stream, generate a rotational power from the exhaust stream, output the rotational power to a second compressor, and output the exhaust stream. The system includes a coupling device configured to couple and decouple the first compressor to/from a second turbine, an electrical generator coupled to an output of the power turbine and configured to output electrical power, and a controller configured to cause the coupling device to mechanically decouple the second turbine from the first compressor, and cause the coupling device to direct compressed air from an air storage cavern to an inlet of the second compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Matthias Finkenrath, Balachandar Naidu, Charles Michael Booth, Garland Ferguson, Stephanie Marie-Noelle Hoffmann, Sebastian W. Freund
  • Publication number: 20110094237
    Abstract: A method for separation of CO2 from the combustion gas of a gas turbine comprising the steps of: withdrawing the combustion gas at an intermediate stage of the turbine, introducing the withdrawn combustion gas into a burner together with compressed air and additional carbonaceous fuel to cause a secondary combustion therein, cooling the combustion gas from the burner, introducing the cooled combustion gas into a CO2 capturing unit, to separate the combustion gas into a CO2 rich gas, that is withdrawn for deposition, and a CO2 lean gas, and reheating and reintroducing the CO2 lean gas into the turbine at an intermediate level and further expand the gas before it is released into the atmosphere, is described. A power generation plant utilizing the method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Tor Christensen, Henrik Fleischer, Knut Børseth
  • Publication number: 20110094238
    Abstract: A fuel controller, and associated method, provides a fuel control output signal to a fuel control actuator to control operations. The fuel controller determines the fuel control output signal based on rotational speed error. A combustion air controller provides a combustion air control output signal to a combustion air control actuator to control operations. A cross channel controller is in communication with the fuel controller and the combustion air controller. The cross channel controller provides a combustion air control modification signal to the combustion air controller. The combustion air control modification signal is determined from the fuel control output signal using an air versus fuel model. The combustion air controller determines a preliminary combustion air control signal based on an exhaust temperature error, and further determines the combustion air control output signal based on both of the preliminary combustion air control signal and the combustion air control modification signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Matthew John Mosley
  • Publication number: 20110094239
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a gas turbine combustor that supports hydrogen-containing gas having a high burning velocity and is capable of performing low NOx combustion without reducing reliability of a burner. A first fuel nozzle is provided upstream of a combustion chamber and supplies fuel for activation and hydrogen-containing gas. The combustor has a primary combustion zone, a reduction zone and a secondary combustion zone. In the primary combustion zone, the fuel supplied from the first fuel nozzle is combusted under a fuel rich condition to form a burned gas containing a low concentration of oxygen. In the reduction zone, a hydrogen-containing gas is injected into the combustion chamber through a second fuel injection hole from a second fuel nozzle so that NOx generated in the primary combustion zone is reduced by an oxygen reaction of the hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromi KOIZUMI, Satoshi Dodo, Hirokazu Takahashi, Tomohiro Asai, Tomomi Koganezawa, Shohei Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20110094240
    Abstract: A swirl generator for injecting fuel into a gas turbine by injection of the fuel into a channel of the swirl generator of the gas turbine. The fuel injection is predetermined by the arrangement of a fuel injecting insert in a swirl generator segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: MAN Diesel & Turbo SE
    Inventors: Holger HUITENGA, Jaman El Masalme, Emil Aschenbruck, Reiner Brinkmann
  • Publication number: 20110094241
    Abstract: A starting process for a gas turbine (28) that holds the turbine speed of rotation at an ignition speed setting during an ignition window (58), with the ignition speed setting being based on ambient air conditions to achieve a specified combustor air mass flow rate (52). A fuel flow rate may be set based on the fuel type and temperature to achieve a particular air/fuel ratio in a combustor. The fuel flow rate may be adjusted during the ignition window and thereafter based on a combustor inlet air temperature (46). Completion of ignition may be determined by a reduction (68) in a blade path temperature spread (66). After ignition, fuel flow is increased to accelerate the turbine to full speed. At any point, the fuel flow may be reduced, or its increase may be slowed, to avoid exceeding a temperature limit in the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Shervin Rodd, Adam M. Foust, Gary V. Hildebrandt, Damien G. Teehan
  • Publication number: 20110094242
    Abstract: A device to generate a cooling fluid for a cooling load may include a first renewable energy source to generate renewable energy, a hydrogen generator connected to the first renewable energy source to generate hydrogen from the renewable energy, a first storage device to store the hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generator, a energy converter to convert the stored hydrogen to exhaust gas, a recuperator device to accept the exhaust gas to recoup the heat from the exhaust gas and an expander to reduce the temperature of the exhaust gas from the recuperator device one to form the cooling fluid for the cooling load. The extender may include a high-pressure expander, and the expander may include a low-pressure expander.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventor: Matthew Douglas Koerner
  • Publication number: 20110094243
    Abstract: A heat exchanger bed is formed from a cascade of at least three different magnetocaloric materials with different Curie temperatures, which are arranged in succession by ascending or descending Curie temperature and are preferably isolated from one another by intermediate thermal and/or electrical insulators, the difference in the Curie temperatures of adjacent magnetocaloric materials being 0.5 to 6° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Colman CARROLL, Olaf Rogge, Bennie Reesink
  • Publication number: 20110094244
    Abstract: A rotary valve of a multivalve type pulse tube refrigerator includes: a stationary seat; a rotary disk to change a coolant path by rotating while surface-contacting with a face of the stationary seat; a plurality of first ports provided in the face of the stationary seat to supply a high-pressure coolant to a regenerator and exhaust a low-pressure coolant from the regenerator; and a plurality of second ports provided in the face of the stationary seat to supply a high-pressure coolant to a pulse tube and exhaust a low-pressure coolant from the pulse tube. The first ports are arranged in a first circular track area in rotation symmetry with respect to the center of the face. The second ports are arranged in a second circular track area in rotation symmetry with respect to the center of the face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: MINGYAO XU
  • Publication number: 20110094245
    Abstract: Disclosed is a defrosting system and a defrosting method of a refrigerator, the system including an evaporator configured to reduce an ambient temperature by heat exchange through movement of refrigerant, a frost monitoring camera by photographing a state of frost adhered to the evaporator, a controller configured to grasp changes of an image captured by the frost monitoring camera to determine a defrosting start time, and a heat-generating unit configured to emit heat in response to a signal applied from the controller to remove the frost, whereby an unnecessary operation of a heat-generating unit is prevented by appropriately coping with an environment that flexibly changes according to an inner situation of a refrigerator and by accurately determining, by the controller, a start time and a completion time of defrosting operation for removing frost adhered to the refrigerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seoyoung Kim