A method for evaluating load performance of a rotor/stator test coupon, advantageously within a sealable test chamber comprising test fluid. In some embodiments, the test coupon comprises at least a partial length of a PDM stage, and in others the test coupon comprises a splined rotor/stator. The method includes rotating either the rotor section or the stator section, wherein such rotation actuates corresponding rotation of the other of the rotor section and the stator section. A braking torque is applied to the actuated one of the rotor section and the stator section such that load performance of the test coupon may be evaluated. Embodiments include selectively applying non-linear torque to load the test coupon, and evaluating load performance of the test coupon with reference to relative angular positions of the rotor section and the stator section over time.

Scroll expander including a bypass passage and a bypass valve configured to open and close the bypass passage without significantly increasing the length in the shaft direction of the scroll expander. Scroll expander 23 includes suction port 513 which allows a high-pressure flow of a working fluid to enter and guides the entering flow of the working fluid into an expansion chamber. Discharge port 523 allows the working fluid expanded to a lower pressure in the expansion chamber to flow out. Bypass passage 27 communicates suction port 513 with the discharge port 523 while bypassing the expansion chamber. Bypass valve 28 is configured to open and close bypass passage 27. Suction port 513, bypass passage 27 and a bypass valve attaching portion 514 for attaching the bypass valve 28 are formed in a base plate of the fixed scroll 51.

Scroll expander including a bypass passage and a bypass valve configured to open and close the bypass passage without significantly increasing the length in the shaft direction of the scroll expander. Scroll expander 23 includes suction port 513 which allows a high-pressure flow of a working fluid to enter and guides the entering flow of the working fluid into an expansion chamber. Discharge port 523 allows the working fluid expanded to a lower pressure in the expansion chamber to flow out. Bypass passage 27 communicates suction port 513 with the discharge port 523 while bypassing the expansion chamber. Bypass valve 28 is configured to open and close bypass passage 27. Suction port 513, bypass passage 27 and a bypass valve attaching portion 514 for attaching the bypass valve 28 are formed in a base plate of the fixed scroll 51.

A method for measuring load performance of a positive displacement motor (PDM) test coupon. The test coupon comprises a partial length of a PDM stage and is received inside a sealable test chamber. In some embodiments, the test coupon may be cut from a failed PDM stage. The test chamber is filled with test fluid. In some embodiments, the test fluid may be drilling fluid sampled from a live well. Rotation of the rotor on the test coupon actuates rotation of the stator. A braking torque is applied to the stator rotation, enabling evaluation of, for example, fatigue load performance of test coupon. Additional embodiments comprise the rotor axis and the stator axis being offset in order to simulate rotor/stator eccentricity in a full size PDM stage.

A method for measuring load performance of a positive displacement motor (PDM) test coupon. The test coupon comprises a partial length of a PDM stage and is received inside a sealable test chamber. In some embodiments, the test coupon may be cut from a failed PDM stage. The test chamber is filled with test fluid. In some embodiments, the test fluid may be drilling fluid sampled from a live well. Rotation of the rotor on the test coupon actuates rotation of the stator. A braking torque is applied to the stator rotation, enabling evaluation of, for example, fatigue load performance of test coupon. Additional embodiments comprise the rotor axis and the stator axis being offset in order to simulate rotor/stator eccentricity in a full size PDM stage.

A method for expanding a gas flow between an inlet for the supply of the gas flow at certain inlet conditions of inlet pressure and inlet temperature and an outlet for the delivery of expanded gas at certain desired outlet conditions of outlet pressure and outlet temperature, whereby this method at least comprises the step of at least partly expanding the gas flow between the inlet and the outlet through a pressure reducing valve and at least partly expanding it through a pressure reducing unit with a rotor driven by the gas for converting the energy contained in the gas into mechanical energy on this shaft.

A method for expanding a gas flow between an inlet for the supply of the gas flow at certain inlet conditions of inlet pressure and inlet temperature and an outlet for the delivery of expanded gas at certain desired outlet conditions of outlet pressure and outlet temperature, whereby this method at least comprises the step of at least partly expanding the gas flow between the inlet and the outlet through a pressure reducing valve and at least partly expanding it through a pressure reducing unit with a rotor driven by the gas for converting the energy contained in the gas into mechanical energy on this shaft.

An intake/outlet pipe optimization method for a rotary engine, comprising the steps of: (A) providing a rotary engine; (B) providing a simulation software package, to perform a series of simulations for the rotary engine according to different combinations of a pipe length, a pipe diameter, a pipe shape and a pipe angle, to determine an optimal combination of the pipe length, the pipe diameter, the pipe shape, and pipe angle, to obtain an optimal power output for the rotary engine; and (C) performing tests for the rotary engine, by utilizing the optimal combination of the pipe length, the pipe diameter, the pipe shape, and pipe angle obtained in step (B), to obtain a test optimized power output for the rotary engine.

An intake/outlet pipe optimization method for a rotary engine, comprising the steps of: (A) providing a rotary engine; (B) providing a simulation software package, to perform a series of simulations for the rotary engine according to different combinations of a pipe length, a pipe diameter, a pipe shape and a pipe angle, to determine an optimal combination of the pipe length, the pipe diameter, the pipe shape, and pipe angle, to obtain an optimal power output for the rotary engine; and (C) performing tests for the rotary engine, by utilizing the optimal combination of the pipe length, the pipe diameter, the pipe shape, and pipe angle obtained in step (B), to obtain a test optimized power output for the rotary engine.

A method for evaluating load performance of a rotor/stator test coupon, advantageously within a sealable test chamber comprising test fluid. In some embodiments, the test coupon comprises at least a partial length of a PDM stage, and in others the test coupon comprises a splined rotor/stator. The method includes rotating either the rotor section or the stator section, wherein such rotation actuates corresponding rotation of the other of the rotor section and the stator section. A braking torque is applied to the actuated one of the rotor section and the stator section such that load performance of the test coupon may be evaluated. Embodiments include selectively applying non-linear torque to load the test coupon, and evaluating load performance of the test coupon with reference to relative angular positions of the rotor section and the stator section over time.