The present invention relates to a hybrid domestic fireplace, configured to burn a fuel mixture of a first combustible fuel and a second combustible fuel, comprising a combustible long chain hydrocarbon fuel, the fireplace comprising: a mixing device, configured to mix the first fuel and the second fuel to form the fuel mixture and, a first fuel supply, configured to supply the first fuel to the mixing device, a second fuel supply, configured to supply the second fuel to the mixing device, and a burner, configured to combust the fuel mixture, wherein the mixing device is further configured to heat the second fuel to a mixing temperature, and wherein the mixing device is configured to mix the first fuel with the heated second fuel to form the fuel mixture.

An apparatus for generating electricity via thermophotovoltaic (TPV) energy conversion is described. High efficiency is obtained by introducing a material into a combustion chamber that emits bright near-monochromatic visible light upon heating. This light is then directed to fall on an array of photovoltaic (PV) cells which convert the light to electricity. Heat and infrared radiation that is not absorbed by the PV cells is returned to the combustion chamber to further improve conversion efficiency.

An apparatus for generating electricity via thermophotovoltaic (TPV) energy conversion is described. High efficiency is obtained by introducing a material into a combustion chamber that emits bright near-monochromatic visible light upon heating. This light is then directed to fall on an array of photovoltaic (PV) cells which convert the light to electricity. Heat and infrared radiation that is not absorbed by the PV cells is returned to the combustion chamber to further improve conversion efficiency.

A combustion staging system has a splitting unit receiving and splitting metered fuel flow into out-going pilot and mains flows; pilot and mains fuel manifolds receiving the pilot and mains flows; and parallel mains flow scheduling valves distributing the mains flow. The mains flow scheduling valves pass the pilot fuel flow to injector pilot discharge orifices. Each mains flow scheduling valve has a chamber containing a piston, the chamber to a piston pilot side communicating with the pilot fuel manifold and the chamber to a mains side of the piston communicating with the mains fuel manifold. The piston is biased towards a closed pilot-only position preventing flow out of the chamber mains side to the injector mains discharge orifice. The piston is movable under increased pressure in the mains fuel manifold to an open pilot-and-mains position allowing flow out of the chamber mains side to the injector mains discharge orifice.

A pipe connection arrangement in a high-pressure fluid line system of a dual fuel engine, having first pipe element with outer sealing cone and conical shoulder adjoining the cone, having further pipe element with inner sealing cone and external thread, having a screw nut element with clamping sleeve region having inner clamping cone and threaded sleeve region having internal thread. The outer sealing cone of the first pipe element is arranged in the inner sealing cone of the further pipe element and the internal thread of the screw nut element is screwed on the external thread of the further pipe element. The inner clamping cone of the screw nut element is pulled against the conical shoulder of the first pipe element such that the outer and inner sealing cones are clamped with one another in a sealing manner, wherein the threaded sleeve region of the screw nut element is conical.

A pipe connection arrangement in a high-pressure fluid line system of a dual fuel engine, having first pipe element with outer sealing cone and conical shoulder adjoining the cone, having further pipe element with inner sealing cone and external thread, having a screw nut element with clamping sleeve region having inner clamping cone and threaded sleeve region having internal thread. The outer sealing cone of the first pipe element is arranged in the inner sealing cone of the further pipe element and the internal thread of the screw nut element is screwed on the external thread of the further pipe element. The inner clamping cone of the screw nut element is pulled against the conical shoulder of the first pipe element such that the outer and inner sealing cones are clamped with one another in a sealing manner, wherein the threaded sleeve region of the screw nut element is conical.

A pressure regulating module for regulating the pressure of a first fluid using a reference pressure of a second fluid. A pressure transfer assembly including a piston slidably disposed within a cylinder bore between a control fluid chamber and a reference fluid chamber is dimensioned to provide a predefined radial clearance between at least a portion of the outer side wall and the inner circumferential surface of the housing along a predefined axial length of the main body. The predefined radial clearance and predefined axial length are dimensioned to control the flow rate and amount of fluid along one or more fluid communication passages formed between at least a portion of the piston and the housing inner circumferential surface from one or more high pressure fluid zones to a lower pressure fluid zone which can include a leak and/or weep orifice directing fluid to a drain and/or vent circuit.

A solenoid valve driving apparatus includes switching means for ON/OFF-controlling application of a direct current voltage to a solenoid of a solenoid valve, and signal outputting means. A first period and a consecutive second period are set as a valve opening operation period of the solenoid valve. When the signal outputting means outputs the PWM signal to the switching means, a duty ratio of the output signal is set to be higher in the second period than in the first period so that a power supplied to the solenoid is larger in the second period than in the first period. As a result, a valve opening operation is performed in the solenoid valve reliably, and loud noise generation during the valve opening operation is suppressed.

A gas turbine includes a compressor, a turbine, and a combustor disposed downstream from the compressor and upstream from the turbine. The combustor includes an end cover. The combustor also includes a flange. The flange includes an internal fluid passage defined within the flange and the flange is coupled to an internal face of the end cover. A fuel port is integrally joined with the flange. The fuel port extends through the end cover between the flange and an inlet positioned outside of the end cover. The inlet of the fuel port is in fluid communication with the internal fluid passage of the flange.

A combustion staging system is provided for fuel injectors of a multi-stage combustor of a gas turbine engine. The system has a splitting unit which receives a metered total fuel flow and controllably splits the metered total fuel flow into out-going pilot and mains fuel flows to perform pilot-only and pilot-and-mains staging control of the combustor. The system further has pilot and mains fuel manifolds which respectively receive the pilot and mains fuel flows. The system further has a plurality of mains flow scheduling valves which distribute the mains fuel flow from the mains fuel manifold to mains discharge orifices of respective injectors of the combustor. The system further has servo line which extends to the mains flow scheduling valves, the servo line being controllably fillable with pressurised fuel to change the pressure in the servo line relative to the pressure in the mains fuel manifold. Each mains flow scheduling valve has a chamber containing a movable piston, the chamber to a mains side of the piston being fed by the mains fuel manifold, and the chamber to a servo side of the piston being fed by the servo line. The piston has an open pilot-and-mains position which allows flow out of the mains side of the chamber to the mains discharge orifice of the respective injector. The piston is biased towards a closed pilot-only position which prevents flow out of the mains side of the chamber to the mains discharge orifice of the respective injector. The piston is movable to the closed position under an increase in pressure in the servo line relative to the mains fuel manifold.