Abstract: An electrochemical cell is presented. The cell includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume, and an elongated separator disposed in the housing volume. The elongated separator defines an axis of the cell. The separator has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the separator defines a first compartment. The outer surface of the separator and the interior surface of the housing define a second compartment having a volume. The cell further includes a conductive matrix disposed in at least a portion of the second compartment volume such that the conductive matrix occupies a gap between the outer surface of the separator and the interior surface of the housing. The gap in the second compartment extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cell.

Abstract: A fluid turbine blade and method of fabrication are provided. The fluid turbine blade includes a centrally disposed longitudinal spar having a substantially circumferential cross section. The fluid turbine blade also includes at least one chord stiffener coupled to the longitudinal spar. The fluid turbine blade further includes a torsionally compliant segmented skin coupled to the at least one chord stiffener. The centrally disposed longitudinal spar and the torsionally compliant segmented skin are functionally decoupled to relieve the torsionally compliant segmented skin of one or more of a flapwise load condition, an edgewise load condition and a torsional load condition.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is presented. The cell includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume, and an elongated separator disposed in the housing volume. The elongated separator defines an axis of the cell. The separator has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the separator defines a first compartment. The outer surface of the separator and the interior surface of the housing define a second compartment having a volume. The cell further includes a conductive matrix disposed in at least a portion of the second compartment volume such that the conductive matrix occupies a gap between the outer surface of the separator and the interior surface of the housing. The gap in the second compartment extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cell.

Abstract: A battery stack includes a plurality of curved base layers, at least one curved bipolar layer, at least one anode layer disposed between a first curved base layer of the plurality of curved base layers and the at least one curved bipolar layer, at least one cathode layer disposed between the at least one bipolar layer, a second base layer and a plurality of seals. The first base layer and the at least one bipolar layer are provided with one or more seals that seal the first base layer to the at least one bipolar layer without contacting the anode and/or the cathode layer.

Abstract: Nonlinear elastography systems and methods are provided. The elastography system includes a data acquisition module, such as an imaging device, and associated system control circuitry. The data acquisition module is configured to acquire various data, such as displacement and/or force data, from a material. A nonlinear transfer function is applied to the acquired data to generate information about the material's stiffness. In one implementation, a map representative of the material's stiffness is generated.

Abstract: A fluid turbine blade and method of fabrication are provided. The fluid turbine blade includes a centrally disposed longitudinal spar having a substantially circumferential cross section. The fluid turbine blade also includes at least one chord stiffener coupled to the longitudinal spar. The fluid turbine blade further includes a torsionally compliant segmented skin coupled to the at least one chord stiffener. The centrally disposed longitudinal spar and the torsionally compliant segmented skin are functionally decoupled to relieve the torsionally compliant segmented skin of one or more of a flapwise load condition, an edgewise load condition and a torsional load condition.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an anode connectable to a current tap and a charging medium in electrical contact with the anode. A switching device is configured to stop a charging operation of the electrochemical cell upon activation by the charging medium.

Abstract: Nonlinear elastography systems and methods are provided. The elastography system includes a data acquisition module, such as an imaging device, and associated system control circuitry. The data acquisition module is configured to acquire various data, such as displacement and/or force data, from a material. A nonlinear transfer function is applied to the acquired data to generate information about the material's stiffness. In one implementation, a map representative of the material's stiffness is generated.

Abstract: An energy storage device includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume and a plurality of solid electrolyte elements disposed in the volume. Each solid electrolyte element has a first surface that defines at least a portion of a first, cathodic chamber, and a second surface that defines a second, anodic chamber. A plurality of individual anodic chambers are thus provided, at least one of which is evacuated below atmospheric pressure. A majority of anodic chambers can be spaced from one another in a manner that provides a substantially uniform reaction rate throughout the cathodic chamber.

Abstract: An energy storage device includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume and a plurality of solid electrolyte elements disposed in the volume. Each solid electrolyte element has a first surface that defines at least a portion of a first, cathodic chamber, and a second surface that defines a second, anodic chamber. A plurality of individual anode chambers are thus provided, a majority of which are in ionic communication with the cathode chamber through a majority of the solid electrolyte elements and which are also provided with a sodium level control mechanism.

Abstract: A method of processing a ceramic electrolyte suitable for use in a fuel cell is provided. The method comprises situating a ceramic electrolyte layer over an anode layer; and subjecting the ceramic electrolyte layer to a stress prior to operation of the fuel cell, by: exposing the top surface of the electrolyte layer to an oxidizing atmosphere and the bottom surface of the electrolyte layer to a reducing atmosphere; and heating the electrolyte layer. The stress causes a substantial increase in the number of microcracks, or in the average size of the microcracks, or in both the number of the microcracks and their average size. A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a ceramic electrolyte layer processed by the disclosed method is also provided.

Abstract: A battery stack includes a plurality of curved base layers, at least one curved bipolar layer, at least one anode layer disposed between a first curved base layer of the plurality of curved base layers and the at least one curved bipolar layer, at least one cathode layer disposed between the at least one bipolar layer, a second base layer and a plurality of seals. The first base layer and the at least one bipolar layer are provided with one or more seals that seal the first base layer to the at least one bipolar layer without contacting the anode and/or the cathode layer.

Abstract: A system for inspecting a wind turbine blade having a pair of shells surrounding a shear web. The system includes a scanning machine for taking images of an interior portion of the shells of the wind turbine blade, a measuring apparatus for taking numerous measurements of a defect imaged within the shells of the wind turbine blade, and a look-up table for ascertaining the theoretical strength of the wind turbine blade.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an outer housing, a separator for separating an anode material from a cathode material, wherein the separator is disposed in the outer housing. The electrochemical cell also includes a conductive thin sheet disposed around an outer circumference of the separator, wherein the conductive thin sheet is disposed such that it allows passage of the anode material between the separator and the conductive thin sheet. The electrochemical cell further includes a conductive matrix disposed between, and in contact with, the conductive thin sheet and the outer housing.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an anode connectable to a current tap and a charging medium in electrical contact with the anode. A switching device is configured to stop a charging operation of the electrochemical cell upon activation by the charging medium.

Abstract: A planar fuel cell stack is provided. The planar fuel cell stack comprises an anode interconnect structure comprising a corrugated first internal manifold connected to a first anode flowfield; a cathode interconnect structure comprising a corrugated second internal manifold connected to a first cathode flowfield; and a thermally active, surface insulated metallic seal disposed between the corrugated parts of the anode and cathode interconnects, such that the thermally active metallic seal responds upon the application of heat to provide sealing between the anode interconnect structure and the cathode interconnect structure.

Abstract: A method of processing a ceramic electrolyte suitable for use in a fuel cell is provided. The method comprises situating a ceramic electrolyte layer over an anode layer; and subjecting the ceramic electrolyte layer to a stress prior to operation of the fuel cell, by: exposing the top surface of the electrolyte layer to an oxidizing atmosphere and the bottom surface of the electrolyte layer to a reducing atmosphere; and heating the electrolyte layer. The stress causes a substantial increase in the number of microcracks, or in the average size of the microcracks, or in both the number of the microcracks and their average size. A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a ceramic electrolyte layer processed by the disclosed method is also provided.

Abstract: A fluid turbine blade is provided. The fluid turbine blade includes a centrally disposed longitudinal spar having a substantially circumferential cross section. The fluid turbine blade also includes at least one rib assembly affixed to said longitudinal spar. The fluid turbine blade further includes a skin attached to the at least one rib.

Abstract: A system for inspecting a wind turbine blade having a pair of shells surrounding a shear web. The system includes a scanning machine for taking images of an interior portion of the shells of the wind turbine blade, a measuring apparatus for taking numerous measurements of a defect imaged within the shells of the wind turbine blade, and a look-up table for ascertaining the theoretical strength of the wind turbine blade.

Abstract: An energy storage device includes a housing having an interior surface defining a volume and a plurality of solid electrolyte elements disposed in the volume. Each solid electrolyte element has a first surface that defines at least a portion of a first, cathodic chamber, and a second surface that defines a second, anodic chamber. A plurality of individual anode chambers are thus provided, a majority of which are in ionic communication with the cathode chamber through a majority of the solid electrolyte elements and which are also provided with a sodium level control mechanism.