Abstract: A fuel stabilization system for removing oxygen from fuel includes an accumulator disposed along a fuel line, the accumulator includes a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet and a heat source disposed in thermal communication with the fuel in or upstream of the fuel inlet of the accumulator to increase the temperature of the fuel within the accumulator. The accumulator is configured to allow oxygen deposits to form therein as a result of the temperature increase of the fuel.

Abstract: A system for analyzing a state of a thermoset material is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes a source of electromagnetic energy configured to expose a sample of the thermoset material to an electric field; a detector configured to determine at least one of a dielectric permittivity or a complex admittance of the sample over a range of frequencies in response to a frequency sweep over the electric field; and an analyzer configured to assess the state of the thermoset material by comparing the at least one of the dielectric permittivity or the complex admittance of the sample against an acceptability map. In various embodiments, the acceptability map comprises a series of acceptability bands that represent a decrease in effective relaxation time from a baseline fresh batch of the thermoset material.

Abstract: A field grading member includes an insulating body extending along a regulation axis and a conductive body. The conductive body is encapsulated within the insulating body and defines a conductive network therein to regulate an electric field within an underlying insulator from current flowing through a conductor along the regulation axis. Cables and methods of regulating electric field within cables are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polymer-ceramic composite, comprising: ceramic particles within a polymer matrix; wherein greater than or equal to about 70% of the ceramic particles by volume experience ceramic particle to ceramic particle contact; wherein a dielectric strength of the composite is greater than or equal to about 300 kilovolts per millimeter; and wherein a thermal conductivity of the composite is greater than or equal to about 10 watts per meter kelvin.

Abstract: A field grading composite body includes a polymeric matrix and a particulate filler distributed within the polymeric matrix. Particles of the particulate filler include a core formed from a semiconductor material, an oxide mixed layer deposited on the core, and conducting oxide layer. The conducting oxide layer deposited on the oxide mixed layer to provide an electrical percolation path through the polymeric matrix triggered by strength of an electric field extending through the field composite body. Conductors and methods of making field grading composite bodies for conductors are also described.

Abstract: Provided are techniques that include operating a spiral contactor. The techniques include receiving, by a spiral contactor, a first fluid, and receiving a second fluid, wherein the first fluid is different than the second fluid. The techniques also include exchanging the first fluid and the second fluid using the spiral contactor, and outputting a deoxygenated fluid from the spiral contactor, wherein the deoxygenated fluid has a lower oxygen concentration than the first fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a desorber (20) for an air conditioning system with an integrated microemulsion-based air dehumidification system, the desorber having: a desorbing sheet that is wound to form an exterior end (21), an interior end (22), a top end and bottom end, wherein a collection tube (23) is disposed at the interior end and the desorbing sheet has: a plurality of de-entrainment mesh layers extending between the exterior end and the interior end of the desorbing sheet, and a plurality of substantially air impermeable connector layers extending between the exterior end and the interior end of the desorbing sheet, wherein the connector layers are interlaid with the mesh layers between the top end and the bottom end of the desorbing sheet.

Abstract: An electroplating system includes an enclosure with an interior, an anode lead extending through the enclosure and into the interior, and a porous body. The porous body is supported within the interior of the enclosure for coupling an electroplating solution within the interior with a workpiece. A conduit extends through the enclosure and into the interior of the enclosure to provide a flow of nitrogen enriched air to the interior of enclosure for drying and removing oxygen from the electroplating solution.

Abstract: A conductor assembly including an electrically conductive material defining a longitudinal axis, a microporous membrane surrounding the electrically conductive material defining a series of pores, and a ceramic material within at least a first portion of the series of pores.

Abstract: A system and method for providing inerting gas to a protected space is disclosed. The system includes an air separation module that includes an air inlet, a membrane with a permeability differential between oxygen and nitrogen, a nitrogen-enriched air outlet, and an oxygen-enriched air outlet. The system also includes an air flow path between an air source and the air separation module inlet, and an inerting gas flow path between the air separation module nitrogen-enriched air outlet and the protected space.

Abstract: A method of forming a component includes depositing a ceramic material within an open-cell void of a polymer body. The ceramic material deposited around the periphery of the open-cell void structure forms a thermally-conductive path through the polymer body. The ceramic material circumscribes an open volume extending the entire length of the thermally-conductive path that is filled with a sealant such that fluids are incommunicable from the first surface to the second surface via the thermally-conductive path. A method of forming a heat exchanger includes forming a plurality of plates, each plate formed as a thermally-conductive polymer body. The method of forming the heat exchanger further includes arranging the plurality of plates within a housing to form a plate and frame heat exchanger configured to place a first flowpath in a heat exchange relationship with a second flowpath.

Abstract: A gas inerting system employs a carbon dioxide separation unit to remove carbon dioxide and water from an oxygen depleted gas stream generated from a catalytic oxidation unit and subsequently provides a nitrogen rich inerting gas to a fuel tank and/or to a cargo hold. A method of producing an inert gas passes an oxygen depleted gas stream from a catalytic oxidation unit through a carbon dioxide separation unit and provides a nitrogen rich inerting gas for fuel tank inerting and/or cargo hold fire suppression.

Abstract: A selectively permeable membrane device for separating a first fluid from a second fluid in a flow can include a membrane conduit configured to receive the flow and to allow permeation of the first fluid therethrough, and configured to not allow permeation of the second fluid. The device can include a residence time enhancing structure disposed within the membrane conduit and configured to increase residence time of the flow within the membrane conduit.

Abstract: A fuel system includes a fuel line configured to allow a fuel to flow therethrough and a fluoroscopy device attached to the fuel line such that the fluoroscopy device can input excitation radiation into the fuel line and receive fluorescent radiation emitted from the fuel in the fuel line.

Abstract: A passive fuel additives dosing system includes a membrane-based contactor within a cartridge, an additive within the membrane-based contactor, a fuel inlet to the cartridge and a fuel outlet from the cartridge. The membrane-based contactor is arranged within the cartridge such that, with fuel in the cartridge, a fuel contact area with the membrane-based contactor is dependent on a fuel flow rate to passively dispense a proportional amount of the additive into the fuel.

Abstract: A fuel system includes a fuel passage for conveying a hydrocarbon fuel. The hydrocarbon fuel is reactive with oxygen to form carbonaceous deposit. A device is disposed in the fuel passage such as to be exposed to the hydrocarbon fuel. The device includes first and second surfaces that are spaced from each other by a clearance gap into which the hydrocarbon fuel can infiltrate. The first and second surfaces are in sliding motion with respect to each other when the device is in operation. A frangible fluoropolymer coating is disposed on at least one of the first or second surfaces along the clearance gap. The coating is subject to the carbonaceous deposit adhering thereon. The coating is configured to allow portions to release by shearing off with the carbonaceous deposit under stress from the sliding motion to uncover a newly exposed face of the coating.

Abstract: A system, and associated method, for reducing oxidation of a friction disk may include a braking assembly comprising the friction disk and a coolant loop coupled to the braking assembly, with the coolant loop being configured to circulate liquid coolant from the braking assembly. That is, the coolant loop may be configured to reduce the temperature of the braking assembly, thus reducing the rate/extent of oxidation of the friction disks and potentially enabling the concentration of oxygen around the braking assembly to be reduced.

Abstract: A system, and associated method, for reducing oxidation of a friction disk may include a braking assembly comprising the friction disk and a conduit coupled to the braking assembly, with the conduit being in selectable fluid providing communication with the braking assembly. That is, the conduit may be configured to deliver inert fluid to the braking assembly, thus reducing the concentration of oxygen in the vicinity of the friction disks and thus reducing/mitigating oxidation of the friction disks.

Abstract: An inert gas generating system includes a source of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, and a fractioning unit configured to receive a portion of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel from the source. The fractioning unit includes a perm-selective membrane configured to separate the portion of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel into substantially sulfur-free vapors and a sulfur-containing remainder. The system further includes a catalytic oxidation unit configured to receive and react the substantially sulfur-free vapors to produce an inert gas.

Abstract: A system for monitoring fuel additives on board a vehicle includes a fuel line carrying fuel from a fuel source to an engine; a fuel additive sensor configured to measure concentration of additives in fuel at a point along the fuel line; a fuel additive dispenser connected in parallel to the fuel line; at least one flow control device for controlling an amount of flow from the fuel line into the fuel additive dispenser; and a controller configured to receive input from the fuel additive sensor and to control the flow control device to adjust the amount of the flow from the fuel line into the fuel additive dispenser.