Abstract: A multistage axial compressor includes: a rotational shaft to which a plurality of rotor blades are mounted; a casing surrounding the rotational shaft, the casing forming a flow passage of a working fluid between the rotational shaft and the casing; a wall portion having an annular shape and extending in a circumferential direction of the rotational shaft so as to surround the casing, the wall portion forming an bleed chamber having an annular shape and being in communication with the flow passage; a plurality of port portions connected to an outer peripheral surface of the wall portion, the port portions forming respective outlet flow passages which are in communication with the bleed chamber; and a plurality of bleed pipes connected to the respective port portions.

Abstract: An air intake system includes an exterior housing for a vehicle, the exterior housing including an outer surface including a recessed portion defined therein. The recessed portion includes an angled bottom member having a first end and a second end that is coupled to the outer surface. The recessed portion further includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposing the first sidewall, and an inlet opening defined within the recessed portion. The inlet opening is bounded by the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the second end, and the inlet opening is configured to receive a fluid stream therethrough. The air intake system further includes an actuation component coupled to the angled bottom member. The actuation component includes a shape memory alloy, and the actuation component is responsive to a change in a thermal condition and configured to move the second end, thereby regulating the inlet opening.

Abstract: An aircraft fuel system can include a fuel line configured to transport fuel therein, an exposed aircraft structure in direct or indirect thermal communication with the fuel in the fuel line to receive heat from the fuel to provide a deicing or anti-icing heat to the exposed aircraft structure. The exposed aircraft structure can include at least one internal fuel channel in fluid communication with the fuel line for direct thermal communication with the fuel. The system can include a fuel/fluid heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fuel line to transfer heat from the fuel to a fluid to provide indirect thermal communication between the fuel and the exposed aircraft structure.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine has an engine core including a primary flowpath. A first bypass duct is positioned radially outward of the engine core. A gas discharge protrudes radially into the first bypass duct. The gas discharge includes a fairing defining a lobed outlet. The lobed outlet includes a plurality of axially aligned peaks and axially aligned valleys. Each of the axially aligned valleys is configured to prevent a fluid passing through the valley from traveling radially inward immediately downstream of the fairing creating regions of relatively cool, mixed, and hot airflows.

Abstract: A turbine-cooling system of a gas turbine system includes a first intra-vane flow passage defined in a first stator vane so as to penetrate the first stator vane in a radial direction, a second intra-vane flow passage defined in a second stator vane so as to penetrate the second stator vane in the radial direction, an intra-rotation-shaft flow passage connecting the first intra-vane flow passage and the second intra-vane flow passage in a rotation shaft, an extra-turbine flow passage connecting the first intra-vane flow passage and the second intra-vane flow passage, a boost compressor configured to make cooling air flow sequentially through the first intra-vane flow passage, the intra-rotation-shaft flow passage, the second intra-vane flow passage, and the extra-turbine flow passage, and a cooling unit configured to cool the cooling air.

Abstract: An additively manufactured thermally insulating structure comprising a base layer and a fire-resistant layer adjacent to the base layer that forms an air gap therebetween. A method for assembling a miniature gas turbine engine includes additively manufacturing an additively manufactured thermally insulating structure onto a static structure of the miniature gas turbine engine.

Abstract: An engine system for an aircraft includes a first gas turbine engine, a first core turning system, a second gas turbine engine, and a second core turning system. The engine system also includes a controller operable to shutdown the first gas turbine engine responsive to determining that the aircraft has landed and operate in the second gas turbine engine in a taxi mode while using the first core turning system to cool the first gas turbine engine. The controller is further operable to shutdown the second gas turbine engine and disable the first core turning system based on a power-down condition, restart the first gas turbine engine and use the second core turning system to cool the second gas turbine engine based on a restart condition, and complete cooling of the second gas turbine prior to restarting the second gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A turbine engine defines an axial direction and a radial direction and includes a shaft assembly, a fan or propeller assembly, an engine core, a coupling shaft, a spacer, a sleeve, and a nut The coupling shaft defines an annular surface extended along the axial direction and a groove extended in a circumferential direction. The spacer defines a first portion disposed in the groove of the coupling shaft. The sleeve defines a threaded portion that extends along the axial direction and is disposed outward of the spacer in the radial direction. The nut defines a plurality of nut threads configured to mate with the plurality of sleeve threads of the sleeve. The nut defines a radial portion adjacent to at least a portion of the sleeve and at least a portion of the spacer in the axial direction.

Abstract: An engine system for an aircraft includes a first gas turbine engine, a second gas turbine engine, and a control system. The control system is configured to operate the first gas turbine engine with an idle fuel burn schedule in a taxi mode of the aircraft and dry crank the second gas turbine engine in a first pre-takeoff portion of the taxi mode to cool the second gas turbine engine absent fuel burn by the second gas turbine engine. The control system operates the second gas turbine engine with a sub-idle fuel burn schedule in a second pre-takeoff portion of the taxi mode of the aircraft. The sub-idle fuel burn schedule includes a reduction of the idle fuel burn schedule. A fuel flow of the first gas turbine engine and the second gas turbine engine is increased above the idle fuel burn schedule prior to takeoff of the aircraft.

Abstract: Provided is an engine, including: a cylinder including a cylinder liner; a piston provided inside the cylinder liner; a piston ring provided on the piston; a contact detector configured to detect a contact between a step formed in an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder liner and the piston ring; and a compression ratio controller configured to control a top dead center position of the piston so that the piston ring at the top dead center position is located on a combustion chamber side with respect to the step when the contact is detected.

Abstract: When an acceptance unit accepts an advance notice, a control unit, controls inflow amount of the air, an air fuel ratio derived from an injection amount of a fuel, and an advance of an ignition timing of an ignition device to temporarily increase a power that can be supplied by a generator. The control unit is determines whether a margin of an opening of a throttle is not less than a predetermined threshold. If the margin of the opening of the throttle is less than the predetermined threshold, the control unit inhibits a temporarily increase of the power. If the margin of the opening of the throttle is not less than the predetermined threshold, the control unit permits the temporarily increase of the power.

Abstract: The systems, methods, and apparatuses provided herein disclose interpreting a performance criteria for a vehicle, wherein the performance criteria is indicative of a desired operating parameter for the vehicle; interpreting a good driver definition value indicative of a good driver profile for the interpreted performance criteria; determining a performance value indicative of how an operator of the vehicle is performing with respect to the good driver definition value; and in response to the performance value indicating that the vehicle is not satisfying the performance criteria, managing an actuator output response value for at least one actuator in the vehicle to facilitate achievement of the good driver definition value.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has two cylinder banks, an electrical compressor, and at least one turbocharger, in which a first shut-off valve, which is arranged in the line leading from an e-compressor outlet to air-collecting devices of the cylinder banks, can at least release and block a throughflow through the line. A method operates the internal combustion engine, by which the internal combustion chamber is operated symmetrically or asymmetrically, depending on the engine speed.

Abstract: A control device comprises a catalyst warmup control part configured to supply electric power to a conductive base to warm up a catalyst device. The catalyst warmup control part is provided with a first estimating part configured to estimate a temperature of the conductive base based on an engine operating state, a second estimating part configured to estimate a temperature of the conductive base based on a resistance value of the conductive base detected when supplying current to the conductive base, and an electric power control part configured to control an amount of electric power supplied to the conductive base when warming up the catalyst device based on a result of comparison of magnitudes of a first estimated temperature of the conductive base estimated by the first estimating part and a second estimated temperature of the conductive base estimated by the second estimating part.

Abstract: An exhaust-gas purification system and method controls an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder-piston unit operating in a overrun (drag) mode in which piston motion is induced by motion of an output shaft of a drive output unit associated with the internal combustion engine. A control device controls, for each of cylinder-piston unit, an intake fluid, an exhaust valve and fuel injection to heat an exhaust emission control device by deactivating fuel injection, passing the substantially fuel-free intake fluid into the cylinder, compressing and thereby heating the fluid in the cylinder, and passing the heated outlet fluid to the exhaust emission control device. The control device may control the amount of heating based on measurement and/or use of a temperature model of the exhaust emission control device.

Abstract: An engine control device includes an engine model having a neural network that inputs a manipulated variable of the engine and computes a controlled variable; and a controller that computes the manipulated variable so as to reduce a deviation between the controlled variable and a target controlled variable. The neural network includes an input layer to which the manipulated variable are input; a first hidden layer including a first fully connected layer; a second hidden later including a second fully connected layer that generates a plurality of second output values at a first time and has a return path on which the plurality of second output values at a second time, earlier than the first time, are input into the second fully connected layer; and an output layer from which the plurality of second output values at the first time are output as the controlled variable.

Abstract: A control device for an exhaust sensor is configured to control the exhaust sensor disposed in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine. The control device for an exhaust sensor includes: a sensor element; a heater configured to heat the sensor element; a current detection circuit configured to detect an output current of the exhaust sensor, and an electronic control device configured to control electric power that is supplied to the heater by PWM control.

Abstract: A diagnosis apparatus of a fuel supply system includes an operation state detector, an air-fuel ratio sensor, a fuel injection amount calculator, a threshold value table, an abnormality information acquiring device, and an abnormality determining device. In the threshold value table, operation ranges of an internal combustion engine are provided based on an engine speed and a throttle opening. In the threshold value table, a lean side threshold value and a rich side threshold value of an air-fuel ratio correction factor to determine abnormality of the fuel supply system are set beforehand for each of the operation ranges. The abnormality information acquiring device is configured to determine whether the air-fuel ratio correction factor has exceeded the lean side threshold value or the rich side threshold value extracted from the threshold value table according to an operation state so as to acquire abnormality information.

Abstract: A fuel pressure estimation system estimates a fuel pressure variable on a fuel pressure in a supply pipe for an engine apparatus including an engine having a fuel injection valve, and a fuel supply device having a fuel pump that supplies the fuel in a fuel tank to the supply pipe, and includes a storage device and an execution device. The storage device stores a first mapping that receives, as an input, first input variables including a pump variable, a consumption flow rate variable on a consumption flow rate of the fuel, and a property variable on a property of the fuel, and outputs the fuel pressure variable. The execution device acquires the first input variables and estimates the fuel pressure variable by applying the first input variables to the first mapping.

Abstract: An engine control module comprises an input terminal configured to receive an input signal, an analog-to-digital converter configured to receive the input signal from the input terminal, control circuitry configured to receive the input signal from the analog-to-digital converter and to control at least one engine output based on the input signal, and an adjustable low-pass filter. The adjustable low-pass filter is coupled between the input terminal and the analog-to-digital converter such that the analog-to-digital converter receives the input signal from the input terminal via the adjustable low-pass filter. The adjustable low-pass filter is configured to filter the input signal from the input terminal prior to the input signal being applied to the analog-to-digital converter.

Abstract: Provided is an ignition control section and an injection control section. When partial compression ignition combustion is carried out, the ignition control section causes an ignition plug to carry out: main ignition in which a spark is generated in a late period of a compression stroke or an initial period of an expansion stroke to initiate SI combustion; and preceding ignition in which the spark is generated at earlier timing than the main ignition. Also, when the partial compression ignition combustion is carried out, the injection control section causes an injector to inject fuel at such timing that the fuel exists in a cylinder at an earlier time point than the preceding ignition. Ignition timing of the preceding ignition is set to be more retarded when an in-cylinder pressure specified by an in-cylinder pressure specification section is high than when the in-cylinder pressure is low.

Abstract: A fuel injection control method of injecting fuel to a combustion chamber through an injector, the method may include performing, by a controller electrically-connected to the injector, a main injection configured of controlling the injector to inject the fuel in a target injection fuel amount; and performing, by the controller, a pre-energizing configured of driving the injector to inject the fuel in advance, before the performing of the main injection with a predetermined idle time interposed therebetween, wherein the performing of the pre-energizing is configured of magnetizing an injector coil of the injector by applying a current to the injector during a predetermined pre-energizing time, in which a flow rate of the fuel is prevented from being generated by the pre-energizing.

Abstract: A cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a cast cylinder head defining a combustion chamber and fabricated from a first material, and an internal support structure at least partially encapsulated within the cast cylinder head. The internal support structure is fabricated from a thermal strain and fatigue resistant second material, different from the first material, such that during engine operation, thermal and mechanical loads are transferred to the internal support structure to reduce combustion chamber displacement. The internal support structure and the cylinder head are bonded via a hot isostatic pressing (HIP) process to eliminate internal porosity and gaps therebetween.

Abstract: A piston crown for a combustion system is disclosed. The piston crown includes a piston bowl having a circumferential recess and a plurality of first recesses arranged spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction. The circumferential recess is disposed proximate to a circumference of the piston crown. Each recess of the plurality of the first recesses extends between a center of the piston crown and the circumferential recess, and a width and a depth of each recess of the plurality of first recesses are extended along a radial direction for an entire length of each recess of the plurality of first recesses.

Abstract: A bearing cap according to one embodiment of this disclosure includes: a concave part that supports a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; first bosses that are disposed one on each side of the concave part and each have a first bolt hole; and second bosses that are disposed one on each side of a bearing cap main body having the concave part and the first bosses so as to flank the bearing cap main body and each have a second bolt hole. The bearing cap is fixed to a first member of the internal combustion engine by first bolts inserted into the first bolt holes, and to a second member of the internal combustion engine by second bolts inserted into the second bolt holes. At least the pair of second bosses have higher rigidity than a frame.

Abstract: A heat recovery engine (5) including a compressor (15) to increase pressure, density and temperature of a gas stream flowing in a closed loop within the engine, with the gas stream at base system pressure (10) at a compressor inlet; an expander (30) to reduce the pressure of said gas stream when compressed to just above said base system pressure, at the same time receiving power from the gas stream; a recuperator (20) to transfer thermal energy from downstream gas stream of said expander (30) to downstream gas stream of said compressor (15), thereby increasing the temperature of said downstream gas stream of said compressor (15) at approximately constant pressure; a heater (25) to provide further heat energy to said gas stream at approximately constant pressure after exit from said recuperator (20); a heat source (40) and a means (45) for transferring heat energy from said heat source (40) to said heater (25); a cooler (35) to cool said gas stream prior to compression in said compressor; a heat energy transfe

Abstract: An aircraft propulsion assembly with an engine provided with a cascade-type thrust reverser includes cascades of mobile deflection vanes connected to cascade rails with a slideway connection that allows the cascades of vanes a translational movement between a cruising-flight position and a reverse-thrust position. The thrust reverser allows the cascade rails to be positioned in a forward position, in which the engine, the cascade rails and the deflection vanes can be removed from the propulsion assembly without the cascade rails colliding with the mobile cowl of the reverser. Dismantling and assembly or reassembly methods allow maintenance operations to be carried out on the engine thus dismantled.

Abstract: A disclosed turbofan engine includes a gas generator section for generating a gas stream flow and a propulsor section for generating propulsive thrust as a mass flow rate of air through a bypass flow path. The propulsor section includes a fan driven by a power turbine through a speed reduction device at a second rotational speed lower than a first rotational speed of the power turbine. An Engine Unit Thrust Parameter (“EUTP”) defined as net engine thrust divided by a product of the mass flow rate of air through the bypass flow path, a tip diameter of the fan and the first rotational speed of the power turbine is between 0.05 and 0.13 during operation of the turbofan engine.

Abstract: A fuel booster system having a fuel inlet port, a fuel outlet port, and a fuel accumulator fluidically coupled to both ports. The fuel inlet port allows fuel to be delivered to the fuel accumulator and the fuel outlet port is in fluid communication with a combustion engine to deliver fuel from the fuel booster system to the combustion engine. A source of pressurized gas is also fluidically coupled to the fuel accumulator to deliver pressurized gas through a gas port in one end of the fuel accumulator. A piston is located within the fuel accumulator and the source of pressurized gas can be discharged into the fuel accumulator to force accumulated fuel from the fuel accumulator and to the engine when the fuel booster system determines that the engine needs more fuel.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided simplified systems and methods for catalytically deactivating, removing, or reducing the levels of reactive component(s) from the vapor phase of fuel storage tanks. The simple apparatus described herein can be utilized to replace complex OBIGGS systems on the market. Simply stated, in one embodiment of the invention, the vapor phase from the fuel tank is passed over a catalytic bed operated at appropriate temperatures to allow the reaction between free oxygen and the fuel vapor by oxidation of the fuel vapor, thus deactivating reactive component(s) in the gas phase.

Abstract: A computer control network is connected to a multiple-cylinder engine and implements aftertreatment temperature management. Processors are configured to determine an aftertreatment temperature-efficient air to fuel ratio that satisfies the sensed power output request, determine an air to fuel ratio adjustment, select an in-cylinder exhaust gas recirculation technique, select at least one EGR cylinder of the multiple-cylinder engine to implement the in-cylinder exhaust gas recirculation technique, and control the intake valves to open and the exhaust valves to close for the selected at least one EGR cylinder to adjust the oxygen and particulate content of the exhaust gas by applying at least a second compression stroke of the respective reciprocating piston of the at least one EGR cylinder to the exhaust gas to push the exhaust gas through to the intake manifold.

Abstract: An electron generation means for generating electrons includes a rectifier circuit and a booster circuit. AC power from a power supply is passed through the rectifier circuit in advance and then flown to the booster circuit. The rectifier circuit, according to the plus/minus inversion cycle of the said AC power, blocks current flowing toward a second terminal in a state where a first terminal of the rectifier circuit has a positive potential, and current flows from the second terminal only in the state where the first terminal of the rectifier circuit has a negative potential, and thus current flows only in one direction of the alternating current. The booster circuit boosts the voltage on a primary side, and electrons are generated from one terminal on a secondary side of the booster circuit only in a state where the first terminal of the rectifier circuit has a negative potential.

Abstract: A system includes an electronic fuel injection system of an engine, the electronic fuel injection system including an electronic governor control unit for controlling various functions of the engine.

Abstract: An intake duct for an internal combustion engine includes a pipe-shaped shell. The shell includes a first molded product and a second molded product. The first molded product is formed by a plastic molded product and includes an opening extending through the first molded product in the thickness direction. The second molded product is formed by a fiber molded product produced through compression molding. The second molded product includes an air-permeable fitting projection fitted into the opening, and the second molded product is joined with an outer surface of the first molded product.

Abstract: An ECU is covered by a fuel tank and an upper cover which are vehicle body trim parts along with the upper surface of an air cleaner box. A frame holding duct is connected to the air cleaner box, the frame holding duct extends vehicle forward from the air cleaner box, is connected to a body frame, and is arranged inside an upper cowl, the upper cowl covering the front portion of the body frame, a branching portion of the intake air is arranged in the frame holding duct, and a branching passage extending from the branching portion is disposed between the upper surface of the air cleaner box and the fuel tank and the upper cover and is positioned in front of the ECU.

Abstract: A fuel pump, in which a connecting piece for a fuel line and electrical connecting lines are radially guided in a motor housing, includes an electric motor. The motor housing has a section made of plastic such that the fuel pump has reduced axial dimensions.

Abstract: A distributor apparatus of a common rail system for an internal combustion engine. The distributor apparatus is designed with at least one distributor device having a high-pressure line for fuel and a plurality of feed lines branching off from the high-pressure line within the distributor device. Each feed line leads to an individual accumulator and an injector. The feed line is associated with a restriction device and a discharge bore, which is designed to cooperate with a pressure-measuring device and which is arranged downstream of the restriction device, such that the restriction device is arranged in the feed line and the discharge bore, arranged in the distributor device, is connected to the feed line downstream of the restriction device.

Abstract: An electric starter system for an internal combustion includes a pinion gear, a pinion solenoid coupled to the pinion gear, a starter motor that is selectively connectable to the flywheel of the engine via the pinion gear, and a controller in communication with the pinion solenoid and the starter motor. In response to an engine auto-stop signal, the controller is configured to translate the pinion gear into contact with the flywheel and the motor, and cause rotation of the engine crankshaft to a predetermined crank angle. In response to an engine auto-start signal, the controller is configured to command delivery of motor torque from the starter motor, through the pinion gear, and to the flywheel for a duration sufficient for starting the engine.

Abstract: In an ignition control device for controlling operation of an ignition apparatus, an ignition section has first and second electrodes disposed in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A voltage application between the first and second electrodes enables a discharge to be generated between the first and second electrodes for igniting a gas mixture in the combustion chamber. A voltage application section performs at least one application of a determination voltage between the first and second electrodes. An occurrence ratio acquisition section acquires a discharge occurrence ratio at the ignition section for the at least one application of the determination voltage. A comparison section compares the discharge occurrence ratio acquired by the occurrence ratio acquisition section with a predetermined determination threshold to thereby determine a degree of wear of at least one of the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flow controller configured to selectively act as a pump or as a flow regulator. The flow controller comprises: an inlet for a fluid; an outlet for the fluid; a pump assembly arranged between the inlet and the outlet and configured to pump the fluid through the flow controller from the inlet to the outlet; a hydro electrical generator assembly arranged between the inlet and the outlet, the hydro electrical generator assembly configured to allow the fluid flow through the flow controller from the inlet to the outlet and to generate electricity by transforming flow energy of the fluid flowing through the flow controller into electricity; and a mode controller configured to selectively set the flow controller in a pumping mode or in an electricity generating mode.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for wave power generation. In one aspect, a wave power generator device includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly encased within a tube frame. The stator assembly includes an array of inductor coils in a fixed position within a cavity of the tube frame and a plurality of bearings coupled to the tube frame. The rotor assembly includes a turbine rotor having a central hub and peripheral blades coupled to a high inertia annular flywheel that is moveably engaged with the bearings of the stator assembly, and an array of magnets arranged to be evenly spaced and of alternating axial polarity from one another extending from the annular flywheel into the cavity between the array of inductor coils, such that electric currents are produced based on magnetic field interaction of the magnets with the inductor coils during the rotation of the annular flywheel.

Abstract: A system for generating electrical energy from the wave motion of the sea is provided with electrical-energy generating means for exploiting the wave motion of the sea in order to generate electrical energy. A floating body is provided with equipment designed to regulate the frequency of the resonance peak of the system.

Abstract: A hydro-turbine apparatus (1) comprising a turbine (9), a water collection chamber (11), a water inlet, at least one water injector (10) directed towards the turbine so as to provide a driving force to the turbine, wherein the water inlet in communication with the at least one water injector, and the water collection chamber arranged to receive water which has been directed at the turbine, and the apparatus arranged for operative submersion in a body of water (WL).

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining a geographic location of a tower top pivot point (TPP) of a wind turbine tower having a nacelle that includes a machine head and rotor at a top thereof. At least one rover receiver of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is configured at a fixed position on the nacelle. A plurality of 360-degree yaw sweeps of the nacelle are conducted and the geo-location signals received by the rover receiver during the yaw sweeps are recorded. With a controller, the geo-location signals are converted into a circular plot and a radius of the plot is determined, the radius being a distance between the rover receiver and the TPP. Based on a GNSS geo-location of the rover receiver and the radius, a geo-location of the TPP is computed.

Abstract: A vertical turbine comprising a blade control mechanism including a sun gear engaging a plurality of planetary gears each coupled to blade assemblies. The sun gear has at least half circumference of its teeth removed, as the turbine receives maximum downstream torque in the circumference with teeth and it leaves blades free to rotate in the circumference without teeth for minimum upstream drag. The turbine converts the rotational blades into parallel movement and unidirectional propulsion with minimum turbulence.

Abstract: A method of detecting electrical failures in a wind turbine generator control system is described. The method comprises sending a test pulse through a signal path within the control system and detecting the test pulse once it has passed through the signal path, measuring a current through the signal path, and determining an input status and/or an output status of the signal path. Then, the nature of the electrical failure is identified based on a combination of the detected test pulse, the measured current and the determined input status and/or output status of the signal path.

Abstract: A multirotor wind turbine comprising a tower, a suspension arm, a nacelle, and a rotor carried by the nacelle and configured to rotate about a rotor axis to drive a drive train in the nacelle, wherein the tower holds the suspension arm, and the suspension arm holds the nacelle. To facilitate safer and better access to the nacelle or drive train, the suspension arm is configured as a platform to provide support for personnel e.g. during maintenance and repair of the nacelle.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating electricity from falling material includes a capture wheel arranged to receive a falling material and be rotated thereby. The capture wheel may be mounted on a transportable housing having a generator therein. The housing may be a shipping container and the apparatus may be arranged to fit entirely within the shipping container for transportation. The capture wheel may include a hub comprising a central core encapsulated in a layer of resilient material; a wheel framework extending from the hub, wherein the wheel framework is connected to the resilient layer; and a plurality of bucket sections mounted on the wheel framework and arranged to receive the falling material. The hub may be a tri-layer hub including a central core, a layer of resilient material, and an outer support ring surrounding the layer of resilient material. A method of generating electricity using such an apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An offshore power generation system comprising: a floating portable platform having one or more OTEC heat exchange units, one or more turbine generators, a water intake and discharge system, a mooring system; and a fixed manifold having one or more cold water intake connections in communication with a cold water pipe, and one or more cold water discharge connections in communication with the water intake system of the floating platform via an intermediate cold water conduit, wherein each cold water discharge connection is detachable from the intermediate cold water pipe.

Abstract: Methods, system, and apparatus for producing an actuator device are disclosed. The method may include twisting a muscle fiber; coiling the twisted muscle fiber about a mandrel; securing the muscle fiber onto the mandrel using a securing means; heating the muscle fiber to a predetermined temperature using a heating means; and removing the coiled muscle fiber from the mandrel. The twisting, coiling, securing, heating, and removing is a process that is continued until the muscle fiber is a desired length.