Abstract: A sensor comprising; a sensing element disposed within a housing having a lower shell portion, a middle shell portion, and an upper shell portion, wherein said sensing element extends from said lower shell portion through at least a portion of said middle shell portion; a connector plug concentrically disposed within said upper shell portion; one or more electrical wires extending from said connector plug through an opening in said upper shell portion, and said opening forming a seal in said upper portion concentrically disposed around said one or more eletrical wires.

Abstract: One embodiment of a particulate sensor system; comprises a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode in thermal and electrical communication with a heater wherein the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode are disposed on the same side of an electrode substrate. One embodiment of a method for operating a particulate sensor system comprises introducing a gas stream to a sensor; monitoring the resistance between the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode, and increasing the temperature of the sensor when the resistance is greater than or equal to a first selected level. One embodiment of a method for operating a filter system comprises exposing a sensor to a pre-selected number of self-regeneration cycles, and increasing the temperature of the filter system.

Abstract: The poison resistant sensor comprises a sensing electrode (4) having a first and second side; a reference electrode (7) having a first and second side; an electrolyte (1) disposed between and in intimate contact with the first side of the sensing electrode and the first side of the reference electrode; a first side of a protective layer (3) disposed adjacent to the second side of the sensing electrode; and a protective coating (17), comprising alpha alumina and gamma alumina, disposed in physical contact with the second side of the protective layer.

Abstract: A system (10) for controllably disabling cylinders in an internal combustion engine (12) includes a throttle (18) controlling air flow to an intake manifold (14), a number of cylinder deactivation devices (1001-100K) and an engine controller (28) controlling fueling (90), ignition timing (94) and throttle position (86). The controller (28) is operable to activate only the minimum number of cylinders required to achieve a desired engine/vehicle operating parameter value, open the throttle (18) to a computed throttle position, control ignition timing sufficiently to drive the current value of the engine/vehicle operating parameter to the desired engine/vehicle operating parameter value, and to then control the flow area of the throttle (18) while also controlling ignition timing to maintain the current value of the engine/vehicle operating parameter near the desired engine/vehicle operating parameter value. The engine/vehicle operating parameter may be engine output torque, engine speed or vehicle speed.

Abstract: A method of preventing anode oxidation in a fuel cell is disclosed comprising applying a negative current to an anode of said fuel cell, such that the anode is disposed in ionic communication with a cathode through an electrolyte. Oxygen is transferred from the anode through the electrolyte to the cathode. A method preventing anode oxidation in a fuel cell by storing and using a reformate and doping an anode are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrode fluid distributor includes a fluid passageway having a plurality of segment pairs each including an inlet segment in fluid communication with an inlet and an outlet segment in fluid communication with an outlet. A baffle is disposed between adjacent inlet and outlet segments. Each inlet segment is in fluid communication with adjacent inlet segments and adjacent outlet segments, and each outlet segment is in fluid communication with adjacent outlet segments.

Abstract: A method of determining the phase angle of an internal combustion engine camshaft relative to a crankshaft of the engine, which significantly reduces the computational burden compared to conventional methods. The cam and crankshaft position pulses are identified by corresponding clock values, and the cam phase angle relative to the crankshaft is determined by computing a simple ratio of first and second time intervals based on the clock values, and multiplying the ratio by a known angle. One of the time intervals is defined by a time difference between successive crankshaft and camshaft pulses, while the other time interval is defined by a time difference between successive crankshaft pulses. The known angle is the angle of crankshaft rotation between the successive crankshaft pulses. The cam phase angle velocity is obtained by determining a change in cam phase angle, and dividing by the intervening time interval.

Abstract: A relieved support material for a catalytic converter has a strip of support material with one or more relief cuts. This is used to insulate a segment of catalyst along with one or more inner end-cones positioned at the beginning and end of the converter. The support material is wrapped around the catalyst and the one or more inner end-cones. The wrapped support material is then covered with an outer-layer shell.

Abstract: A fuel permeation barrier fuel tank for a vehicle includes a tank shell having a wall formed from a plurality of layers. The layers include at least an inner layer, an outer layer, a fuel permeation barrier layer disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer, and a thermoformable layer disposed adjacent the outer layer to improve permeation resistance and protection against radiant environmental heating of the fuel tank.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell is disclosed. The solid oxide fuel cell comprises an electrolyte disposed between and in ionic communication with a first electrode and a second electrode to form an electrochemical cell. At least one spacer is disposed in contact with the electrochemical cell. A mat is disposed adjacent to the spacer. A method for making a solid oxide fuel cell is also disclosed.

Abstract: A power generation system providing an engine configured to produce hydrogen rich reformate to feed a solid oxide fuel cell includes an engine having an intake and an exhaust; an air supply in fluid communication with the engine intake; a fuel supply in fluid communication with the engine intake; at least one SOFC having an air intake in fluid communication with an air supply, a fuel intake in fluid communication with the of, engine exhaust, a SOFC effluent and an air effluent. Engines include a free piston gas generator with rich homogenous charge compression, a rich internal combustion engine cylinder system with an oxygen generator, and a rich inlet turbo-generator system with exhaust heat recover. Oxygen enrichment devices to enhance production of hydrogen rich engine exhaust include pressure swing absorption with oxygen selective materials, and oxygen separators such as an SOFC oxygen separator and a ceramic membrane oxygen separator.

Abstract: A solid-oxide fuel cell system having an integrated air supply system, including a central air pump, distribution manifold, air control valves, mass air flow sensors, and supply ducts, for controllably supplying oxygen for the fuel cell reaction, both through and controllably bypassing cathode air heat exchangers; combustion air for a combustor of tail gas from the anodes; cooling air for electronic controls; and reforming air to a liquid fuel vaporizer integral with a hydrocarbon fuel reformer.

Abstract: A three region control strategy for a permanent magnet motor is presented. In a first control region, the permanent magnet motor is operated at, a 120° conduction square wave mode at reduced phase current, and below a no-load speed. The motor phase current commutation causes eddy current losses in the rotor magnets and core which are insignificant due to the low phase currents and relatively low rotor speed. Meanwhile, the inverter switching losses are kept low as two switches are in use (on/off) for each current commutation during the 120° conduction mode. In a second control region, the permanent magnet motor is operated at a 180° conduction sinusoidal wave mode with high phase currents. The 180° conduction sinusoidal wave mode minimizes the commutation loss. In a third control region, the permanent magnet motor is operated above its no-load speed or in a field weakening mode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high oxygen ion conducting/oxygen storage (OIC/OS) materials, a catalyst employing the OIC/OS materials, and a method for converting hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides using the catalyst. The OIC/OS materials have significantly higher oxygen storage capacity than that predicted based on Ce content due to the unexpected high and facile redox activity of the added niobium. These materials are further characterized by having a tetragonal crystalline structure under oxidizing conditions (in air) up to about 1,200° C. and a cubic crystalline structure in reducing conditions (5% hydrogen) up to about 1,000° C. for 24 hours. These materials comprise, based upon 100 mole % of the metal component in the material, up to about 95 mole % zirconium, up to about 50 mole % cerium, about 0.5 to about 15 mole % rare earth metal(s), alkaline earth metal(s) or a combination thereof, and about 0.5 to about 15 mole % niobium.

Abstract: The present invention includes a manifold catalytic converter. The catalytic converter is positioned immediately adjacent the manifold. The manifold and the converter end cone are cast from a single integral piece. The manifold/converter end cone casting includes an end cone portion having an end cone wall having a shoulder formed therein for engaging the front face of a catalytic converter substrate. A lip or ledge extends from the shoulder and surrounds and engages the outer surface of the ceramic substrate immediately adjacent the front face of the substrate. A metal shell is connected to the end cone and is spaced apart from the ceramic substrate. A support material is provided between the ceramic substrate and the metal shell. A second end cone is connected to the shell.

Abstract: A fuel permeation barrier fuel tank for a vehicle includes a tank shell having a wall formed from a plurality of layers. The layers include at least an inner layer, an outer layer and a fuel permeation barrier layer disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer, and a thermoformable layer disposed between the fuel permeation barrier layer and the outer layer to improve permeation resistance of the fuel tank.

Abstract: A method of NOx abatement comprising the steps of generating a gas stream containing hydrocarbons and NOx, maintaining the temperature of the gas stream within the range of about 150° C. to about 550° C., maintaining the residence time of said hydrocarbons upstream of a NOx abatement catalyst so as to reduce the rate of hydrocarbon oxidation, and contacting the gas stream with said NOx abatement catalyst.

Abstract: A catalytic converter is constructed by measuring a substrate to be placed within the outer shell or can, wrapping the substrate in a selected mat and loading the package (mat and substrate) into the can. The can is larger than it will be at completion of manufacture to render such loading easier. Subsequent to loading, the measurement of the substrate is used to direct the degree to which the can is reduced in outside dimension such that a selected annulus is created between the substrate and can, said annulus being occupied by said mat.

Abstract: A method for automatically calibrating a vehicle speed sensor signal input to an electronic control system includes operating a vehicle at a reference speed. A speed signal pulse period, generated by a vehicle speed sensor operatively coupled to the vehicle, is measured. The measured speed signal pulse period is then compared to a stored set of pulse period scalings within the electronic control system. A corresponding pulse period scaling is stored in memory if the measured speed signal pulse period matches one of the stored set of pulse period scalings.

Abstract: A powertrain system includes a cylinder deactivation system mechanically coupled to an internal combustion engine, and electrically coupled to an engine management system. The engine management system signals the cylinder deactivation system to selectively deactivate one or more engine cylinders. The engine continues to operate using the remaining available active engine cylinders, and generates an inconsistent torque output. A torque-smoothing device mechanically coupled to the engine, and electrically or hydraulically coupled to an energy storage device, removes and releases energy periodically to compensate for the inconsistent torque output.