Abstract: As system is disclosed for providing power averaging for the utility grids and more specifically to utilizing a unique EESU unit with the capability to store electrical energy over 24 hour periods each day and provide power averaging to homes, commercial, and industrial sites to reduce the peak power requirements. Charging such power averaging units during the non-peak times and delivering the energy during the peak-demands times provides for more efficient utilization of utility-grid power-generating plants and the already existing power transmission lines. Such a unit may also have the capability of isolating the users from utility-grid power failures, transients, and AC noise.

Abstract: A furnace assembly includes first and second sections. The first section includes first and seconds ends, a first joint disposed at the first end, a conical portion at a second end, a first filter disposed between the first and second ends, and a lumen extending through the first section in fluid communication with the first filter. The second section includes first and second ends, a second joint disposed at the first end, an opening disposed at the second end and to receive the conical portion of the first section, a second filter disposed between the first and second ends, and a lumen extending through the second section in fluid communication with the second filter. When engaged, the first and second sections form a chamber between the first and second filters. The chamber is in fluid communication with the respective first ends of the first and second sections.

Abstract: A printer includes a work surface and a print head disposed over the work surface. The print head and the work surface are relatively movable in associated planes. The print head includes a first nozzle to deposit a polymeric ink, a second nozzle to deposit a conductive ink, and a third nozzle to deposit a dielectric ink.

Abstract: A method of forming composition-modified barium titanate ceramic particulate includes mixing a plurality of precursor materials and a precipitant solution to form an aqueous suspension. The plurality of precursors include barium nitrate, titanium chelate, and a metal or oxometal chelate. The precipitant solution includes tetraalkylammonium hydroxide and tetraalkylammonium oxalate. The method further includes treating the aqueous suspension at a temperature of at least 150° C. and a pressure of at least 200 psi, and separating particulate from the aqueous suspension after treating.

Abstract: A method of forming composition-modified barium titanate ceramic particulate includes mixing a plurality of precursor materials and a precipitant solution to form an aqueous suspension. The plurality of precursors include barium nitrate, titanium chelate, and a metal or oxometal chelate. The precipitant solution includes tetraalkylammonium hydroxide and tetraalkylammonium oxalate. The method further includes treating the aqueous suspension at a temperature of at least 150° C. and a pressure of at least 200 psi, and separating particulate from the aqueous suspension after treating.

Abstract: A method of forming at least partially crystalline ceramic powder includes providing mixed metal oxide particles in an aqueous suspension in a hydrothermal treatment vessel, heating the aqueous suspension at a temperature of at least 150° C. at a treatment pressure of at least 200 psi, and adding an aqueous solution having a temperature of not greater than 100° C. to the hydrothermal treatment vessel while heating and while releasing steam from the hydrothermal treatment vessel.

Abstract: The use of electrical energy storage unit (EESU) technology can provide power averaging for utility grids. Such EESUs can also be used to construct a system capable of storing electrical energy over specified periods (e.g., 24 hours) to provide peak power to homes, commercial sites, and industrial sites. By charging these power averaging units during non-peak times and then delivering the energy during peak-demands times, more efficient utilization of the present utility-grid power-generating plants and the already existing power transmission lines will be accomplished. These systems also have the capability of isolating users from utility-grid power failures, transients, and AC noise.

Abstract: Purification techniques have been developed for ceramic powder precursors, e.g., barium nitrate. These techniques can be performed using one or more of the following operations: (1) removal of impurities by precipitation or coprecipitation and separation using a nonmetallic-ion-containing strong base, e.g., tetraalkylammonium hydroxides; (2) reduction of higher oxidation-state-number oxymetal ions and subsequent precipitation as hydroxides that are separated from the solution; and (3) use of liquid-liquid exchange extraction procedures to separate certain impurities.

Abstract: An electrical-energy-storage unit (EESU) has as a basis material a high-permittivity composition-modified barium titanate ceramic powder. This powder is double coated with the first coating being aluminum oxide and the second coating calcium magnesium aluminosilicate glass. The components of the EESU are manufactured with the use of classical ceramic fabrication techniques which include screen printing alternating multilayers of nickel electrodes and high-permittivitiy composition-modified barium titanate powder, sintering to a closed-pore porous body, followed by hot-isostatic pressing to a void-free body.

Abstract: An electrical-energy-storage unit (EESU) has as a basis material a high-permittivity composition-modified barium titanate ceramic powder. This powder is single coated with aluminum oxide and then immersed in a matrix of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) plastic for use in screen-printing systems. The ink that is used to process the powders via screen-printing is based on a nitrocellulose resin that provide a binder burnout, sintering, and hot isostatic pressing temperatures that are allowed by the PET plastic. These lower temperatures that are in the range of 40° C. to 150° C. also allows aluminum powder to be used for the electrode material. The components of the EESU are manufactured with the use of conventional ceramic and plastic fabrication techniques which include screen printing alternating multilayers of aluminum electrodes and high-permittivity composition-modified barium titanate powder, sintering to a closed-pore porous body, followed by hot-isostatic pressing to a void-free body.

Abstract: An electrical-energy-storage unit (EESU) has as a basis material a high-permittivity composition-modified barium titanate ceramic powder. This powder is double coated with the first coating being aluminum oxide and the second coating calcium magnesium aluminosilicate glass. The components of the EESU are manufactured with the use of classical ceramic fabrication techniques which include screen printing alternating multilayers of nickel electrodes and high-permittivitiy composition-modified barium titanate powder, sintering to a closed-pore porous body, followed by hot-isostatic pressing to a void-free body. The components are configured into a multilayer array with the use of a solder-bump technique as the enabling technology so as to provide a parallel configuration of components that has the capability to store electrical energy in the range of 52 kW·h. The total weight of an EESU with this range of electrical energy storage is about 336 pounds.