Abstract: Technology is described for computationally intensive distributed computing systems and methods. A storage process for representing data objects in memory using a serialization format that provides low replication cost and thread-safe reads may include receiving a data object by a computing hub. A distributed shared memory of the computing hub may write the data object to a memory device associated with the computing hub using a byte array broken into a plurality of sections. The plurality of sections may describe the in-memory content of the data object and include information on how to read the plurality of sections to obtain a current state of the data object. The distributed shared memory may process requests from processing applications to modify data associated with the data object. The distributed shared memory may write mutations to the data object caused by the requests to the memory device using an ordered, log-based format to provide versioned snapshots of state.

Abstract: A heat reservoir including a housing, first reservoir elements for storing thermal energy, and an inlet port is provided. The first reservoir elements are arranged in the housing. The inlet port is coupled to the housing in such a way that a working fluid can flow into the housing through the inlet port. The inlet port is provided with an inlet orifice through which the working fluid can flow from the surroundings of the heat reservoir into the inlet port. The inlet port includes a diffusor portion the cross-section of which increases in the direction running from the inlet orifice to the housing.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage and heat exchanger includes a plurality of concrete thermal energy storage elements, a housing into which the plurality of concrete thermal energy storage elements are arranged, a heat transfer and storage medium in a volume between the plurality of concrete thermal energy storage elements and the housing, in a form of a stagnant medium or a dynamic medium. The thermal energy storage and heat exchanger further includes at least one inlet for delivery of thermal energy to the thermal energy storage, at least one outlet for taking out thermal energy from the thermal energy storage, and thermal insulation arranged into or on an inside or outside of walls, floor and roof of the housing.

Abstract: A cremation system has an exhaust gas/warm water heat exchanger which exchanges the heat of exhaust gas from a re-combustion furnace with the heat of a medium, and a buffer tank and flow rate regulating valves for suppressing temperature changes of the medium. A medium turbine is driven by an evaporator which generates working medium steam by heating and evaporating a low-boiling working medium with the heat of the medium, and power is generated by a power generator. A buffer tank is further provided to suppress temperature changes of the medium flowing from the evaporator into the exhaust gas/warm water heat exchanger. A power control device supplies the generated power to devices constituting the cremation system, while covering any shortfall in power required by the devices with power from an external power source.

Abstract: A method for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy in a thermodynamic cycle includes placing a thermal energy source in thermal communication with a heat exchanger arranged in a working fluid circuit containing a working fluid (e.g., sc-CO2) and having a high pressure side and a low pressure side. The method also includes regulating an amount of working fluid within the working fluid circuit via a mass management system having a working fluid vessel, pumping the working fluid through the working fluid circuit, and expanding the working fluid to generate mechanical energy. The method further includes directing the working fluid away from the expander through the working fluid circuit, controlling a flow of the working fluid in a supercritical state from the high pressure side to the working fluid vessel, and controlling a flow of the working fluid from the working fluid vessel to the low pressure side.

Abstract: The invention provides a boiler load analysis apparatus that has a simple configuration and achieves highly accurate analysis of a boiler load. A boiler load analysis apparatus (10) includes an opening sensor (15) provided to at least one of a fuel supply line (45) and a combustion air supply line (50) of a boiler (40) and configured to measure an opening degree of at least one of a fuel flow regulating mechanism (47) configured to regulate, with the opening degree, a fuel flow in the fuel supply line (45) and a supplied air flow regulating mechanism (54) configured to regulate, with the opening degree, a supplied air flow in the combustion air supply line (50), and a load analyzer (20) configured to calculate a steam load of the boiler (40) from a measurement value of the opening sensor (15), to analyze the steam load of the boiler (40).

Abstract: A vehicle has a vehicle system with a waste heat fluid. An expander, a condenser, a pump, and an evaporator are provided in sequential fluid communication in a thermodynamic cycle containing a working fluid. The evaporator is configured to transfer heat from the waste heat fluid to the working fluid. At least one valve adjacent to the pump is controlled to control fluid flow through at least one chamber to maintain a pressure of the fluid at a pump inlet at a threshold pressure above a saturated vapor pressure associated with a temperature at a condenser outlet when ambient temperature varies.

Abstract: A solar plant including a solar field for production of steam, a turbine using steam, and an excess steam storage and draw off system. The system includes a latent heat thermal storage module and a liquid displacement thermal storage module including a liquid volume and a steam blanket. The modules are connected together so that the steam produced passes through the steam blanket before passing through the latent heat module, condensing, to be injected in the liquid volume, the lower part of the liquid volume being connected to the solar field and to an outlet of the turbine to let in or return cold liquid. The liquid volume acts as a liquid displacement reservoir.

Abstract: An electricity generation unit 1A includes a combustor 11, a heater 13, and a Rankine cycle circuit 20. The combustor 11 combusts a solid fuel. A combustion gas generated in the combustor 11 passes through a flue 12. The heater 13 contains a heat storage material, and heats the heat storage material by allowing heat exchange to take place between the combustion gas in the flue 12 and the heat storage material. The Rankine cycle circuit 20 has an evaporator 21 that evaporates a working fluid in the Rankine cycle by allowing heat exchange to take place between the heat storage material heated in the heater 13 and the working fluid. With this configuration, stable operation of an electricity generation unit using a combustion gas of a solid fuel is achieved.

Abstract: Proposed is a cheap and durable high-temperature heat store which utilizes ambient air as a heat carrier medium and which is at least partially filled with a granular and/or porous storage medium (6).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conversion of heat into liquid fluid power includes at least two hydropneumatic (hp) accumulators, each having a gas reservoir and a liquid reservoir therein separated by a movable separator. Liquid added to a liquid reservoir of a first accumulator causes gas compression in the gas reservoir of the accumulator. Gas is conducted from the first accumulator through a heat exchanger and into a gas reservoir of a second accumulator. Expansion of the gas in the second accumulator causes working liquid to be expelled from the second accumulator. After expansion of the gas in the second accumulator, working liquid is added to the liquid reservoir of the second accumulator gas is conducted through a cooling heat exchanger to the gas reservoir of the first accumulator, causing working liquid to be expelled. The fluid power produced through the expelled working liquid is stored or utilized to operate hydraulic devices.

Abstract: A boiler steam amount measuring method for continuously measuring a temporal change in an amount of steam from a steam boiler, includes: first measuring a differential pressure between a pressure at a first detection position that is a predetermined position in a can body of the steam boiler or a steam outflow path, and a pressure at a second detection position in the steam outflow path separated from the first detection position toward a downstream side; first calculating a pressure loss coefficient based on the differential pressure measured by flowing a predetermined flow rate of steam or fluid instead of steam into the steam outflow path, and the predetermined flow rate; and second calculating continuously the amount of steam based on the differential pressure measured in the first measuring and the pressure loss coefficient calculated in the first calculating, and outputting the calculated amount of steam as a measurement value.

Abstract: A steam generator for a household appliance. The steam generator includes an evaporation chamber having a substantially planar evaporation surface with first and second sections. A water supply line is in fluid communication with the evaporation chamber and a steam discharge line is also in fluid communication with the evaporation chamber. The steam generator includes a heat accumulator configured to heat the evaporation surface. At least one of a valve and a pump is associated with the water supply line and operable to control an introduction of water into the evaporation chamber. An electric controller controls the heating of the heat accumulator by the heater and the introduction of water into the evaporation chamber using the at least one of valve and pump. The first section of the evaporation surface is a starter section that is thermally conductively coupled to the heat accumulator such that heat flow from the heat accumulator to the starter section is limited compared to the second section.

Abstract: A multi-layer heating apparatus having a heating unit (1) provided on the bottom of a cooking device (5), and an accumulator (2) attached to the heating unit (1). The heating unit (1) is filled with a liquid that needed to be heated and set above of a heat source (7). The heating apparatus is characterized in that at least one air conduit tube (3) is provided on the top of the heating unit (1) for leading the exhaust gas out. The air conduit tube (3) and multi layers hot water pipes (121) provided in the heating unit (1) served as a heating means, which can heat up the liquid efficiently.

Abstract: The method of generating immediate and thereafter continuous steam is used in a steam generating system comprising a steam accumulator, a steam outlet connected to the steam accumulator, an outlet valve at the steam outlet, and a quick response steam generator unit connected to the steam accumulator. The method comprises the steps of providing latent steam in the steam accumulator, opening the outlet valve to allow latent steam in the steam accumulator to exit through the steam outlet, feeding water to the steam generator unit, heating the water fed to the steam generator unit while the latent steam exits through the steam outlet and, before the latent steam has entirely exited the steam accumulator, generating steam with the steam generator unit to feed the steam accumulator and controlling the steam flow rate through the steam outlet to maintain it at a value which is essentially not greater than the steam flow rate from the steam generator unit to the steam accumulator.

Abstract: A brewery plant with at least one mash container, a lauter tun, a wort pan and a water housing, wherein at least part of the thermal energy requirement of the brewery is covered with solar collectors, and the solar collectors directly or indirectly heat a fluid. Also, a brewing method where the thermal energy requirement for at least of a part of the brewing process stages is at least partially covered with a fluid heated directly or indirectly by solar collectors.

Abstract: A continuous power system accumulator assembly is provided that stores thermal energy as sensible heat and minimizes the amount of thermal energy wasted by the system. The assembly includes an accumulator at its core. A preheater assembly is wrapped around the accumulator such that it may absorb heat radiated and conducted from the accumulator. An evaporator is wrapped around the preheater so that most of the heat that is radiated and conducted from the preheater is utilized to heat the vaporizer. The outer housing of the assembly may be a double-walled housing having a layer of insulation located between the two walls. This configuration minimizes heat losses by the assembly.

Abstract: The invention concerns a water steam sterilizer, a so-called autoclave which consists of a steam generator (5), a chamber (13), a condenser (19) and a vacuum pump (20), whereby a pipe (9) connects the steam generator (5) with the chamber (13) and a pipe (35) connects the chamber (13) with the steam generator (5), whereby a valve (16) is provided in a pipe (34) between the chamber (13) and the condenser (19). The autoclav according to the invention is characterised in that valves (10, 17) are provided in the pipe (9) and the pipe (35) respectively. The invention further relates to a method for steam-sterilizing a load in a chamber.

Abstract: A displaceable nozzle (8) of an injection steam generator for small appliances, particularly irons or ironing stations, comprising a steam chamber (3) inside a steam generator housing (1) provided with an injection opening (5), is positioned telescopically on a fixed member to define a nozzle chamber (10). This nozzle (8) can be displaced by an inside pressure in the nozzle chamber in a first pressure range in the direction of the injection opening (5) and can be moved back from the injection opening (5) by a restoring force e.g., a restoring spring (12), wherein the inside pressure in the nozzle chamber (10) is lower in second pressure range than in the first pressure range. A drain passage (18) for the nozzle chamber 10 is connected via a valve arrangement (19, 21) to the fixed member (11), so that excess residual water, which exits when the nozzle (18) is moved back from the nozzle chamber (10), does not cause calcification of the nozzle opening (9) and the injection opening (5).

Abstract: This invention provides tobacco expansion processes and apparatus that can be employed for expanding tobacco at rapid throughput rates employing high pressure tobacco impregnation conditions. The processes and apparatus of the invention are particularly useful in tobacco expansion processes employing cycle times of less than 20-30 seconds; the use of preheated, prepressurized expansion agent such as propane; preheating of tobacco batches; and/or compression of tobacco within a high pressure impregnation zone for greatly improving use of available space in a high pressure impregnation vessel.

Abstract: Liquid accumulators which substantially include several or at least one type of energy generation, such as heatable to almost the temperature of fresh air by solar irradiation with the thermal supply of circulation heat, by refuse combustion with the recovery of waste heat, by recovery of waste heat from exhaust gases in the case of heating boilers and generators, and also usable in a continuous process for the production of biogas from small refuse in the sewage.

Abstract: A steam system is disclosed having a steam boiler (14) designed to produce an adjustable supply of boiler steam and a steam accumulator (12) designed to supply all of the steam to steam load (66) as opposed to functioning as an auxiliary source to boiler (14). Steam accumulator (12) is a pressure vessel designed to function as a wet steam accumulator and sized to provide large quantities of steam in short bursts for a predetermined period of time to a sustained cyclic steam load (66) for a period of time sufficient to compensate for the time delays necessary to adjust the boiler steam produciton rate to equal changes in the average of the cyclic demand load.

Abstract: A heat accumulator element comprises a container containing water sealed therein, the inside of the container being provided with a gas phase. Heat is directed at the outer surface of the container and accumulated in the liquid as sensible heat, and the volume change of the liquid caused by a change in the temperature is absorbed by the gas phase, so as to reach an accumulating temperature up to about 300.degree. C.

Abstract: An accumulator with sensor through rollers provided with a rod projecting into a bladder on a cover of a vessel body, a bearing of a float slidable axially on the rod, and also with rollers at a contact portion of the float with the bladder, the bladder sliding the float through the rollers at the bladder contact portion.

Abstract: A procedure and apparatus for generating steam for an autoclave or an equivalent device, so that the load of the autoclave or device can be equalized. Thermal energy is stored in water under pressure which is converted when needed into steam which, in turn, is accumulated and later purified. The present invention also concerns the use of the procedure and apparatus to equalize load in the autoclave or device.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing clean steam by placing impure steam in heat exchange relationship with clean water but physically separated therefrom to produce superheated clean water and vapor, and permitting expansion of the fluids to form clean steam and recyclable hot water.

Abstract: A steam boiler having a steam accumulator connected between the boiler and a user, a flow meter provided on the inlet side of the steam accumulator, and a pressure detector provided on the steam accumulator for detecting the internal pressure thereof, wherein the steam boiler is arranged to detect by the flow meter the steam flow rate on the inlet side of the steam accumulator, which is varied in the fashion of following the mean value of steam load, to detect the internal pressure of the steam accumulator by the pressure detector, and to calculate the steam load on the outlet side of the steam accumulator by a steam load detector on the basis of signals of detected steam flow rate and pressure variation.

Abstract: An arrangement for storing energy to cover peak-load conditions and serve as a stop-gap reserve in steam power plants. A live steam generator is connected to a steam turbine, and a storage vessel is provided with a steam cushion volume and a water content volume. The water content of the storage vessel is connected, on the one hand, to a single-or multi-stage secondary steam generator which is connected, in turn, on the steam side to the turbine by a working steam line. A hot-water return line connects the secondary steam generator on the water side to the feed water line and/or a compensation vessel connected to the feed water line. The steam cushion volume of the storage vessel is connected, on the other hand, by a steam line, to a point of the main steam cycle of the plant which is upstream of the entry point of the working steam line. In particular, the steam cushion is connected to the live steam line. The secondary steam generator may be in the form of one or several flash tanks or heat exchangers.

Abstract: An energy accumulator for storing large quantities of heat in the form of superheated water includes an excavation which is divided into upper and lower compartments by a horizontal diaphragm. The lower compartment is filled with superheated water from a heat source such as a nuclear or other steam generating facility. The water in the lower compartment is maintained in its superheated condition by a heavy mass of water in the upper compartment which applies its weight and pressure through the diaphragm to the superheated water in the lower compartment. Means are provided for drawing the superheated water from the lower compartment to a heat exchanger in which the heat is transmitted to a fluid heat carrying medium which can be pumped to a location where the heat is to be used, such as for urban heating. The circulatory system associated with the superheated water is closed and the mass of water employed in the system is constant.

Abstract: A steam accumulator has an upright vertically elongated vessel provided internally with a guide that subdivides a body of hot water in the vessel into an outer upflow column and a central downflow column. This guide is at least partially formed as a downwardly tapering frustocone and may have an upper portion carried on a float so as to maintain the upper edge of its upper portion a predetermined distance below the surface of a body of water within the vessel. A discharge conduit opens at the extreme upper end of the vessel and may have a section extending downwardly through the liquid body in the vessel.

Abstract: A body of water is confined in a closed vessel and heated to above 100.degree.C. This water is then drawn in a liquid state from this vessel and passed through a first expander where it is separated into steam and condensate. The steam from this first expander is used to drive the first stage of a load and the condensate is passed to another expander where it is again transformed into steam and condensate, the steam being used to drive the second stage of the load. Several such expanders are provided and the condensate from the last expander is fed to a low-pressure storage vessel. The high-pressure vessel is filled almost to the top with water during periods of low power consumption and the water is drawn off during peak-power periods. Superheaters may be provided in the outlet conduits of the expanders and the water at above 100.degree.C may be fed directly into the lower-pressure expanders to maintain their operating efficiency.