3728results about "Auxillaries" patented technology

A HVAC and battery thermal management system for a vehicle having a HVAC portion and a battery portion, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The HVAC portion may include a main chamber, an evaporator located in the main chamber, a heater extending across a portion of the main chamber downstream of the evaporator, a battery duct extending from the main chamber adjacent to the heater and in fluid communication with the main chamber both upstream and downstream of the heater. The battery portion may include a battery pack in fluid communication with the battery duct, a battery cooling valve located in the battery duct and configured to selectively allow fluid flow from the main chamber between the evaporator and the heater, and a battery heating valve located in the battery duct and configured to selectively allow fluid flow from the main chamber downstream of the heater.

An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle seat includes a seat blower unit disposed in a lower side of the seat, and a seat duct for leading air from an air conditioning unit to the seat through the seat blower unit. In the air conditioning apparatus, it can be determined that heat load of a passenger compartment is decreased to a predetermined value based on an operation state of a unit blower of the air conditioning unit, and the seat blower is stopped when the heat load is decreased to the predetermined value. Further, the seat blower is turned on or off according to the heat load of the passenger compartment, so that temperature of the seat can be controlled within a predetermined range. On the other hand, even when the unit blower is stopped when a water temperature of a heating unit of the air conditioning unit is lower than a set temperature, the seat blower unit and an electrical heater disposed in the seat duct are operated so that air passing through the heating unit is heated by the electrical unit and is blown into the seat by the seat blower unit.

Marine LNG carrier and method of operating the marine LNG carrier. The LNG carrier carries LNG in at least one tank. Gas composed of evaporated LNG within the at least one tank is removed. The gas is fed to at least one gas consuming prime mover of the LNG carrier. Power is provided with the at least one gas consuming prime mover. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

A method is presented for estimating an amount of ammonia stored in a urea-based SCR catalyst based on a dynamic model of the catalyst. The model takes into account chemical and physical properties of the catalyst, such as catalyst volume, the number of available ammonia storage cites, adsorption and desorption dynamics, as well as sulfur poisoning, thermal aging, and different catalyst operating temperatures, and generates the estimate based on a measured or estimated amount of NOx in an exhaust gas mixture upstream of the catalyst, an amount of reductant injected into the catalyst to facilitate NOx reduction, and on a measured value of NOx in an exhaust gas mixture downstream of the catalyst. The estimated ammonia storage amount is then used to control the amount of reductant injected into the catalyst to maintain desired ammonia storage amount such that maximum NOx conversion efficiency coupled with minimum ammonia slip are achieved.

An apparatus and method for providing electrical energy to an electrical device by deriving the electrical energy from motion of the device. In one embodiment, the inventive apparatus includes a novel kinetic electrical power generator (KEPG) consisting of an inventive oscillating weight having an internal cavity with a freely movable acceleration element disposed therein, resulting in improved acceleration and oscillation capabilities and lower motion threshold for the weight, a system for converting the weight's oscillating motion into rotational motion, and an electromechanical transducer system for generating electrical energy from the rotational motion. The novel KEPG includes components for modifying the electrical energy for storing and/or feeding the modified electrical energy to the electrical device. Optional components may be included for using the modified electrical energy to recharge one or more rechargeable batteries used in an electric device. Alternate advantageous embodiments of the inventive apparatus include, but are not limited to: a KEPG with multiple inventive oscillating weights to increase velocity and frequency of desirable rotational motion, and a KEPG system utilizing multiple electrically coupled KEPG sub-systems.

A diffusion driven desalination apparatus and related method includes structure for receiving a heated water stream and creating at least one region having a thin film of water and structure for forcing a low humidity air stream over the thin film of water, wherein water from the thin film of water evaporates and diffuses into the air stream to create a humidified air stream. A diffusion tower including at least one plenum can be used to create and transfer the humidified air stream. At least one condenser, such as a direct contact condenser, condenses the humidified air stream, wherein purified water is produced. Waste heat from a power plant can be used to provide the heated water stream and power plants can use the waste heat generated to inexpensively provide purified water.

An apparatus for purifying water, such as for desalinization, includes a source of a heated air stream, the heated air stream having a temperature above an ambient temperature. A diffusion tower having high surface area material therein receives a water stream including at least one impurity and creates at least one region having thin films of water therein from the water stream. The heated air stream is directed over the thin films of water to create a humidified air stream that is at least substantially saturated. At least one direct contact condenser is in fluid communication with the humidified air stream for condensing the humidified air stream, thus producing purified water. A power plant can include the apparatus for purifying water, where energy to heat the air stream is provided by low pressure condensing steam.

A hydro-thermal exchange unit (HTEU) for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification includes feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively. The unit also includes an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass. The evaporator causes evaporation of a portion of the feed water to produce vapor that is transported through the gas conduit. The unit also includes a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass. The condenser has input and output ports for coupling the gas and fresh water conduit circuits. The condenser extracts moisture from the vapor transported therethrough by the gas conduit. The extracted moisture is discharged through the fresh water conduit. The unit also includes a heat exchanger through which a portion of the fresh water conduit and the feed water conduit pass to thereby extract residual heat from the fresh water such that the residual heat heats the feed water.

An hybrid unmanned underwater vehicle comprises a body housing a controller; a vector thruster for propelling the body; deployable wings allowing the unmanned underwater vehicle to traverse by gliding as the unmanned underwater vehicle ascends and descends; a center-of-mass shifter for shifting a center-of-mass of the vehicle to allow the unmanned underwater vehicle to pitch up and pitch down; and one of a multi-stage buoyancy control system within the body and configured to adjust an apparent displacement of the unmanned underwater vehicle and an expandable outer shell configured to adjust an apparent displacement and therefore a buoyancy of the unmanned underwater vehicle.

A propelling and driving system for boats having an outboard rudder propeller. The system provides the boat with reliable and comparatively good maneuverability. The system comprises at least two rudder propellers, each having driving motors configured in the form of a permanent magnet-excited synchronous machine. The stator winding of each synchronous machine has three winding phases connected to a three-phase alternating current, which are connected to the supply system of the boat. A modular controlling and regulating device comprising standardized modules is provided for each of the rudder propellers.

A method of programming and setting parameters for a computer unit that regulates the interface between the operator of a marine vessel and the vessel's electric generation and propulsion systems. The invention describes the regulation of energy producing devices, energy storage devices and drive motors and propellers in both propulsion and regeneration modes. This invention simplifies and automates most of the operation of marine electric, hybrid electric, or diesel electric propulsion because the only controls requiring operator intervention are three generator modes: OFF, AUTO and ON, an alarm, an override switch and one or more throttle(s). This helm control can be duplicated in different areas of the vessel. All automatic modes required to regulate forward movement, reverse, emergency power, zero drag, propeller freeze and regeneration are all controlled by a logic using a combination of generator mode, the position of the throttles, the speed and the stored parameters of the vessel.

A desalination apparatus capable of obtaining fresh water stably at low cost by utilizing low-temperature waste, wherein the desalination apparatus including a heat exchanger 92 cooperating with an evaporation can 60 so as to subject a low-temperature waste heat 11 and raw water 62 in the evaporation can 60 to heat exchange and generate water vapor 63 in the evaporation can 60; a condenser 98 cooperating with a raw water tank 72 so as to receive the water vapor 63 from the evaporation can 60, cool the water vapor 63 by subjecting the water vapor 63 and raw water 71 in the raw water tank 72 to heat exchange and obtain distilled water 76; a distilled water tank for storing the distilled water 76; vacuum means for evacuating the evaporation can 60 and depressurizing the inside thereof so as to promote generation of water vapor 63 in the evaporation can 60; and raw water supply means for supplying raw water to the evaporation can.

A marine power distribution arrangement includes a turbine-driven AC generator which supplies AC power at a frequency of 240 Hz through a switchgear unit to a transformer and a first power converter by which the power is converted to a variable frequency, variable voltage AC output for ship propulsion and to a second power converter by which the AC power is converted to a fixed voltage, fixed AC frequency or DC power to supply the ship service loads. A battery backup power supply may be switched in an emergency. In another embodiment four turbine-driven AC generators and two emergency power supplies are provided to drive two propulsion shafts as well as to supply the ship service loads.

An automatic timing measurement system that provides a measure of time of passage of a watercraft through a prescribed course. Algorithms based on inertial or other estimates augmented by GPS speed/position measurements are used to track position of a watercraft. Said position estimates are used to allow the locations of prescribed courses to be mapped and memorized. Algorithms are then used to allow the apparatus to automatically detect passage of a watercraft through mapped courses for the purpose of measuring and reporting time of passage of said watercraft past key points in said course, and for modifying the behavior of the speed control portion of the apparatus if necessary at certain points in the mapped course. A measure of accuracy of driver steering can be provided along with the ability to automatically steer the watercraft through the course if “steer-by-wire” mechanism is available. GPS speed control is augmented with a secondary velocity measurement device that measures speed over water resulting in an optional user selectable real-time compensation for water current. Furthermore, GPS is used as the key input to produce boat speed-based pull-up profiles.

A vent assembly, suitable for marine use including, for example, venting an enclosure, such as an engine compartment, on a boat. The vent assembly has substantially the external appearance of a cast or machined, one piece, stainless steel vent, at a cost very little more than a molded plastics vent. A molded plastics vent has a head perforated by a pattern of ventilating slots separated by flanking strips. A decorative, corrosion-resistant, sheet metal cover shell lies tight against the front side of the molded plastics vent and has a pattern of slots and strips mapping substantially on the pattern of slots and strips of the molded plastics vent. Snap-fit fasteners fix the cover shell on the vent so that the cover shell slots are a substantially flush continuation of the vent slots, so as to provide the decorative appearance of a solid metal vent at substantially lower cost and without compromising or through flow capability.

A method for reducing and re-using waste heat and water resulting from thermal hydrocarbon recovery operations involving accessing a hot water stream produced in a thermal hydrocarbon recovery operation; vaporizing water from the water stream by applying a vacuum, thereby producing water vapor; and condensing the water vapor to produce high quality water. A system is described including a hot water intake interfacing with a hot water stream from a thermal hydrocarbon recovery operation; a vaporization module receiving the hot water stream from the hot water intake, comprising a vacuum chamber in which a vacuum is applied to produce water vapor from the hot water stream; a condensation module in which water vapor produced in the vaporization module is condensed to form high quality water; and a water outlet for releasing the high quality water from the condensation module for re-use within the thermal hydrocarbon recovery operation.

An electric vehicle is provided with a cell voltage sensor (32) and a cell temperature sensor (31) which are mounted to each of a plurality of cells (21); a gas temperature sensor (33), a carbon monoxide gas sensor (34), and a hydrogen gas sensor (35) which are mounted to a chamber (27); a gas temperature sensor (36), a carbon monoxide gas sensor (37), and a hydrogen gas sensor (38) which are mounted to a gas exhaust passage (28); and an air-conditioning fan (17), a channel-switching damper (19), and a driving motor (42) which lowers a window glass (41). When battery state values detected by the sensors (31) to (38) exceed predetermined thresholds, a battery pack (20) is judged to be abnormal. Then, the channel-switching damper (19) and the air-conditioning fan (17) are started and the window glass (41) is lowered to ventilate the vehicle interior. This speedily exhausts smoke generated from a lithium ion battery.

The cabin cooling system includes a cooling duct positioned proximate and above upper edges of one or more windows of a vehicle to exhaust hot air as the air is heated by inner surfaces of the windows and forms thin boundary layers of heated air adjacent the heated windows. The cabin cooling system includes at least one fan to draw the hot air into the cooling duct at a flow rate that captures the hot air in the boundary layer without capturing a significant portion of the cooler cabin interior air and to discharge the hot air at a point outside the vehicle cabin, such as the vehicle trunk. In a preferred embodiment, the cooling duct has a cross-sectional area that gradually increases from a distal point to a proximal point to the fan inlet to develop a substantially uniform pressure drop along the length of the cooling duct. Correspondingly, this cross-sectional configuration develops a uniform suction pressure and uniform flow rate at the upper edge of the window to capture the hot air in the boundary layer adjacent each window.