Abstract:
A piston assembly may include a piston rod and a piston disposed on the piston rod. The piston may include a frame end cap defining a through-bore for receiving the piston rod, and the frame end cap may form a first end of the piston. The piston may include an outer end cap defining a through-bore for receiving the piston rod, and the outer end cap may form a second end of the piston. The piston may also include a center support defining a through-bore for receiving the piston rod. The center support may be disposed between the frame end cap and the outer end cap, and an outer surface of the piston rod and an inner circumferential surface of the center support may define a radial gap.
Abstract:
A liquefaction system and method for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) is provided. The liquefaction system may include a heat exchanger to cool natural gas to LNG, a first compressor to compress and combine first and second portions of a single mixed refrigerant from the heat exchanger, a first cooler to cool the single mixed refrigerant from the first compressor to a first liquid phase and a gaseous phase, and a first liquid separator to separate the first liquid phase from the gaseous phase. The liquefaction system may also include a second compressor to compress the gaseous phase, a second cooler to cool the compressed gaseous phase to a second liquid phase and the second portion of the single mixed refrigerant, a second liquid separator to separate the second liquid phase from the second portion of the single mixed refrigerant, and a pump to pressurize the first liquid phase.
Abstract:
A metal article including an at least partially heat treated metal composition, and a method for treating the metal article are provided. The method for treating the metal article may include heating the metal article to a first holding temperature of about 690°C, and holding the metal article at the first holding temperature for at least about 10 hours. The method may also include cooling the metal article from the first holding temperature to a first cooling temperature of about 65°C or less. The method may further include heating the metal article to a second holding temperature of about 615°C, and holding the metal article at the second holding temperature for at least about 10 hours. The method may also include cooling the metal article from the second holding temperature to a second cooling temperature of about 65°C or less.
Abstract:
A method for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) is provided. The method may include feeding natural gas from a high-pressure natural gas source to a separator and removing a non-hydrocarbon from the natural gas. A portion of the natural gas from the separator may be precooled, and the precooled natural gas may be cooled in a first heat exchanger with a first refrigeration stream. A first portion of the cooled natural gas may be expanded in a turbo-expander to generate the first refrigeration stream. A second portion of the cooled natural gas may be cooled in a second heat exchanger with the first refrigeration stream and expanded in an expansion valve to produce a two-phase fluid containing the LNG and a vapor phase. The LNG may be separated from the vapor phase in a liquid separator and stored in a storage tank.
Abstract:
A method for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) and separating natural gas liquids (NGLs) from the LNG is provided. The method may include compressing natural gas to compressed natural gas, removing a non-hydrocarbon from the compressed natural gas, and cooling the compressed natural gas to a cooled, compressed natural gas. The method may also include expanding a first portion and a second portion of the cooled, compressed natural gas in a first expansion element and a second expansion element to generate a first refrigeration stream and a second refrigeration stream, respectively. The method may further include separating a third portion of the cooled, compressed natural gas into a methane lean natural gas fraction containing the NGLs and a methane rich natural gas fraction. The methane rich natural gas fraction may be cooled in a liquefaction assembly with the first and second refrigeration streams to thereby produce the LNG.
Abstract:
A turbomachine component and method for fabricating the turbomachine component are provided. The turbomachine component may include a matrix material and carbon nanotubes combined with the matrix material. The matrix material may include a metal or a polymer. The carbon nanotubes may be contacted with the metal to form a metal-based carbon nanotube composite, and the metal-based carbon nanotube composite may be processed to fabricate the turbomachine component.
Abstract:
A support assembly and method for supporting an internal assembly in a casing of a turbomachine are provided. The support assembly may include a support member that may be slidably disposed in a recess formed in the internal assembly and configured to engage an inner surface of the casing. A biasing member may be disposed in a pocket extending radially inward from the recess. The biasing member may at least partially extend into the recess and may be configured to apply a biasing force to the support member disposed therein.
Abstract:
A method is provided for fabricating a carbon nanotube metal matrix composite. The method may include forming a molten mixture by combining carbon nanotubes with a molten solution. The carbon nanotubes combined with the molten solution may be dispersed therein. The method may also include transferring the molten mixture to a mold and applying a magnetic field to the molten mixture in the mold to substantially align at least a portion of the carbon nanotubes with one another. The method may further include solidifying the molten mixture in the mold to fabricate the carbon nanotube metal matrix composite, where at least a portion of the carbon nanotubes may be substantially aligned in the carbon nanotube metal matrix composite.
Abstract:
A piston plug includes a cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and an outer cylindrical surface. The outer cylindrical surface extends longitudinally between a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The outer cylindrical surface defines a hole extending radially inward. The hole has a central axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body. A first channel and a second channel are defined by cylindrical body. The first channel is in fluidic communication with the first surface and the hole. The second channel is in fluidic communication with the second surface and the hole. The first channel, the second channel, and at least a portion of the hole form a non-collinear flowpath. The piston plug is disposed in a plug hole in a piston and is retained in the plug hole via an interference fit between the piston plug and the plug hole.
Abstract:
A system and method are provided for a compressed air energy storage (CAES) system. The system and method may include compressing a process gas with a compressor train to produce a compressed process gas. The compressed process gas may be directed to a compressed gas storage unit and stored therein. The compressed process gas from the compressed gas storage unit may be released to a heat recovery unit via a feed line. The heat recovery unit may heat the compressed process gas and direct the heated compressed process gas to an expansion assembly to generate a power output. Feed water from a feed water source may be heated in the heat recovery unit to produce steam for injection into a combustion turbine assembly. The combustion turbine assembly may heat the heat recovery unit via an exhaust line.