Abstract: Provided is an electro/hydraulic valve for use in a hydrocarbon production well, an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve, and a method of operating an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve. The electro/hydraulic valve for use in a hydrocarbon production well, in one aspect, includes a fluid chamber and an electro/mechanical pump having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and further wherein an inlet check valve is positioned in fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the fluid inlet and an outlet check valve is positioned in fluid communication between the fluid outlet and a hydraulically controlled actuation member.

Abstract: A controllable downhole scraper includes a fluid reservoir having a pressure wall positioned and movable within the fluid reservoir defining a first portion of the fluid reservoir including a first fluid. The pressure wall exerts a force on the first fluid to maintain a first pressure. A scraper blade is movable between a retracted and an extended position. A sleeve is positioned on a tubular and slidable between a first position engaging the scraper blade to move into the retracted position, and a second position engaging the scraper blade to move into the extended position. The sleeve is configured to move between the two positions through a reduction in the first pressure in the first fluid. A restrictor is fluidly coupled between the fluid reservoir and a pressure reservoir. A gas reservoir, fluidly coupled to the first fluid, is selectively operable to reduce the first pressure in the first fluid.

Abstract: A system comprising a drilling rig having a rig floor, a derrick, a master control computer system and at least one camera, the at least one camera capturing a master image of at least a portion of the rig floor, sending the master image to the master control computer, the master control computer system mapping said master image into a model to facilitate control of items on said drilling rig.

Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting a breakdown pressure of a formation and fracturing the formation account for filter cake effects. The systems and methods measure a time-dependent permeability and a time-dependent thickness of a filter cake formed by a first drilling mud. The systems and methods determine a time-dependent permeability model and a time-dependent thickness model of the filter cake. The systems and methods select a breakdown pressure model based on (i) the time-dependent thickness of the filter cake, (ii) the time-dependent permeability of the filter cake, and (iii) the permeability of the formation. The systems and methods use the selected breakdown pressure model to predict the breakdown pressure of the formation and fracture the formation using a drilling fluid having a mud weight associated with the predicted breakdown pressure of the formation.

Abstract: A system for electric-motor driven transportation mechanism for fracturing operations is disclosed. The system includes at least one transportation mechanism to transport blender components for a blender fluid from a first tub that may be a proppant hopper to a second tub that may be a blender tub and that may be associated with a fracturing blender; an electric motor and a control unit associated with the at least one transportation mechanism; and at least one variable frequency drive (VFD) associated with the electric motors for real time control of a speed associated with the at least one transportation mechanism.

Abstract: Fracturing fluid delivery systems having components with sacrificial liners or sleeves are provided. In one example, a fracturing system includes a flexible fracturing fluid conduit coupled to a wellhead assembly. The flexible fracturing fluid conduit includes a flexible body, a rigid end joined to the flexible body, and a bore extending through the flexible body and the rigid end for conveying fracturing fluid to the wellhead assembly. The flexible fracturing fluid conduit also includes a rigid sacrificial sleeve installed in the rigid end and within the bore. In another example, a fracturing system includes a fracturing fluid delivery apparatus coupled to a wellhead. The fracturing fluid delivery apparatus includes a pressure-containing component having a rigid body with a bore for conveying fracturing fluid. The pressure-containing component has a sacrificial liner provided through the bore along an interior surface of the rigid body. Additional systems, devices, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of controlling a pumping stage of a fracturing fleet at a wellsite with a set of electric frac pumps to deliver fracturing fluids into a target formation at a steady pressure value. An global control process on a computer system communicatively connected to the plurality of pumping units can communicate a unit setpoint to each pumping unit, monitor the sensor measurements, compare the periodic datasets to a target pressure, and modify the fluid output of the pump units to achieve the target pressure during the pumping operation. The global control process can direct at least one pumping unit to deliver a fracturing treatment at a pressure higher or lower than the target pressure in response to changing wellbore environment pressures.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flanged manifold frack delivery system, or manifold assembly, for distributing fluids to a well wherein the assembly comprises at least one high pressure output studded or flanged connection in the absence of rubber seals. The high-pressure connection consists of cross-blocks and spools connected in series to each other. Described is a combination of high and low-pressure conduit configurations disposed along the length of the chassis; the high-pressure conduit assembly is made up using studded or flanged iron connections terminating at the opposite end to the low-pressure inlet with a studded or flanged iron connection so that a spool can be attached at the height of the well head to route the fluid to the well head. The assembly may be pre-fabricated to the user's needs and assembled on site, or may be mobile and delivered to the desired site for use.

Abstract: A water separation system includes a production control valve fluidly connected to a production tubing and positioned at an uphole end of the production tubing at a well head of a well site, a production fluid pathway between the production control valve and a water separator, an injection control valve fluidly connected to an injection tubing and positioned at an uphole end of the injection tubing at the well head, and an injection fluid pathway between the injection control valve and the water separator. The water separator is positioned at the well site and is fluidly connected to the production fluid pathway and the injection fluid pathway. The water separator separates water from the production fluid and directs the separated water to the injection fluid pathway. An output fluid pathway fluidly connects to the water separator to direct the production fluid out of the water separator.

Abstract: Automated drilling may include receiving a tool-agnostic request to perform a process, determining one or more activities to complete the process, identifying a controller module associated with a first activity of the one or more activities, and triggering the controller module to initiate the first activity, wherein the controller module identifies and directs one or more drilling tools to initiate the first activity.

Abstract: A drilling control system may access a drilling plan for a borehole comprising one or more of planned path for the borehole, drill string information, mud properties, drill bit properties, formation properties, and drill rig properties. The system may receive a plurality of operating parameters from a rig for the borehole including one or more of an observed toolface, a spindle setting, a rate of penetration, a differential pressure, and a weight-on-bit. The system may receive one or more propagation functions for the borehole determined by a model of the drill string. The system may determine one or more spindle changes or block speed changes based at least in part on the propagation functions and the plurality of operating parameters. The system may generate one or more predicted drill properties from a simulator using the one or more spindle changes or the one or more block speed changes.

Abstract: A control system for a pressure management apparatus (PMA) of a drilling system has an onsite device in close proximity to and in communication with the PMA and an offsite device at a remote location. Both the onsite and offsite devices are connected to a network, such as the Internet, through which the devices can communicate with one another. The onsite device receives data in real-time from the PMA and the offsite device can access the data in real-time via the network. The offsite device can generate a command based on the data or user input at the offsite device and send the command to the onsite device to modify one or more settings of the PMA. A control panel is displayed on the user interface of the offsite device to allow an operator to remotely control the PMA.

Abstract: The disclosure presents solutions for determining a casing wear parameter. Image collecting or capturing devices can be used to capture visual frames of a section of drilling pipe during a trip out operation. The visual frames can be oriented to how the drilling pipe was oriented within the borehole during a drilling operation. The visual frames can be analyzed for wear, e.g., surface changes, of the drilling pipe. The surface changes can be classified as to the type, depth, volume, length, shape, and other characteristics. The section of drilling pipe can be correlated to a depth range where the drilling pipe was located during drilling operations. The surface changes, with the depth range, can be correlated to an estimated casing wear to generate the casing wear parameter. An analysis of multiple sections of drilling pipe can be used to improve the locating of sections of casing where wear is likely.

Abstract: Provided is a gauge mandrel, a sensing system, and a well system. The gauge mandrel, in one aspect, includes a tubular having a length (Lt), an internal diameter (Di) and a width (W), the internal diameter (Di) and the width (W) defining a sidewall thickness (t), the tubular defining a primary fluid passageway. The gauge mandrel, in accordance with this aspect, further includes a gauge cavity extending along at least a portion of the length (Lt) of the tubular and located entirely within the sidewall thickness (t), the gauge cavity having an insertion end configured to accept a gauge sensor.

Abstract: A method for completing a subterranean formation includes conveying a perforator assembly into a borehole drilled in the subterranean formation. The perforator assembly includes at least one shaped charge and at least one tracer package that includes at least one fluid production tracer material and a tracer injector. The method further includes forming at least one tunnel in a production structure by detonating one or more shaped charges and injecting the at least one fluid production tracer material into the formation using the tracer injector after the detonation of the at least one shaped charge. The at least one production tracer material physically associates with at least one resident fluid in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: An assembly includes two tubular elements, a primary and a secondary seal arranged between the two tubular elements, a seal cavity formed between the two tubular elements and the primary and the secondary seal, and a seal monitoring apparatus having a housing and a position sensor. The housing has a chamber enclosing a separator which divides the chamber into a first and a second sub-chamber. The first sub-chamber is fluidly connected to the seal cavity and is filled with a hydraulic fluid. The separator is movable in a first direction relative to the housing to increase a volume of the first sub-chamber and decrease a volume of the second sub-chamber, and in a second direction to decrease the volume of the first sub-chamber and increase the volume of the second sub-chamber. The position sensor generates an electrical signal which represents a position of the separator relative to the housing.

Abstract: Downhole telemetry systems and related methods to adaptively adjust pulse waveform width through digitally controlled pulsing parameters.

Abstract: A chemical injection system for a resource extraction system includes a controller having a memory and a processor. The memory stores instructions that cause the processor to receive a first pressure from a first pressure sensor of the resource extraction system, receive a second pressure from a second pressure sensor of the resource extraction system, determine a flowrate of a produced fluid of the resource extraction system based on the first pressure and the second pressure, determine an ion concentration of the produced fluid, and adjust an injection rate of a chemical into the resource extraction system based on the flowrate of the produced fluid, the ion concentration of the produced fluid, or both.

Abstract: An object of the disclosure is to determine the remaining saturation of existing fluids in naturally fractured and/or homogeneous reservoirs, considering an unconventional tracer test, using the double tracer test method with pressure monitoring (PDTcMP®), which also integrates unused technical elements, in order to estimate more accurately the value of the remaining oil saturation (ROS) in naturally fractured reservoirs, unlike conventional methods used most commonly in homogeneous media. The disclosure substantially modifies the conventional tracer test, as it uses innovative technical elements, which reduce the uncertainty and/or ambiguity associated with conventional tracer tests, when they are applied in naturally fractured reservoirs.

Abstract: A mining machine includes a base having two drive tracks configured to rest on a ground surface and to move the mining machine along a first direction. The drive tracks each have a length along the first direction between a front end of the drive track and a rear end of the drive track. The mining machine further includes a carbody that extends between the two drive tracks, a turntable coupled to the carbody that defines an axis of rotation, and a stabilizer appendage coupled to the carbody. The stabilizer appendage extends forward from the carbody along the first direction and includes a roller or plate to contact the ground surface and provide stabilizing support during a digging operation. The axis of rotation is positioned closer to the front end of the drive tracks than the rear end of the drive tracks.

Abstract: A drilling machine includes an inclination-based levelling system. The drilling machine includes a frame with front and rear portions, and a plurality of support jacks including a pair of rear jacks proximate the rear portion of the frame and a front jack proximate the front portion of the frame. Each jack is extendable and retractable. The drilling machine also includes a sensor configured to monitor and transmit sensor data, the sensor data including at least one of a roll of the drilling machine and a pressure. A controller operatively associated with the sensor, is configured to calculate a volume of debris to be produced during an operation of the drilling machine, to select a machine height setting based on the calculated volume of debris, and to extend and retract the plurality of support jacks according to the selected machine height setting.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing drill string drag. Rotation encoders are provided for tracking the rotation of an inner and outer member of a dual-member drill string. Based upon the drilling conditions, the readings of the encoder can detect when the inner member is dragging on the outer member. When such a drag condition is detected, a processor can trigger remedial measures, which may include increasing a rotation rate of the inner member, sending a warning signal, stopping operation, or a combination of these.

Abstract: Described herein are apparatus, systems and methods useful in forming vertical structures.

Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly includes a carrier segment, a blade track segment, and a retainer. The carrier segment is formed to include an attachment-receiving space. The blade track segment includes a shroud wall and attachment flanges that extends radially outward from the shroud wall into the attachment-receiving space of the carrier segment. The retainer couples the blade track segment to the carrier segment.

Abstract: This steam valve includes a valve casing, a valve body, a valve stem, an actuator, a heat buffer member, a link mechanism, and a link base. The heat buffer member includes: a heat buffer plate separated toward a leading end side from the valve casing in an axial direction in which the valve stem extends; and a support column that fixes the heat buffer plate to the valve casing so as to be incapable of relative movement. The actuator includes: an actuator casing; and an actuator rod that extends in the axial direction from in the actuator casing and that moves in the axial direction with respect to the actuator casing. The link base is fixed to the heat buffer member and extends from the heat buffer member in an axial perpendicular direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction. The actuator casing is fixed to the link base.

Abstract: A method and a calculation unit for calculating a load skewness result for a determination of service intervals for a turbine, includes: receiving a continuously measured load signal over time, indicating a load of the turbine during operation thereof; determining a load percentage signal over time as a deviation of the received measured load signal from a maximum capacity signal, wherein the maximum capacity signal represents a maximal possible load to be generated at a given time and is calculated from continuously measured sensor signals, representing operating parameters of turbine operation; calculating a load percentage distribution based on the determined load percentage signal; calculating a load skewness factor as a measure of an asymmetry of the calculated load percentage distribution; providing the load skewness result, including the calculated load percentage distribution and the calculated load skewness factor.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting fan blade clearances in a fan stator module are presented. The method includes rotating a fan rotor assembly that includes an attached bracket situated between adjacent fan blades connected to the fan rotor assembly. The bracket includes a laser module and an inclinometer configured to measure a circumferential position of the laser module. The method further includes projecting a laser beam from the laser module to the fan case to determine a distance measurement between the laser module and the fan case at multiple circumferential points around the fan case. The distance measurement and circumferential position data is processed by a computing device to determine a clearance distance between a fan blade and the fan case.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to electric machines such as electric propulsion systems for aircraft that integrated cooling systems, and methods of cooling such an electric machine. Exemplary electric machines include an electric motor that has a stator, a rotor, and a drive shaft operably coupled to the rotor. Exemplary electric machines further include a motor cooling conduit that defines a pathway for conveying a cooling fluid through or around at least a portion of the electric motor, a casing assembly that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the electric motor, a casing assembly conduit integrally formed within at least a portion of the casing assembly which defines a pathway for conveying the cooling fluid through the at least a portion of the casing assembly, and a pump or compressor operably coupled to the drive shaft and configured to circulate the cooling fluid through the motor cooling conduit and the casing assembly conduit.

Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine. The airfoil includes a unique cooling path for a coolant, routing the coolant through a cooling cavity, through a column of crossover passages and through a pin array near a trailing edge of the airfoil. The crossover passages produce impingement cooling and the pin array produces convective cooling. This combination of impingement cooling and convective cooling results in increased cooling of the airfoil and better aeromechanical life objectives.

Abstract: A turbocharger includes a variable nozzle disposed between a turbine housing and a bearing housing and a spring having an annular shape. The spring is disposed between the variable nozzle and the bearing housing, and is configured to generate a biasing force that biases the variable nozzle away from the bearing housing to widen a spacing between the variable nozzle and the bearing housing in a rotation axis direction. The spring includes an outer peripheral portion that applies the biasing force to the variable nozzle and an inner peripheral portion that comes into contact with the bearing housing. The outer peripheral portion of the spring is located further away from the turbine housing than the inner peripheral portion of the spring in the rotation axis direction.

Abstract: A gas turbine system includes: a compressor configured to compress external air to generate compressed air; a combustor configured to burn the compressed air together with fuel to generate a combustion gas; a turbine configured to be driven by the combustion gas; an exhaust unit configured to guide the combustion gas, which has passed through the turbine, to outside; a shell having a cylindrical shape and extending along an axis line about which the turbine is configured to rotate and being arranged so as to cover the compressor, the combustor, the turbine, and the exhaust unit; and an exit unit configured to guide the combustion gas, which has passed through the turbine, to a discharge port in the surface of the shell.

Abstract: A turbine engine with at least a compressor section, combustor section, turbine section and a set of airfoils. The airfoils include geometric characteristics to create a high contraction ratio (CR), a low blade turning (BT) at a radially inward location the airfoil, a low solidity, or a low aspect ratio (AR).

Abstract: A turbomachine includes a shroud and a hub spaced apart from the shroud to channel an airflow along a direction. The turbomachine includes a plurality of airfoils coupled between the shroud and the hub. At least one airfoil of the plurality of airfoils includes a leading edge spaced apart from a trailing edge in the direction of the airflow and a pressure side opposite a suction side. The turbomachine includes at least one local vortex generator array defined on the suction side so as to extend onto the hub or the shroud. The at least one local vortex generator array is defined downstream of the leading edge.

Abstract: An internally cooled turbine blade for use in a gas turbine engine includes a serpentine channel extending within the turbine blade for flowing cooling air through the interior of the blade. The turbine blade includes turbulators positioned within the serpentine channel to cause or increase turbulence of the cooling air flowing through the serpentine channel, increasing the heat transfer between the turbine blade and the cooling air before exiting a plurality of air outlets within the turbine blade.

Abstract: An airfoil for a turbine engine includes an outer wall bounding an interior and defining a pressure side and a suction side, the outer wall extending axially between a leading edge and a trailing edge to define a chord-wise direction, and also extending radially between a root and a tip to define a span-wise direction. At least one cooling conduit can be formed in the interior of the airfoil, and a tip rail can project from the tip in the span-wise direction.

Abstract: A turbomachine having an engine centerline and a first rotor. The first rotor having a first annular drum and being connected to a first plurality of blades. At least one blade of the first plurality of blades having a blade root, a blade tip, a first arm, a second arm and a first seal. The first arm extending from the blade root and having a radial retention hook. The second arm extending from the blade tip.

Abstract: A turbocharger turbine wheel can include a hub that includes a rotational axis, a backdisk and a nose, where the rotational axis defines an axial coordinate (z) in a cylindrical coordinate system that includes a radial coordinate (r) and an azimuthal coordinate (?) in a direction of intended rotation about the rotational axis; and blades that extend outwardly from the hub, where each of the blades includes a hub profile, a shroud edge, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side, and a suction side, where the hub profile includes a global maximum radius and a global minimum radius, and where, between the global maximum radius and the global minimum radius, in an axial direction from the backdisk to the nose, the hub profile includes a local minimum radius at a first axial coordinate position and a local maximum radius at a second axial coordinate position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a turbomachine rotary-fan blade having a predetermined breaking zone, which extends from the upstream edge along a given length and from the blade-tip edge over a given height. According to the invention, the body is made of a composite material comprising a fibre reinforcement obtained by three-dimensional weaving of warp and weft strands, and a resin matrix in which the fibre reinforcement is embedded, and has, in or in the vicinity of the zone, a discontinuity of at least some of the strands, configured such that the zone partially detaches when there is tangential friction in the thickness direction against the blade-tip edge, the height being less than 3% of the aerodynamic stream height of the blade.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided having a static structure including a flowpath wall. A fluid circuit is extended through the flowpath wall and includes a first inlet opening in fluid communication with a first cavity to receive a first flow of fluid through the fluid circuit. The static structure includes an ejector positioned at the fluid circuit, in which the ejector includes a second inlet opening in fluid communication with a second cavity to receive a second flow of fluid through the ejector and into the fluid circuit.

Abstract: A turbine nozzle assembly includes at least one airfoil and an outer endwall coupled to a radial outer end of the at least one airfoil. A mounting rail is coupled to the outer endwall and extends at least partially radially outward from the outer endwall and at least partially circumferentially along the outer endwall. A stress relief structure is defined in the mounting rail. The stress relief structure includes an end opening defined in a radial outer surface of the mounting rail, a slot defined through the rail thickness of the mounting rail and coupled to the end opening, and an oblong opening defined through the rail thickness of the mounting rail and coupled to a radial inner end of the slot. The oblong opening is arranged asymmetrically in a circumferential direction relative to the slot to relieve stress where prevalent in the mounting rail.

Abstract: An aircraft engine has: a compressor section having a compressor rotor rotatable about a central axis; a diffuser downstream of the compressor rotor, the diffuser including a diffuser ring extending circumferentially around the central axis; a bearing housing secured to the diffuser ring, the bearing housing contained within a volume located radially inwardly of the diffuser ring; and an air manifold secured to the diffuser ring, the air manifold defining inlets in fluid flow communication with the compressor section and an outlet in fluid flow communication with the volume.

Abstract: At least one aspect of the technology provides a self-contained processing facility configured to convert organic, high water-content waste, such as fecal sludge and garbage, into electricity while also generating and collecting potable water.

Abstract: A method including: (i) operating a pumped-heat energy storage system (“PHES system”) in a charge mode to convert electricity into stored thermal energy in a hot thermal storage medium (“HTS medium”) by transferring heat from a working fluid to a warm HTS medium, resulting in a hot HTS medium, wherein the PHES system is further operable in a generation mode to convert at least a portion of the stored thermal energy into electricity; and (ii) heating the hot HTS medium with an electric heater above a temperature achievable by transferring heat from the working fluid to the warm HTS medium.

Abstract: An oil pressure actuated or torsion assisted phaser with a lock pin that has a position which shuts off communication between the advance and retard chambers and the front cam bearing and/or oil control valve, effectively acting as a shutoff valve and preventing leakage of oil from the advance and retard chambers. The prevention of leakage maintains oil in the phaser after engine shutdown. Additionally, by shutting off communication between the advance and retard chambers and the oil supply, the side load on the lock pin from the oil pressure torque on the rotor vanes during unlocking of the lock pin can be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: An engine valve includes a stem, a head comprising an outer lip surface, a seating surface extending from the outer lip surface toward the stem, and a combustion surface extending from the outer lip surface on the opposite side of the head as compared to the seating surface. The combustion surface includes a first convex arcuate surface spaced away from the outer lip surface, at least partially forming a raised ring, and a first concave arcuate surface spaced away from the outer lip surface, at least partially forming a dimple.

Abstract: An oil drainage apparatus includes a base member defining an interior area and a laterally extending selector channel. A connection tube extends upwardly from the base for connection to the oil drainage port of an engine. An oil drainage body extends upwardly from the connection member and has apertures in fluid communication with the oil pan. Drainage of oil from the engine's oil pan is regulated by a positioning of magnets. A drain magnet is vertically movable inside the drainage body and movable between a closed configuration blocking the plurality of apertures and an open configuration displaced therefrom. An actuation lever is laterally movable to align either a first or second actuation magnet beneath the drain magnet, one of the actuation magnets having a polarity to attract and close the drain magnet and the other having a polarity which pushes away and opens the drain magnet to allow drainage.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for checking and ensuring the functionality of an exhaust gas aftertreatment system of an internal combustion engine. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system has a catalytic converter and a voltage source. The catalytic converter has a catalytic converter area and an electrical heating device which is selectively supplied with electrical energy from the voltage source. The method includes determining an actual value which is characteristic of an ohmic resistance of the heating device. The actual value being determined by using an electrical current strength supplied to the heating device and an electrical voltage supplied to the heating device from the voltage source. The method also includes providing a setpoint value which is characteristic of an expected ohmic resistance of the heating device. The setpoint value takes into account a specific heating-up behavior of the heating device and an expected long-term behavior of the catalytic converter.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst for exhaust gas purification, the catalyst comprising: a noble metal; an alumina support particle; and a ZrO2 semiconductor support particle deposited on a surface of the alumina support particle.

Abstract: Vehicle systems and methods are provided for preheating an aftertreatment system prior to engine ignition. A method involves obtaining a first measurement indicative of a current temperature associated with the aftertreatment system, obtaining a second measurement indicative of a current state of an energy source coupled to a heating element integrated with the aftertreatment system, determining an amount of electrical energy to be applied to the heating element based at least in part on a difference between the current temperature associated with the aftertreatment system and a target temperature for the aftertreatment system, and automatically enabling current flow from the energy source to the heating element prior to ignition of the engine for a duration of time in a manner that is influenced by the amount of electrical energy to be applied to the heating element and the current state of the energy source.

Abstract: A vehicle exhaust system including an exhaust pipe section, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, and a burner assembly, connected to the exhaust pipe section at a position upstream of the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, for pre-heating the exhaust system prior to engine start-up. The burner assembly includes a burner with a combustion chamber and a connecting tube that extends between the burner and the exhaust pipe section. A metallic mesh filter element is located inside the connecting tube and/or a catalytic washcoat is disposed on an inner surface of the connecting tube to reduce emissions of the burner assembly at start-up. The catalytic washcoat comprises a mixture of a support material and a catalyst material that chemically reacts with emissions generated by the burner to reduce the amount of burner produced emissions released from the exhaust system during pre-heating.