Abstract: A tapering exponential spiral for a gas expander for work extraction or air cooling. A gas compressor to increase the pressure and temperature of air. The compressor-expander forms a single and simple structure. A generator with a disk format using a circle of alternating polarity magnets to induce current in polygon solenoids. A heat turbine, Firefly Electric, is small, simple, and efficient heat engine. A heat pump, Firefly Air, for cooling, refrigeration, water capture, and heating. Solar power can be generated and stored as compress air. A water purifier, Firefly Aqua, to desalinate water by solar power. Sunlight is concentrated by a sun tracking conic reflective surface onto a column of salty water. Solar photovoltaic power can be used to power a spiral compressor to condense low pressure steam. Also, we reuse solar heat by extracting the heat of compressing and condensing steam for evaporating more salty water under reduced pressure.

Abstract: A generator uses a working fluid in a single-cycle Rankine engine for up to three purposes: generation of electricity; generation of hot water from heat exchanger; and generation of chill by the evaporation of liquefied working fluid. The working fluid, which may be carbon dioxide, goes through a single Rankine cycle for both heat engine and heat pump. Instead of using a pump to liquefy the working fluid, the working fluid experiences cryogenic liquefaction method under controlled pressure. The Hui turbine is used for electricity generation. Heat source for the combined heat pump and heat engine could come from concentrated solar power or from burning a fossil fuel.

Abstract: A tapering exponential spiral for a gas expander for work extraction or air cooling. A gas compressor to increase the pressure and temperature of air. The compressor-expander forms a single and simple structure. A generator with a disk format using a circle of alternating polarity magnets to induce current in polygon solenoids. A heat turbine, Firefly Electric, is small, simple, and efficient heat engine. A heat pump, Firefly Air, for cooling, refrigeration, water capture, and heating. Solar power can be generated and stored as compress air. A water purifier, Firefly Aqua, to desalinate water by solar power. Sunlight is concentrated by a sun tracking conic reflective surface onto a column of salty water. Solar photovoltaic power can be used to power a spiral compressor to condense low pressure steam. Also, we reuse solar heat by extracting the heat of compressing and condensing steam for evaporating more salty water under reduced pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for the purpose of power generation by collecting or reflecting light using a foldable surface for compact transport, comprising of a circular surface divided into sectors, which in a closed folded position each sector is drawn closed by elevating a radius on one side of the sector on a pivot along the radius, and which in an opened position is held rigid by both radial and circumferential support.

Abstract: A generator uses a working fluid in a single-cycle Rankine engine for up to three purposes: generation of electricity; generation of hot water from heat exchanger; and generation of chill by the evaporation of liquefied working fluid. The working fluid, which may be carbon dioxide, goes through a single Rankine cycle for both heat engine and heat pump. Instead of using a pump to liquefy the working fluid, the working fluid experiences cryogenic liquefaction method under controlled pressure. The Hui turbine is used for electricity generation. Heat source for the combined heat pump and heat engine could come from concentrated solar power or from burning a fossil fuel.

Abstract: An apparatus focuses solar power to provide clean energy, water, heat, and chill. Using ammonium carbonate salt for four purposes: first generating electricity using carbon dioxide as working fluid for a heat engine; second generating hot water from heat exchanges; third generating chill by evaporation of liquefied ammonia; and fourth generating purified water by forward osmosis with ammonium carbonate salt as draw solution.

Abstract: A building integrated photovoltaic and heat (BIPVAH) solar panel system whereby solar panels are layered into a laminate with a top photovoltaic composite layer, a middle heat exchanging fiber composite frame, and a bottom fiber composite layer. These three layers in turn form a composite structure for a strong and lightweight structure for the purposes of electricity and heat generation. The panels are strong and lightweight so as to provide a solution for shading structures such as awning, and a flower like solar tracking system that can close at night and under adverse climate conditions, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus of a gas turbine for the purpose of converting the pressure and temperature energy of a gas into rotational kinetic energy of a turbine; through an axial injection of such gas into the center of flat disks to perform work as the gas moves outward in one or more spirals cut out of these flat disks; such that the gas experiences a gradual release of pressure along the length of the spirals as the gas presses down on the width and length of the spiral; with the spiral being of many turns such that the radius of the spiral is a prescribed increasing function of turns of the radius; and the spiral has a long length in the order of a meter, a moderate width in the order of a centimeter, and a shallow depth being a small fraction of a millimeter.

Abstract: A system and method of using a traveling electric wave generated by means of intertwined helically wound electrodes powered by a polyphase alternating current, such that the traveling electric wave attracts both anions and cations in alternating bands of anions and cations, providing an electromotive force for these ions along the direction of travel of the electric wave, thus moving a concentrated ionic flow for the purpose of propulsion or removal of ions from a fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus of a gas turbine for the purpose of converting the pressure and temperature energy of a gas into rotational kinetic energy of a turbine; through an axial injection of such gas into the center of flat disks to perform work as the gas moves outward in one or more spirals cut out of these flat disks; such that the gas experiences a gradual release of pressure along the length of the spirals as the gas presses down on the width and length of the spiral; with the spiral being of many turns such that the radius of the spiral is a prescribed increasing function of turns of the radius; and the spiral has a long length in the order of a meter, a moderate width in the order of a centimeter, and a shallow depth being a small fraction of a millimeter.

Abstract: A solar electric vehicle (SEV) with large foldable surface area that can be oriented towards the sun for peak generation of electricity. The surfaces of the SEV are mounted on a flexible chassis for elevation tracking, while the drive train provides azimuth tracking. The SEV also integrates the conversion of power from various sources, to various storage or power consumption devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for the purpose of power generation by collecting or reflecting light using a foldable surface for compact transport, comprising of a circular surface divided into sectors, which in a closed folded position each sector is drawn closed by elevating a radius on one side of the sector on a pivot along the radius, and which in an opened position is held rigid by both radial and circumferential support.

Abstract: A lightweight, small volume and highly portable solar electricity collector. The collector may be configured as a solar umbrella made up of components that are able to fold up into a small package and fit inside of a portable canister or cover. The collector may include a single stage or multiple stage concentration to focus light from foldable yet rigid reflective surfaces onto photovoltaic cells. In a single stage system, light is concentrated by a parabolic mirror directing sunlight onto arrays of photovoltaic cells. With a two stage solar concentration, the first concentration is made with a parabolic foldable umbrella. A 3-stage solar collector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A solar electric vehicle (SEV) with large foldable surface area that can be oriented towards the sun for peak generation of electricity. The surfaces of the SEV are mounted on a flexible chassis for elevation tracking, while the drive train provides azimuth tracking. The SEV also integrates the conversion of power from various sources, to various storage or power consumption devices.

Abstract: A scalable switch, a system of switches and methods, configured to sense a carrier at the output of the respective switch. The invention intelligently, and dynamically, controls the connection of a respective switch input to a respective switch output as a function of a carrier being present, or absent, at a selected output. Alternatively, a control plane is adopted to make request to send and acknowledge clearance to send. These control methods operate on a step-by-step manner allowing fast and parallel connectivity to be established to connect a variety of interfaces, including Ethernet, PCI, SCSI, and FibreChannels. The present invention reduces switch cost, energy cost, and switch volume, while allowing scalability of connection requirements, reduction of delay, and promotion of green IT.

Abstract: A scalable switch, a system of switches and methods, configured to sense a carrier at the output of the respective switch. The invention intelligently, and dynamically, controls the connection of a respective switch input to a respective switch output as a function of a carrier being present, or absent, at a selected output. Alternatively, a control plane is adopted to make request to send and acknowledge clearance to send. These control methods operate on a step-by-step manner allowing fast and parallel connectivity to be established to connect a variety of interfaces, including Ethernet, PCI, SCSI, and FibreChannels. The present invention reduces switch cost, energy cost, and switch volume, while allowing scalability of connection requirements, reduction of delay, and promotion of green IT.

Abstract: A new architecture for networked data storage is proposed for providing efficient information processing, and transportation. Data is processed, encrypted, error checked, redundantly encoded, and stored in fixed size blocks called quanta. Each quantum is processed by an Effective Cross Layer protocol that collapses the protocol stack for security, iWARP and iSCSI functions, transport control, and even RAID storage. This streamlining produces a highly efficient protocol with fewer memory copies and places most of the computational burden and security safeguard on the client, while the target stores quanta from many clients with minimal processing.

Abstract: An agile digital communications network has a number of routers that serve as nodes in a mesh network communicating between a user device (e.g., computer, server, etc.) and a target device (e.g., disc storage cabinets, tape, jukebox, etc.). The routers operate on an open shortest path first protocol, each router having two or more interfaces or links to other routers. When a link connected to a router is down and is in the shortest path to another router identified in a communication packet, the packet is forwarded to the identified router on a precalculated alternate route that does not use the unavailable link. IP tunneling assures that routing loops do not occur and send the packet back to the router with the unavailable link because it would have been in the shortest path of an intermediate router. A tunneling technique is provided that maximizes the levels of encapsulation needed at two, regardless of the size or configuration of the network.