Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochemical probe system and an electrical excitation method, configured in a bulk sorting system, and used to identify the composition of metals and alloys.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochemical probe system and an electrical excitation method, configured in a handheld sorting system, and used to identify the composition of metals and alloys.

Abstract: Hybrid vehicle design circuitry quantifies values for utility/disutility variables of a hybrid vehicle design by evaluating a hybrid vehicle model over a collection of drive cycles/routes. The utility/disutility values include at least one of: total time or additional time beyond a reference time needed for the hybrid vehicle design to complete the drive cycles/routes, a fraction or number of the drive cycles/routes for which the hybrid vehicle design fails to achieve a target velocity, and amount of time or distance over which the hybrid vehicle design fails to achieve a target acceleration or the target velocity over the drive cycles/routes. The hybrid vehicle design circuitry calculates one or more specifications of a hybrid vehicle design based on the utility/disutility values.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling and operating a hybrid vehicle having a high degree of hybridization are disclosed. A power flow control system predicts vehicle power demand to drive the hybrid vehicle based on changing conditions during operation of the hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes at least one axle, an energy storage device disposed within the hybrid vehicle, a fuel consuming engine, a power boosting feature, and a controller. The fuel consuming engine is operably connected to selectively provide power to at least one of the energy storage device and the at least one axle. The engine is capable of providing at least the mean but less than a peak power to drive the hybrid vehicle over a typical route. The power boosting feature is configured to provide the fuel consuming engine with additional power to achieve a desired power to accelerate the hybrid vehicle. The controller is adapted to selectively control power flow to the one or more axles from one or more of the energy storage device, the engine, and the power boosting feature to achieve the desired power.

Abstract: Multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) solar cells having patterned light trapping structures (e.g., pyramid or trough features) are generated by printing a liquid mask material from an array of closely-spaced parallel elongated conduits such that portions of the mc-Si wafer are exposed through openings defined between the printed mask features. Closely spaced mask pattern features are achieved using an array of conduits (e.g., micro-springs or straight polyimide cantilevers), where each conduit includes a slit-type, tube-type or ridge/valley-type liquid guiding channel that extends between a fixed base end and a tip end of the conduit such that mask material supplied from a reservoir is precisely ejected from the tip onto the mc-Si wafer. The exposed planar surface portions are then etched to form the desired patterned light trapping structures (e.g., trough structures).

Abstract: A solar-thermal concentrator for a expeditionary power generator system including a portable power plant that utilizes a hybridized solar/fuel Stirling engine to supply electric power in an expeditionary setting. The concentrator includes a collapsible dish assembly that is pivotably and tiltably mounted on a portable base assembly, where the dish assembly includes a lightweight frame including a central mounting structure and multiple truss-like radial arms that are rigidly connected to and extend radially from the central mounting structure, and a reflector panel assembly including multiple flat, fan-shaped reflector panels that are secured to the frame and disposed in a semi-circular pattern. Each reflector panel includes multiple reflectors that collectively form a substantially flat Fresnelized reflective surface that redirects incident sunlight into a focal region. The power plant is maintained in the focal region by a support structure that extends perpendicular to the flat reflective surface.

Abstract: A mechanical method for producing micro-scale and nano-scale textures that facilitates, for example, the cost-effective production of nanostructures on large-scale substrates, e.g., during the large-scale production of thin-film solar cells. A “scratcher” (multi-pointed abrasion mechanism) is maintained in a precise position relative to a target substrate such that micron-level features (protrusions) extending from the scratcher's base structure are precisely positioned to contact a surface material layer of the target substrate with a predetermined amount of force, and then moved relative to the substrate (e.g., by way of a conveying mechanism) while maintaining the pressing force such that the micron-level features define elongated parallel nano-scale grooves and/or form nano-scale ridges in the surface material layer (i.e., by mechanically displacing) portions of the surface material layer to form the nano-scale grooves/ridges).

Abstract: A subassembly for an adsorption chiller includes an adsorption component that includes a plurality of plates arranged in a stack. Refrigerant passages are defined between refrigerant sides of adjacent pairs of the plates in the stack. An adsorbent material is disposed within the refrigerant passages.

Abstract: A solar-thermal concentrator for a expeditionary power generator system including a portable power plant that utilizes a hybridized solar/fuel Stirling engine to supply electric power in an expeditionary setting. The concentrator includes a collapsible dish assembly that is pivotably and tiltably mounted on a portable base assembly, where the dish assembly includes a lightweight frame including a central mounting structure and multiple truss-like radial arms that are rigidly connected to and extend radially from the central mounting structure, and a reflector panel assembly including multiple flat, fan-shaped reflector panels that are secured to the frame and disposed in a semi-circular pattern. Each reflector panel includes multiple reflectors that collectively form a substantially flat Fresnelized reflective surface that redirects incident sunlight into a focal region.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic apparatus includes multiple thermoacoustic device stages, such as individual thermoacoustic refrigerators, connected in a looped series such that excess acoustic energy from a first stage forms a part of the input energy to the next successive stage. Each stage includes an acoustic source, a regenerator, and a plurality of heat exchangers. The stages are interconnected by transmission lines. The dimensions of the transmission lines, materials used, and the operating parameters are selected so that that excess acoustic power is communicated to a succeeding stage with a pressure phase at the back of an acoustic source of the succeeding stage such that the electric power required by the acoustic source of the succeeding stage is minimized for a given acoustic power produced by the second stage. Improved operating efficiency of the thermoacoustic apparatus is thereby provided.

Abstract: A subassembly for an adsorption chiller includes an adsorption component that includes a plurality of plates arranged in a stack. Refrigerant passages are defined between refrigerant sides of adjacent pairs of the plates in the stack. An adsorbent material is disposed within the refrigerant passages.

Abstract: In a thermoacoustic refrigerator, operating temperatures, ambient temperature, and selected user input are utilized to control frequency and/or input power in order to optimize the efficiency of the thermoacoustic refrigerator operation. In a thermoacoustic heat engine, operating temperatures, ambient temperature, and selected user input are utilized to control impedance of a load to optimize the efficiency of the thermoacoustic heat engine operation.

Abstract: A subassembly for an adsorption chiller includes an adsorption component that includes a plurality of plates arranged in a stack. Refrigerant passages are defined between refrigerant sides of adjacent pairs of the plates in the stack. An adsorbent material is disposed within the refrigerant passages.

Abstract: A thermo-electro-acoustic engine comprises a sealed body having a regenerator, hot and cold heat exchangers, an acoustic source, and an acoustic energy converter. An acoustic pressure wave is generated in a gas in the region of the regenerator. The converter converts a portion of the acoustic pressure into electrical energy. A portion of the electrical energy is used to drive the acoustic source. The acoustic source is controllably driven to produce acoustic energy which constructively adds to that of the acoustic pressure wave in the region of the regenerator. The remaining electrical energy produced by the converter is used external to the engine, such as to drive a load or for storage. The resonant frequency of the engine and the frequency of the energy output can be controlled electronically or electromechanically, and is not limited solely by the physical structure of the engine body and its elements.

Abstract: A thermo-electro-acoustic refrigerator comprises a sealed body having a regenerator, hot and cold heat exchangers, an acoustic source, and an acoustic energy converter. A first drive signal drives the acoustic source to produce an acoustic pressure wave in the region of the regenerator. The converter converts a portion of the acoustic pressure into a second drive signal which is fed back to and further drives the acoustic source. The pressure wave produces a thermal gradient between the cold and hot heat exchangers, permitting heat extraction (cooling) within at least one of the heat exchangers. The resonant frequency of the refrigerator can be controlled electronically, and is not limited by the physical structure of the refrigerator body and its elements.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic apparatus includes multiple thermoacoustic device stages, such as individual thermoacoustic refrigerators, connected in a looped series such that excess acoustic energy from a first stage forms a part of the input energy to the next successive stage. Each stage includes an acoustic source, a regenerator, and a plurality of heat exchangers. The stages are interconnected by transmission lines. The dimensions of the transmission lines, materials used, and the operating parameters are selected so that that excess acoustic power is communicated to a succeeding stage with a pressure phase at the back of an acoustic source of the succeeding stage such that the electric power required by the acoustic source of the succeeding stage is minimized for a given acoustic power produced by the second stage. Improved operating efficiency of the thermoacoustic apparatus is thereby provided.

Abstract: In a thermoacoustic refrigerator, operating temperatures, ambient temperature, and selected user input are utilized to control frequency and/or input power in order to optimize the efficiency of the thermoacoustic refrigerator operation. In a thermoacoustic heat engine, operating temperatures, ambient temperature, and selected user input are utilized to control impedance of a load to optimize the efficiency of the thermoacoustic heat engine operation.

Abstract: A thermo-electro-acoustic refrigerator comprises a sealed body having a regenerator, hot and cold heat exchangers, an acoustic source, and an acoustic energy converter. A first drive signal drives the acoustic source to produce an acoustic pressure wave in the region of the regenerator. The converter converts a portion of the acoustic pressure into a second drive signal which is fed back to and further drives the acoustic source. The pressure wave produces a thermal gradient between the cold and hot heat exchangers, permitting heat extraction (cooling) within at least one of the heat exchangers. The resonant frequency of the refrigerator can be controlled electronically, and is not limited by the physical structure of the refrigerator body and its elements.

Abstract: A thermo-electro-acoustic engine comprises a sealed body having a regenerator, hot and cold heat exchangers, an acoustic source, and an acoustic energy converter. An acoustic pressure wave is generated in a gas in the region of the regenerator. The converter converts a portion of the acoustic pressure into electrical energy. A portion of the electrical energy is used to drive the acoustic source. The acoustic source is controllably driven to produce acoustic energy which constructively adds to that of the acoustic pressure wave in the region of the regenerator. The remaining electrical energy produced by the converter is used external to the engine, such as to drive a load or for storage. The resonant frequency of the engine and the frequency of the energy output can be controlled electronically or electromechanically, and is not limited solely by the physical structure of the engine body and its elements.