Abstract: A metamaterial-based phase shifting element utilizes a variable capacitor (varicap) to control the effective capacitance of a metamaterial structure in order to control the phase of a radio frequency output signal generated by the metamaterial structure. The metamaterial structure is configured to resonate at the same radio wave frequency as an incident input signal (radiation), whereby the metamaterial structure emits the output signal by way of controlled scattering the input signal. A variable capacitance applied on metamaterial structure by the varicap is adjustable by way of a control voltage, whereby the output phase is adjusted by way of adjusting the control voltage. The metamaterial structure is constructed using inexpensive metal film or PCB fabrication technology including an upper metal “island” structure, a lower metal backplane layer, and a dielectric layer sandwiched therebetween.

Abstract: A Hydrodynamic separation device using curved channels is provided. High aspect ratio channels improve the focusing dynamics of the hydrodynamic separator and leads to improved channel design choices.

Abstract: A metamaterial-based phase shifting element utilizes a variable capacitor (varicap) to control the effective capacitance of a metamaterial structure in order to control the phase of a radio frequency output signal generated by the metamaterial structure. The metamaterial structure is configured to resonate at the same radio wave frequency as an incident input signal (radiation), whereby the metamaterial structure emits the output signal by way of controlled scattering the input signal. A variable capacitance applied on metamaterial structure by the varicap is adjustable by way of a control voltage, whereby the output phase is adjusted by way of adjusting the control voltage. The metamaterial structure is constructed using inexpensive metal film or PCB fabrication technology including an upper metal “island” structure, a lower metal backplane layer, and a dielectric layer sandwiched therebetween.

Abstract: An energy efficient window includes a plate of glass having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A polymer aerogel thermal barrier having a first side and a second side is further provided. One of the first side and the second side of the polymer aerogel thermal barrier is located on one of the first side and the second side of the plate glass.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting device including a scalable metamaterial resonator antenna and a rectifying circuit formed on a flexible plastic substrate. The metamaterial resonator antenna includes a metal (e.g., silver) structure that is conformally fixedly disposed (i.e., either printed or deposited/etched) on the flexible substrate and configured to resonate at RF frequencies using primary and secondary antenna segments connected by linking segments such that captured RF signals are generated at two antenna end points that are 180° out-of-phase with each other. The rectifying circuit including additional metal structures that are also printed or otherwise formed on the flexible substrate, and one or more circuit elements that are configured to pass positive voltage pulses from the captured RF signals to an output node. Various metamaterial resonator antenna configurations are disclosed.

Abstract: A low-cost passive radiative cooling panel includes an emitter layer disposed under an upper reflective layer, where the emitter layer includes metamaterial nanostructures (e.g., tapered nanopores) configured to dissipate heat in the form of radiant energy that is transmitted through the reflective layer into cold near-space. In an embodiment the emitter layer includes ultra-black material configured to emit, with an emissivity close to unity, radiant energy having wavelengths/frequencies that fall within known atmospheric transparency windows (e.g., 8-13 ?m or 16-28 ?m). In a practical embodiment the emitter layer is formed using a modified Anodic Aluminum Oxide (AAO) self-assembly technique followed by electroless plating that forms metal-plated tapered nanopores.

Abstract: The system and method described below allow for real-time control over positioning of a micro-object. A movement of at least one micro-object suspended in a medium can be induced by a generation of one or more forces by electrodes proximate to the micro-object. Prior to inducing the movement, a simulation is used to develop a model describing a parameter of an interaction between each of the electrodes and the micro-object. A function describing the forces generated by an electrode and an extent of the movement induced due to the forces is generated using the model. The function is used to design closed loop policy control scheme for moving the micro-object towards a desired position. The position of the micro-object is tracked and taken into account when generating control signals in the scheme.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting device (rectenna) includes an antenna structure configured to resonate at RF frequencies, and a rectifying circuit that facilitates harvesting multiband RF signals having low energy levels (i.e., tens of mW and below) by utilizing two Zero Bias Schottky diodes having different forward voltage and peak inverse voltage values. Positive voltage pulses from a captured RF signal generated on a first antenna end point are passed by the first diode to a first internal node where they are summed with a second RF signal generated on the second antenna end point (i.e., after being passed through a capacitor), thereby producing a first intermediate voltage having a substantially higher voltage level. Positive voltage pulses are then passed from the first internal node through the second diode to an output control circuit for conversion into a usable DC output voltage.

Abstract: A transformational approach to water treatment is provided that incorporates membrane-free filtration with dynamic processing of the fluid to significantly reduce treatment times, chemical cost, land use, and operational overhead. This approach provides hybrid capabilities of filtration, together with chemical treatment, as the water is transported through various spiral stages.

Abstract: A lightweight deployable antenna assembly for, e.g., microsatellites including multifilar (e.g., quadrifilar) antenna (MHA) structures rigidly maintained in an array pattern by a lightweight linkage and collectively controlled by a central antenna feed circuit and local antenna feed circuits to perform phased array antenna operations. The linkage is preferably an expandable (e.g., flexural-scissor-grid) linkage capable of collapsing into a retracted/stowage state in which the MHA elements are maintained in a closely-spaced (e.g., hexagonal lattice close-packed) configuration optimized for payload storage. To deploy the antenna for operation, the linkage unfolds (expands) such that the MHA elements are moved away from each other and into an evenly spaced (e.g., wide-spaced hexagonal) pattern optimized for phased array operations. The MHA structures utilize modified helical filar elements including metal plated/printed on polymer/plastic beams/ribbons, or thin-walled metal tubes.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment plant that employs an activated sludge process and a method of operating the same is described. Wastewater influent is provided to a bioreactor configured to perform activated sludge processing to develop mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS). The MLSS is passed from the bioreactor to a hydrodynamic separator (HDS) system, where separation operations are performed on the MLSS. The separation operations generate a low concentration MLSS stream and a high concentration MLSS stream. The low concentration MLSS stream is passed from the hydrodynamic separator system via a first output to a clarifier, and the high concentration wastewater stream is passed via a second output back to the bioreactor. The clarifier performs clarification operations on the cleaned wastewater stream and then outputs an effluent flow.

Abstract: A liquid thin film is disposed on a conveyor surface (e.g., a roller or belt) that moves the thin film into a precisely controlled gap (or nip) region in which the liquid thin film is subjected to an electric field that causes the liquid to undergo electrohydrodynamic (EHD) patterning deformation, whereby portions of the liquid thin film form patterned liquid features having a micro-scale patterned shape. A curing mechanism (e.g., a UV laser) is used to solidify (e.g., in the case of polymer thin films, cross-link) the patterned liquid inside or immediately after exiting the gap region. The patterned structures are either connected by an intervening web as part of a polymer sheet, or separated into discreet micro-scale structures. Nanostructures (e.g., nanotubes or nanowires) disposed in the polymer become vertically oriented during the EHD patterning process. Segmented electrodes and patterned charges are utilized to provide digital patterning control.

Abstract: A metamaterials-enhanced solar receiver for a Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plant includes spectrally-selective metamaterials-enhanced surface features engineered into the sunlight-receiving (upward-facing) surface of a high melting point sunlight absorbing material. The spectrally-selective features include substantially cube-shaped microcavities surrounded by associated interlaced walls disposed in a periodic (waffle-like) array having a grating period in the range of 0.5 to 2 microns, thereby forming a metamaterial structure exhibiting high absorptance efficiency (i.e., above 95%) of incident solar radiation having wavelengths in the visible light spectrum through induced coupling of visible light to the interlaced walls by way of generating surface plasmonic waves that resonate at visible light frequencies, whereby thermal energy is efficiently absorbed into the solar receiver to heat a transfer fluid.

Abstract: An energy storage system employing a reversible salination-desalination process includes an electrochemical desalination battery (EDB) unit including an anode and a cathode. The EDB unit runs a salination process while storing energy from a direct current power supply unit, and runs a desalination process while releasing energy to an electrical load. The energy storage system can store power from a variable output electrical power supply unit such as solar cells and wind turbines while running a salination process, and release energy, e.g., during peak energy demand hours while running a desalination process. Combined with a capacitive deionization (CD) unit, the energy storage system can generate fresh water by running desalination processes in the EDB unit and the CD unit while releasing stored energy from the EDB unit. The energy storage unit can function as a dual purpose device for energy storage (load shifting) and fresh water generation.

Abstract: An energy storage system employing a reversible salination-desalination process includes an electrochemical desalination battery (EDB) unit including an anode and a cathode. The EDB unit runs a salination process while storing energy from a direct current power supply unit, and runs a desalination process while releasing energy to an electrical load. The energy storage system can store power from a variable output electrical power supply unit such as solar cells and wind turbines while running a salination process, and release energy, e.g., during peak energy demand hours while running a desalination process. Combined with a capacitive deionization (CD) unit, the energy storage system can generate fresh water by running desalination processes in the EDB unit and the CD unit while releasing stored energy from the EDB unit. The energy storage unit can function as a dual purpose device for energy storage and fresh water generation.

Abstract: A mobile HEB and TEP mitigation device includes a mobile body capable of movement within or upon a body of water. Located within the mobile body is a hydrodynamic separation system which includes a water inlet, a hydrodynamic separation unit and a collection tank. The hydrodynamic separation unit includes two outputs, one for a clean stream output line containing clean water and arranged to re-circulate the clean water, and another for a concentrate stream output line, the concentrate stream output line configured to place concentrated water containing potentially harmful bio-organic materials into the collection tank. Also included on the mobile body is a power source and an engine/steering unit, wherein the steering portion of the engine/steering unit provides a capacity to move the mobile body in an intended direction. The mitigation device may also be used as an embedded part of an on-shore arrangement.

Abstract: A method and system for a wastewater treatment plant to include a hydrodynamic separator (HDS) arrangement in association with an aeration basin effluent channel as an input, and the output of an HDS arrangement which are not bifurcated and a splitting of the output from the HDS arrangement is achieved by use of a removable and movable splitter.

Abstract: An object-detection system for, e.g., a vehicle collision avoidance system, utilizes a metamaterial-based phase shifting element array to generate a scan beam by varying the effective capacitance of each metamaterial structure forming the array in order to control the phases of their radio frequency output signals such that the combined electromagnetic wave generated by the output signals is reinforced in the desired direction and suppressed in undesired directions to produce the scan beam. The metamaterial structures are configured to resonate at the same radio wave frequency as an incident input signal (radiation), whereby each metamaterial structure emits an associated output signal by way of controlled scattering the input signal. A variable capacitance is applied on each metamaterial structure, e.g., using varicaps that are adjusted by way of phase control voltages, to produce the desired output phase patterns.

Abstract: An energy storage system employing a reversible salination-desalination process includes an electrochemical desalination battery (EDB) unit including an anode and a cathode. The EDB unit runs a salination process while storing energy from a direct current power supply unit, and runs a desalination process while releasing energy to an electrical load. The energy storage system can store power from a variable output electrical power supply unit such as solar cells and wind turbines while running a salination process, and release energy, e.g., during peak energy demand hours while running a desalination process. Combined with a capacitive deionization (CD) unit, the energy storage system can generate fresh water by running desalination processes in the EDB unit and the CD unit while releasing stored energy from the EDB unit. The energy storage unit can function as a dual purpose device for energy storage (load shifting) and fresh water generation.

Abstract: A passive radiative cooling system in which an ultra-black emitter includes metamaterial nanostructures disposed on the top surface of a metal sheet, and a conduit structure channels the flow of coolant against a bottom surface of the metal sheet. The metamaterial nanostructures (e.g., tapered nanopores) are configured to dissipate heat from the coolant in the form of emitted radiant energy having wavelengths/frequencies that fall within known atmospheric transparency windows (e.g., 8-13 ?m or 16-28 ?m), the emitted radiant energy being transmitted through a reflective layer into cold near-space. The ultra-black emitter is formed using a modified Anodic Aluminum Oxide (AAO) self-assembly technique followed by electroless plating that forms metal-plated tapered nanopores, and the reflective layer includes a distributed Bragg reflector.