Patent classifications
F03G7/00
Energy harvesting with a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS)
Apparatuses and method are described to create an energy harvesting microstructure, referred to herein as a transduction micro-electro mechanical system (T-MEMS). A T-MEMS includes a substrate, a first buckled membrane, the first buckled membrane has a buckling axis and is connected to the substrate. The first buckled membrane further includes a transduction material, a first conductor, the first conductor is applied to a first area of the transduction material; and a second conductor, the second conductor is applied to a second area of the transduction material, wherein electrical charge is harvested from the transduction material when the first buckled membrane is translated along the buckling axis.
Systems for generating geothermal power in an organic Rankine cycle operation during hydrocarbon production based on wellhead fluid temperature
Systems and methods for generating and a controller for controlling generation of geothermal power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation in the vicinity of a wellhead during hydrocarbon production to thereby supply electrical power to one or more of in-field operational equipment, a grid power structure, and an energy storage device. In an embodiment, during hydrocarbon production, a temperature of a flow of wellhead fluid from the wellhead or working fluid may be determined. If the temperature is above a vaporous phase change threshold of the working fluid, heat exchanger valves may be opened to divert flow of wellhead fluid to heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer from the flow of wellhead fluid to working fluid through the heat exchangers, thereby to cause the working fluid to change from a liquid to vapor, the vapor to cause a generator to generate electrical power via rotation of an expander.
System and Method for Separating Fluids and Creating Magnetic Fields
A system and method in at least one embodiment for separating fluids including liquids and gases into subcomponents by passing the fluid through a vortex chamber into an expansion chamber and then through at least a portion of a waveform pattern present between at least two rotors and/or disks. In further embodiments, a system and method is offered for harnessing fields created by a system having rotating rotors and/or disks having waveform patterns on at least one side to produce current within a plurality of coils. In at least one embodiment, the waveform patterns include a plurality of hyperbolic waveforms axially aligned around a horizontal center of the system.
System and Method for Separating Fluids and Creating Magnetic Fields
A system and method in at least one embodiment for separating fluids including liquids and gases into subcomponents by passing the fluid through a vortex chamber into an expansion chamber and then through at least a portion of a waveform pattern present between at least two rotors and/or disks. In further embodiments, a system and method is offered for harnessing fields created by a system having rotating rotors and/or disks having waveform patterns on at least one side to produce current within a plurality of coils. In at least one embodiment, the waveform patterns include a plurality of hyperbolic waveforms axially aligned around a horizontal center of the system.
System for controlling an operational parameter of a gas generator based on a difference between a measurement and a target value
A system includes a generator using a fluid mixture obtained via a generator inlet, a compressor having a compressor inlet that is connected to a generator outlet by a first set of conduits, a second set of conduits connected to the compressor outlet and the generator inlet, and a sensor in communication with the second set of conduits, where a portion of the fluid mixture includes gas from a hydrocarbon well, and where exhaust fluid of the generator is provided to the compressor. A process includes obtaining a target fluid property and a fluid measurement using the sensor and modifying a parameter of a fluid control device to modify a first flow rate of the flow of the exhaust fluid through the second set of conduits relative to a second flow rate of the flow of the gas provided by the hydrocarbon well through the first set of conduits.
Impulse mover
A nonpropellant inertial device to propel structures on and off earth is disclosed. Secured on a rigid planar base are electrically powered motors for two crankshafts. Pair of parallel linkages are connected between the crankshafts and the sides of a freely rotatable cylintrical weight. The crankshafts rotate differentially to create straight-line reciprocating motion to the linkages. The linkages are design to only pull the cylindrical weight from one side then the other causing the weight to rotate back and forth in reciprocal motion, traverse to the straight-line motion of the linkages. High frequency impulses alternate from the sides of the cylintrical weight with each impulse being a simultaneous action-reaction event. However, only part of the angular action to the weight, directly opposes the straight-line reaction to the crankshafts. Therefore, a net amount of reaction remains to impart unidirectional inertial propulsion to the mover. Two similar cylintrical weight systems are generally used for cancelling out lateral vibrations to the mover.
Asymmetric electrode insulation for artificial muscles
An artificial muscle that includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode, and an electrode insulator having one or more insulation layers. The electrode insulator is disposed on an inner electrode surface of the first electrode of the electrode pair. The second electrode includes a free inner electrode surface exposed to the dielectric fluid when the electrode pair is in a non-actuated state. The electrode pair is actuatable between the non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region.
COMPRESSION APPARATUS
A compression apparatus includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode provided on a first principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, a cathode provided on a second principal surface of the electrolyte membrane, an anode separator provided on the anode, a cathode separator provided on the cathode, and a voltage applier that applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode. The compression apparatus causes, by using the voltage applier to apply a voltage, protons taken out from a hydrogen-containing gas that is supplied to the anode to move to the cathode via the electrolyte membrane and produces compressed hydrogen. The anode separator has a first flow channel, provided in a principal surface thereof facing away from the anode, through which a cooling fluid flows.
Control of refrigeration and heat pump systems that include pressure exchangers
A system includes a pressure exchanger (PX). The PX is coupled to a motor that controls an operating speed of the PX. The system further includes a first pressure gauge configured to generate first pressure data indicative of a pressure of a fluid of a condenser. A first controller is to generate a first control signal based on the first pressure data. The motor of the PX is configured to adjust the operating speed of the PX based on the first control signal. The system further includes a pump. The system further includes a fluid density sensor for generating fluid density data associated with a first output fluid of the PX. A second controller is to generate a second control signal based on at least the fluid density data. The pump is to adjust an operating speed of the pump based on the second control signal.
Control of refrigeration and heat pump systems that include pressure exchangers
A system includes a pressure exchanger (PX). The PX is coupled to a motor that controls an operating speed of the PX. The system further includes a first pressure gauge configured to generate first pressure data indicative of a pressure of a fluid of a condenser. A first controller is to generate a first control signal based on the first pressure data. The motor of the PX is configured to adjust the operating speed of the PX based on the first control signal. The system further includes a pump. The system further includes a fluid density sensor for generating fluid density data associated with a first output fluid of the PX. A second controller is to generate a second control signal based on at least the fluid density data. The pump is to adjust an operating speed of the pump based on the second control signal.