57results about How to "Minimal environmental impact" patented technology

A flow enhancement improvement for an underwater turbine generator (10) is disclosed wherein a longitudinal hole (240) is disposed in the central area (26), typically a hub (20) of the generator (10), and a second, augmentor duct (41), preferably rigid, is disposed about the outer duct (40) or housing of the unit to create a slot (200) area. The slot (200) and hollow hub (20) create areas of smooth, laminar fluid flow. The leading edges of the hub (20) or central ring and the augmentor (41) and outer ducts (40) are elliptical to enhance the fluid dynamics of the structure.

A temporary platform or roadway is created using one or a plurality of optionally connected support components to form a top surface upon which panels are placed. The support components are comprised of gabion containers having one or a plurality of compartments into which a filler material is inserted. The filler material can optionally be composed of a buoyant material such as expanded polystyrene to enable flotation. A method for constructing the roadway or platform of the present invention is also disclosed.

Dissolution, partial dissolution or softening of cellulose in an ionic liquid (IL) and its subsequent contact with anti-solvent produces regenerated cellulose more amorphous in structure than native cellulose, which can be separated from the IL / anti-solvent mixture by mechanical means such as simple filtration or centrifugation. This altered morphology of IL-treated cellulose allows a greater number of sites for enzyme adsorption with a subsequent enhancement of its saccharification. The IL-treated cellulose exhibits significantly improved hydrolysis kinetics with optically transparent solutions formed after about two hours of reaction. This provides an opportunity for separation of products from the catalyst (enzyme) easing enzyme recovery. With an appropriate selection of enzymes, initial hydrolysis rates for IL-treated cellulose were up to two orders of magnitude greater than those of untreated cellulose. Due to the non-volatility of the IL, anti-solvent can be easily stripped from the IL / anti-solvent mixture for recovery and recycle of both the ionic liquid and anti-solvent.

This invention concerns a fuel delivery system for an engine, in which two or more discrete fuel compositions are made available to the engine. The system has a vapor trail detection sensor configured to generate a detection signal indicative of a characteristic of a vapor trail. A regulator is configured to regulate a percentage of a first and a second fuel composition delivered to the engine as resultant fuel composition. A controller is arranged to undertake a search of trial fuel compositions by controlling the regulator to deliver to the engine a plurality of trial fuel compositions having different ratios of the first and second fuel compositions. The controller controls delivery of a resultant fuel composition to the engine in response to the vapor trail characteristic detection signals for said plurality of trial fuel compositions.

A system for supplying a fluid to a turbine includes an inlet for allowing the fluid to enter the turbines, a filter to filter the fluid, and a pump apparatus to pressurize the fluid and to mix the pressurized fluid with the un-pressurized fluid at a location in the neighborhood of the inlet.

A distributed system of electrical generators utilizing wind driven natural motion of trees includes pull-retract generators deriving torque from the back and forth swaying of neighboring trees and cables, wherein one set of cables acting as support and the other acting as a spring-tensioned flexible rack that drives the pinion gear of the pull-retract generator and also supports the pull-retract generator between the trees. The cables are attached to the pull-retract generators and provide the tension required to support and retract the pull-retract generator mechanism. Tree saddles attach the pull-retract generator cabling to the trees. As the trees sway independently the separations between the trees fluctuate periodically and the pull-retract generators convert these fluctuations into rotational forces that drive the generators. The pull-retract generators make use of a flexible rack and pinion design to convert the relative tree motion into torque and achieves the requisite RPM by cascading a sequence of large-small gear pairs, one such pair in each pull-retract generator utilizing a one-way clutch torque converter, ultimately meshing with a small gear on the generator shaft. Springs are used to return the pull-retract generators to their neutral positions when the trees are stationary and maintain cable tautness when the tree separation periodically lessens by tensioning the rack and pinion cable. The electrical energy derived from the asynchronous motions of the trees, is independent of the direction of the wind and is integrated with other pull-retract generators through rectifiers and to external electrical systems through the use of existing technologies that regulates, conditions and controls the electrical output.

A mobile emissions control system is provided for diesel engines operated on ocean-going ships at-berth. The emissions control system comprises two essential elements: an emissions capturing system and an emissions control system. The emissions control system may be mounted on a towable chassis or mounted on a barge, allowing it to be placed alongside ocean-going ships at-berth. The emission capturing system captures exhaust from a ship's diesel engine and conducts it into the emissions control system, which cleans the exhaust and then passes clean air into the atmosphere through an exhaust outlet.

The invention provides novel railroad ties manufactured from novel composite materials that possess excellent physical and performance characteristics matching or exceeding existing concrete RRTs. The RRTs of the invention can be readily produced from widely available, low cost raw materials by a process suitable for large-scale production with improved energy consumption and more desirable carbon footprint and minimal environmental impact.

A method for securing the drum casing of a washer during shipping includes at least one airbag for wedging between the drum casing and washer housing. The preferred airbag has three arm extensions, although a bag with two arm extensions, or two separate bags could be used. Two of the extensions, or two separate bags, whichever is used, are positioned around the washer drum exterior to prevent free, lateral movement of the drum casing relative to the housing. The third arm of a three arm bag is slid between the drum casing and rear washer housing before inflating. Preferably included with this method is a spacer for wedging between the drum and a housing bracket to prevent free, vertical movement of the drum relative to its washer housing.