Abstract: Provided is an improved architecture for rotary kinetic fluid motors and pumps, in which working fluid gains or loses pressure by flowing through an alternating sequence of radial-flow impellers and radial-flow fluid vortices, the impellers and fluid vortices all rotating around a single axis and in a common direction at staggered speeds, each vortex being the product of rotating fluid that is flowing radially through a bladeless annular volume.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of managing negative incidence in a compressor is provided. The apparatus includes a first row of stationary main vanes, and a second row of stationary auxiliary vanes extending radially inwardly from a stationary casing of the compressor proximate the leading edges of the main vanes. A flow channel is defined between a pressure side of an auxiliary vane of the second row of auxiliary vanes and a suction side of an adjacent main vane of the row of main vanes.

Abstract: An offshore airborne wind turbine system including an aerial vehicle, an electrically conductive tether having a first end secured to the aerial vehicle and a second end secured to a platform, a rotatable drum positioned on the platform, an aerial vehicle perch extending from the platform, wherein the platform is positioned on a top of a spar buoy.

Abstract: A pump unit 12 includes a pump housing 14, a pump cover 16, and an impeller 18 between the pump housing and pump cover. The pump housing and pump cover define a first channel 32 and a second channel 34 each having an inlet and an outlet. The impeller has first vanes 36 cooperating with the first channel and second vanes 38 cooperating with the second channel. The outlet of the second channel is constructed and arranged to provide fuel to an engine upon rotation of the impeller. A jet pump 38 is fluidly connected with the outlet of the first channel such that as the impeller rotates, the jet pump causes fuel to be drawn into the reservoir 37. Connecting structure 44 fluidly connects the first and second channels such that upon rotation of the impeller, fuel in the second channel flows into the first channel to prime the first channel.

Abstract: A turbine, including a rotor on a shaft, and having in combination stationary nozzles discharging steam at a first pressure or pressures thereby producing impulse forces on the rotor; internal passages in the rotor producing a pressure head increase in the discharged steam, while simultaneously accelerating the steam, the steam discharged to a second pressure lower than the first pressure, producing reaction forces on the rotor; seal means between the stationary nozzles and the rotor, maintaining the pressure difference between the first pressure and the second pressure while minimizing steam leakage past the internal passages, turbine operations producing shaft power.

Abstract: A turbopump including a rotor having a first face and a second face and being characterized by a rotor axial height between the first and second rotor faces and by a rotor diameter. A rotor housing includes bearing surfaces for supporting rotation of the rotor, includes turbine inlet and turbine outlet ports and pump inlet and pump outlet ports, and includes pump and turbine fluid sealing surfaces. A plurality of turbine blades of a turbine blade axial height, and a plurality of pump blades of a pump blade axial height, are disposed on a face of the rotor. The turbine blades and pump blades can be together disposed on the rotor first face. Further or alternatively, a turbopump axial height including rotor bearings, turbine blade and pump blade axial height, and rotor axial height, can be less than rotor diameter.

Abstract: A heat dispensing fan includes a hub having a recess defined in a top thereof so as to receive a fan member therein. The recess communicates with a side outlet in the hub and apertures defined through the hub. The fan member has a ring-shaped base plate and a protrusion extends from a center of a top of the base plate. A plurality of first curve blades extends from the protrusion and a plurality of second curve blades are located on the top of the base plate. Each first curve blade is connected to one of the second curve blades. A top cap is connected to the hub and has a hole defined therethrough.

Abstract: Rotary fluid handling apparatus employing a wheel to provide multi-stage compression or expansion. A wheel having a first set of vanes includes a shroud about those vanes with a second set of vanes outwardly of the shroud. One set of vanes provides for low specific speed flow while the other set of vanes provides for high specific speed flow. A transfer passage interconnects the outlet of the first stage with the inlet of the second stage. The difference in temperature between the inlet flow to the system and the outlet flow from the system may be exchanged to increase efficiency. The multi-stage wheel and associated passages may be configured for either compression or turboexpansion.

Abstract: A fuel pump structure which includes an electrically driven rotor in a sealed housing which has an inlet and an outlet. A single rotor in the housing has three operating areas. At the outer periphery are vanes operating in an annular sweep channel as a second stage, high pressure regenerative pump which discharges to the housing outlet. Radially within the outer periphery are two radially spaced series of blades forming axial passages in the rotor. The first and outer series of blades operate under a lateral channel to form a first or primary stage pump delivering to a central swirl chamber above and below the rotor. The second and inner series of blades and axial passages allow passage through the rotor to the lower swirl chamber which has a tangential outlet directed to the inlet of the regenerative second stage pump. The base of the lower swirl chamber has a central vapor outlet to allow vapor to leave the fuel which is entering the high pressure pump.

Abstract: This invention relates to a blower of a centrifugal turbomachine type for producing fluid pressure from mechanical energy. The invention relates to the guide vane rows or vaned diffuser used in centrifugal blowers. The vaned diffuser is located downstream by the impeller. The impellers of the centrifugal blowers can have blades which are backwardly curved, radially ending or forwardly curved. Each of these impellers can have a vaned or vaneless diffusing system following the impeller. During operation of the impeller blades at the design point, the average outlet relative velocity is equal to or greater than 0.6 times the inlet relative velocity at the hub of the impeller portion of the impeller blades and the angle of flow deflection within the impeller blades is at least equal to approximately 50.degree. or more. The centrifugal turbomachine also includes a series of guide vane rows, each of said guide vane rows, including at least a forward row of blades and an aft row of blades.

Abstract: A containment system for a radial flow turbine assembly includes a housing assembly, and a turbine rotor journalled for rotation about an axis and having a hub portion and a generally tapering disc portion extending radially outward from the hub portion. An annular nozzle assembly normally secured in the housing assembly against rotation forms a tapered rotor chamber within which the rotor rotates with minimum axial and radial clearance between the rotor and the chamber. A plurality of support struts extend axially inward from the nozzle assembly to a minimal axial and radial clearance with the hub portion of the rotor and forms a first stage of containment. The rotor must first break through the nozzle struts and separate the nozzle assembly. A rotatable nozzle assembly then absorbs some of the force by rotating in the housing assembly and containment ring. An armored containment ring stops the fragments that escape the nozzle assembly and finally, an outer housing provides still further containment.

Abstract: A device for injection of liquid fertilizer into an irrigation pipe includes an axisymmetrical housing (I) adapted for insertion into the pipe line (III). The device comprises an axial turbine impeller (II) rotatably positioned in the housing, the impeller including several vanes (20) surrounded by a shroud (22) and a flat, annular rim (6) outstanding from the shroud and closely surrounded by the housing walls. The rim contains, on one or on both of its flat sides, a side-channel pump of known design which includes a plurality of radial vanes (30) inserted into an annular portion of the flat side and a channel (33) recessed in the adjoining housing wall portion cooperating with the annular vane portion and extending from an inlet end (34) to an outlet end (35), the two ends being separated by a non-recessed wall portion (36).