Abstract: A method for reducing pressure build-up in an electrochemical cell is provided comprising: providing an anhydrous nonaqueous electrolyte solution comprising at least one quaternary ammonium salt and at least one anhydrous nonaqueous solvent; contacting the electrolyte solution with at least one acid scavenger; and loading the nonaqueous electrolyte solution into the electrochemical cell. Also, provided is an electric double-layer capacitor (supercapacitor) comprising a free acid scavenger.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, there is a method for determining the state of charge of a battery. Various embodiments include the steps of determining the specific gravity of the battery and measuring an open circuit voltage of the battery at rest. The open circuit voltage at rest can be used to determine the battery state of charge from a correlation function dependent on the battery specific gravity.

Abstract: An electrolyte with an indicator, such as a dye, for detecting leakage from an electrochemical energy storage device is provided. Also provided is a method of making such an electrolyte with indicator; a device that incorporates such an electrolyte with indicator; a method of manufacturing an electronic or electrical system that incorporates such a device; and a method of detecting the leakage of electrolyte from a battery or capacitor.

Abstract: An electrolyte with an indicator, such as a dye, for detecting leakage from an electrochemical energy storage device is provided. Also provided is a method of making such an electrolyte with indicator; a device that incorporates such an electrolyte with indicator; a method of manufacturing an electronic or electrical system that incorporates such a device; and a method of detecting the leakage of electrolyte from a battery or capacitor.

Abstract: A turbomachinery component includes a substrate having a surface, the surface consisting essentially of at least one composite of at least one metal and at least one compound having the chemical formula Mn+1AXn, wherein M is at least one early transition metal selected from groups IIIB, IVB, VB, and VIB, A is at least one element selected from groups IIIA, IVA, VA, VIA, and VIIA, X is one or both of carbon and nitrogen, and n is an integer between 1 and 3. The component is made by compressing a powdered material to form a substrate that consists essentially of the composite and sintering the substrate, or by coating a substrate with the composite.

Abstract: A turbomachinery component includes a substrate having a surface, the surface being a material consisting essentially of at least one compound having the chemical formula Mn+1AXn, wherein M is at least one early transition metal selected from groups IIIB, IVB, VB, and VIB, A is at least one element selected from groups IIIA, IVA, VA, VIA, and VIIA, X is one or both of carbon and nitrogen, and n is an integer between 1 and 3. The component is made by forming a compact and sintered substrate with the material, or by coating a substrate with the material.

Abstract: A method for reducing pressure build-up in an electrochemical cell comprising: providing an anhydrous nonaqueous electrolyte solution comprising at least one quaternary ammonium salt and at least one anhydrous nonaqueous solvent; contacting said electrolyte solution with at least one acid scavenger; and loading said nonaqueous electrolyte solution into said electrochemical cell. Also, an electric double-layer capacitor (supercapacitor) comprising a free acid scavenger.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, there is a method for determining the capacity of a battery. Various embodiments include applying a predetermined current ramp to a fully charged lead-acid battery while measuring a battery terminal voltage. An Iup can be determined, where the Iup is a transition from charging to overcharging. A specific gravity of the lead-acid battery can also be determined. The capacity of the lead-acid battery can then be determined from the Iup using a correlation function that describes the relationship of the Iup to the capacity, where the correlation function depends on the specific gravity of the lead-acid battery.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, there is a method for determining the state of charge of a battery. Various embodiments include the steps of determining the specific gravity of the battery and measuring an open circuit voltage of the battery at rest. The open circuit voltage at rest can be used to determine the battery state of charge from a correlation function dependent on the battery specific gravity.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, there is a method for determining the state of charge of a battery. Various embodiments include the steps of determining the specific gravity of the battery and measuring an open circuit voltage of the battery at rest. The open circuit voltage at rest can be used to determine the battery state of charge from a correlation function dependent on the battery specific gravity.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there is a battery defect detection method comprising applying a current ramp to a battery; determining a first time (t1) when a current of the battery reaches a maximum current (Ipeak), and determining a second time (t2) when a terminal voltage of the battery reaches a maximum voltage (Vpeak). The method also includes determining a differential (d), wherein (d)=/(t1)?(t2)/, and wherein (d) corresponds to a magnitude of defects in the battery.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, there is a method for determining the available energy of a battery. Various embodiments include the steps of applying an increasing current to the battery and measuring a response voltage of the battery when the increasing current is applied to the battery.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, there is a method for determining the specific gravity of a battery. Various embodiments include the steps of applying an increasing current ramp to a battery and measuring a response voltage of the battery when the increasing current ramp is applied to the battery. When the current ramp reaches a predetermined current a decreasing current is supplied to the battery and the battery's voltage response is measured. The specific gravity of the battery can be determined based on the voltage response of the battery to the applied current ramp.

Abstract: A thruster for providing thrust for spacecraft positioning, which has a propellant reservoir for storing propellant, a reaction chamber for discharging a vapor for providing thrust, a pump module comprising one or more micropumps for drawing propellant from the reservoir and for systematically metering propellant to the reaction chamber in a controlled manner, and a controller for actuating the pump module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the cold cranking ampere (CCA) value of a battery under test in which an algorithm of battery CCA as a function of battery internal resistance (IR) is provided, the IR of the battery under test is measured, and the measured IR determines the CCA value of the battery under test from the algorithm. The method and apparatus are used either in a vehicle in which the battery is installed or on a stand alone basis.

Abstract: A thruster for providing thrust for spacecraft positioning, which has a propellant reservoir for storing propellant, a reaction chamber for discharging a vapor for providing thrust, a pump module comprising one or more micropumps for drawing propellant from the reservoir and for systematically metering propellant to the reaction chamber in a controlled manner, and a controller for actuating the pump module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the cold cranking ampere (CCA) value of a battery under test in which an algorithm of battery CCA as a function of battery internal resistance (IR) is provided, the IR of the battery under test is measured, and the measured IR determines the CCA value of the battery under test from the algorithm. The method and apparatus are used either in a vehicle in which the battery is installed or on a stand alone basis.

Abstract: Computer-assisted methods for determining the state of charge of a specific lithium ion battery, without the need for charging and discharging the battery, by utilizing look-up tables or algorithms which store the relationships of state of charge to open-circuit voltage or to ramp-peak current, or to both for that type of specific lithium-ion battery to determine the state of charge for that specific lithium-ion battery.

Abstract: A method of predicting by non-invasive testing the available energy of a battery at any state of charge by acquiring data of the parameters of internal resistance (IR), open circuit voltage (OCV) and temperature (T), the points of voltage and current of the slope on a positive current ramp of Vup and Iup at the transition from charge to overcharge and on a negative current ramp of Vdn and Idn at the transition from overcharge to charge for a plurality of batteries. Next an algorithm in the form of a linear equation is developed using this data. The available energy of a battery under test is predicted by acquiring from it the numerical data values of these parameters and applying them to the algorithm.

Abstract: Computer-assisted methods for determining the state of charge of a specific lithium ion battery, without the need for charging and discharging the battery, by utilizing look-up tables or algorithms which store the relationships of state of charge to open-circuit voltage or to ramp-peak current, or to both for that type of specific lithium-ion battery to determine the state of charge for that specific lithium-ion battery.