Ut-battelle, Inc.

Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated

Ut-bahelle, LLC

Jy-An Wang

Fei Ren

Hong Wang

Zhili Feng

Thomas S Cox

Kenneth C Liu

Dominic F Lee

Wei Zhang

Gary Charles Sibilant

Ken C Liu

Ting Tan

Hao Jiang

Lawrence M Anovitz

John K Chan

Systems, methods and piezoelectric patches are provided for monitoring the structural health of connectors in overhead transmission lines. A plurality of piezoelectric patches is mounted to different locations on the connector. At least one of the patches is actuated using an AC voltage and certain electrical properties either from the same patch or of a different patch are evaluated over time to determine the structural health of the connectors.

Systems, methods and patches for monitoring a structural health of a connector in overhead transmission lines

An apparatusfor simulating a pulsed pressure induced cavitation technique (PPCT) from a pressurized working fluid (F) provides laboratory research and development for enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), oil, and gas wells. A pumpis configured to deliver a pressurized working fluid (F) to a control valve, which produces a pulsed pressure wave in a test chamber. The pulsed pressure wave parameters are defined by the pumppressure and control valvecycle rate. When a working fluid (F) and a rock specimenare included in the apparatus, the pulsed pressure wave causes cavitation to occur at the surface of the specimen, thus initiating an extensive network of fracturing surfaces and micro fissures, which are examined by researchers.

Specimen for evaluating pressure pulse cavitation in rock formations

A rotary shutter valveis used for geothermal reservoir stimulation. The valveincludes a pressure chamberfor holding a working fluid (F) under pressure. A rotatable shutteris turned with a powering deviceto periodically align one or more windowswith one or more aperturesin a bulkhead. When aligned, the pressurized working fluid (F) flows through the bulkheadand enters a pulse cavity, where it is discharged from the pulse cavityas pressure waves. The pressure wave propagationand eventual collapse of the bubblescan be transmitted to a target rock surfaceeither in the form of a shock wave, or by micro jets, depending on the bubble-surface distance. Once cavitation at the rock face begins, fractures are initiated in the rock to create a network of micro-fissures for enhanced heat transfer.

Cavitation-based hydro-fracturing technique for geothermal reservoir stimulation

An apparatus and system is described for storing high-pressure fluids such as hydrogen. An inner tank and pre-stressed concrete pressure vessel share the structural and/or pressure load on the inner tank. The system and apparatus provide a high performance and low cost container while mitigating hydrogen embrittlement of the metal tank. System is useful for distributing hydrogen to a power grid or to a vehicle refueling station.

Hydrogen storage container

Cavitation-based hydro-fracturing simulator

An electrical connector for connecting electrical power transmission lines where the electrical connector is capable of conducting 1&#xd7;10to 2.5&#xd7;10siemens per meter squared (S/m), and includes a base metal having a surface layer doped with a conductive material dopant. The conductive dopant material improves the reliability and performance of the electrical connector. An electrical power transmission system includes electrical power transmission lines connected by the electrical connector, and a method of joining power transmission lines with the electrical connector.

Electrical power line connector

Embodiments for apparatuses for testing reversal bending fatigue in an elongated beam are disclosed. Embodiments are configured to be coupled to first and second end portions of the beam and to apply a bending moment to the beam and create a pure bending condition in an intermediate portion of the beam. Embodiments are further configured to cyclically alternate the direction of the bending moment applied to the beam such that the intermediate portion of the beam cyclically bends in opposite directions in a pure bending condition.

Reversal bending fatigue testing

Disclosed are several examples of an apparatus for connecting the free ends of two electrical power transmission lines having conductor strands disposed around a central, reinforcing core. The examples include an inner sleeve having a body defining an inner bore passing through an axially-extending, central axis, an outer rim surface disposed radially outward from the central bore, and one or more axially-extending grooves penetrating the body at the outer rim surface. Also included is an outer splice having a tubular shaped body with a bore passing coaxially through the central axis, the bore defining an inner rim surface for accepting the inner sleeve. The inner bore of the inner sleeve accepts the reinforcement cores of the two conductors, and the grooves accept the conductor strands in an overlapping configuration so that a majority of the electrical current flows between the overlapped conductor strands when the conductors are transmitting electrical current.

Ultra high performance connectors for power transmission applications

The invention provides fatigue testing of a material specimen while the specimen is disposed in a high pressure fluid environment. A specimen is placed between receivers in an end cap of a vessel and a piston that is moveable within the vessel. Pressurized fluid is provided to compression and tension chambers defined between the piston and the vessel. When the pressure in the compression chamber is greater than the pressure in the tension chamber, the specimen is subjected to a compression force. When the pressure in the tension chamber is greater than the pressure in the compression chamber, the specimen is subjected to a tension force. While the specimen is subjected to either force, it is also surrounded by the pressurized fluid in the tension chamber. In some examples, the specimen is surrounded by hydrogen.

Apparatus and method for fatigue testing of a material specimen in a high-pressure fluid environment

An in-situ specimen fixture particularly adapted for prestressing rod-type SNTT-type specimens comprising a tube and end cap wherein the specimen is secured at one end to the tube, and at the opposite end to the end cap. The end cap is rotatable relative to the tube, and may be fixedly secured for creating a torsional force prestressing the specimen enclosed within the tube.

Apparatuses for prestressing rod-type specimens in torsion for in-situ passive fracture toughness testing in an extremely high-pressure environment of hydrogen

A method for determining fracture toughness K of materials ranging from metallic alloys, brittle ceramics and their composites, and weldments. A cylindrical specimen having a helical V-groove with a 45&deg; pitch is subjected to pure torsion. This loading configuration creates a uniform tensile-stress crack-opening mode, and a transverse plane-strain state along the helical groove. The full length of the spiral groove is equivalent to the thickness of a conventional compact-type specimen. K values are determined from the fracture torque and crack length measured from the test specimen using a 3-D finite element program (TOR3D-KIC) developed for the purpose. In addition, a mixed mode (combined tensile and shear stress mode) fracture toughness value can be determined by varying the pitch of the helical groove. Since the key information needed for determining the K value is condensed in the vicinity of the crack tip, the specimen can be significantly miniaturized without the loss of generality.

Growing community of inventors

Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America

Jy-An Wang