Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090232641 | Fluid-Type Absorption Dynamometer Having an Enhanced Power Range - A fluid-type absorption dynamometer that includes a rotary impeller and one or more of a variety of features that enhance the shaft-horsepower range for which the dynamometer can be used. One of these features is a variable restriction intake that allows a user to adjust the flow of fluid to the impeller. Other features are a unique impeller shroud and an shroud guide that are each movable relative to the impeller to allow a user to adjust flow characteristics at the exhaust and blade regions of the impeller. Yet another feature is a set of exhaust baffles that facilitate an increase in the range of shaft power ratings of the device and the reduction of deleterious vibration and noise. The dynamometer also includes impeller blades having a unique configuration that cooperates with the shroud guide to enhance flow through the dynamometer. | 09-17-2009 |
20100077765 | High-Pressure Fluid Compression System Utilizing Cascading Effluent Energy Recovery - A high-pressure system and method utilizing an input fluid. The system includes a reactor treating a material to produce an effluent having an energy content, a plurality of stages compressing the input fluid in a stepwise manner providing a high-pressure reactor input stream to the reactor, and a cascading effluent energy recovery system mechanically communicating with the plurality of stages. The cascading effluent energy recovery system imparts a portion of the energy content of the effluent into each of the plurality of stages powering that stage. The method includes receiving an input fluid, compressing the input fluid over a plurality of stages producing the high-pressure stream, providing the high-pressure stream to the reactor, recovering a portion of the energy content of the effluent at each of the plurality of stages, and using each the portion of the energy in compressing the input fluid at a corresponding respective stage. | 04-01-2010 |
20130022449 | Radial-Flow Turbomachines Having Performance-Enhancing Features - A turbomachine that includes a radial-flow impeller and one or more of a variety of features that enhance the performance of machinery in which the turbomachine is used. For example, when the turbomachine is used in a dynamometer, the features enhance the useful shaft horsepower range of the dynamometer. One of the features is a variable-restriction intake that allows for adjusting flow rate to the impeller. Other features include a unique impeller shroud and a shroud guide each movable relative to the impeller. Yet another feature is an exhaust diffuser that facilitates an increase in the range of shaft power and the reduction of deleterious vibration and noise. The turbomachine can also include a unique impeller blade configuration that cooperates with the adjustable intake and the exhaust diffuser to enhance flow through the turbomachine. | 01-24-2013 |
20140205458 | Structures and Methods for Forcing Coupling of Flow Fields of Adjacent Bladed Elements of Turbomachines, and Turbomachines Incorporating the Same - Turbomachines having close-coupling flow guides (CCFGs) that are designed and configured to closely-couple flow fields of adjacent bladed elements. In some embodiments, the CCFGs may be located in regions extending between the adjacent bladed elements, described herein as coupling avoidance zones, where conventional turbomachine design would suggest no structure should be added. In yet other embodiments, CCFGs are located upstream and/or downstream of rows of blades coupled to the bladed elements, including overlapping one of more of the rows of blades, to improve flow coupling and machine performance. Methods of designing turbomachines to incorporate CCFGs are also provided. | 07-24-2014 |
20150037136 | Overhung Turbine and Generator System With Turbine Cartridge - A turbine-generator device for use in electricity generation using heat from industrial processes, renewable energy sources and other sources. The generator may be cooled by introducing into the gap between the rotor and stator liquid that is vaporized or atomized prior to introduction, which liquid is condensed from gases exhausted from the turbine. The turbine has a universal design and so may be relatively easily modified for use in connection with generators having a rated power output in the range of 50 KW to 5 MW. Such modifications are achieved, in part, through use of a modular turbine cartridge built up of discrete rotor and stator plates sized for the desired application with turbine brush seals chosen to accommodate radial rotor movements from the supported generator. The cartridge may be installed and removed from the turbine relatively easily for maintenance or rebuilding. The rotor housing is designed to be relatively easily machined to dimensions that meet desired operating parameters. | 02-05-2015 |
20150089808 | Structures and Methods for Forcing Coupling of Flow Fields of Adjacent Bladed Elements of Turbomachines, and Turbomachines Incorporating the Same - Turbomachines having close-coupling flow guides (CCFGs) that are designed and configured to closely-couple flow fields of adjacent bladed elements. In some embodiments, the CCFGs may be located in regions extending between the adjacent bladed elements, described herein as coupling avoidance zones, where conventional turbomachine design would suggest no structure should be added. In yet other embodiments, CCFGs are located upstream and/or downstream of rows of blades coupled to the bladed elements, including overlapping one of more of the rows of blades, to improve flow coupling and machine performance. Methods of designing turbomachines to incorporate CCFGs are also provided. | 04-02-2015 |
20150301519 | Methods, Systems, and Devices for Designing and Manufacturing Flank Millable Components - Methods, systems, and devices for designing and manufacturing flank millable components. In one embodiment, devices, systems, and methods for designing a flank millable component are provided, in which a user is notified when a component geometry option is selected that will result in the component not being flank millable. In another embodiment, the user is prevented from selecting a geometry option that would result in the component not being flank millable. In yet another embodiment, devices, systems, and methods are provided for manufacturing a component with a flank milling process, in which optimized machine instructions are determined that minimize milling machine motion. | 10-22-2015 |
20150322811 | ORC Turbine and Generator, And Method Of Making A Turbine - A turbine-generator device for use in electricity generation using heat from industrial processes, renewable energy sources and other sources. The generator may be cooled by introducing into the gap between the rotor and stator liquid that is vaporized or atomized prior to introduction, which liquid is condensed from gases exhausted from the turbine. The turbine has a universal design and so may be relatively easily modified for use in connection with generators having a rated power output in the range of 50 KW to 5 MW. Such modifications are achieved, in part, through use of a modular turbine cartridge built up of discrete rotor and stator plates sized for the desired application with turbine brush seals chosen to accommodate radial rotor movements from the supported generator. The cartridge may be installed and removed from the turbine relatively easily for maintenance or rebuilding. The rotor housing is designed to be relatively easily machined to dimensions that meet desired operating parameters. | 11-12-2015 |