Abstract: Materials for manipulating hydraulic fracture geometry. In one embodiment, the materials comprises a tip screen-out mixture, which comprises water; a hydrophilic polymer of anionic polyacrylamide, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is hydrolized at least in part; and one or more crosslinking agents selected from a group of compounds consisting of polyvalent metal cations.

Abstract: A method for improved borehole completion. In one embodiment, the method comprises removing a section of casing entirely and cutting a notch through the cement and into the surrounding rock formation, wherein the notch optimally comprise a symmetric triangle terminating in a sharp point oriented perpendicular to the casing axis. Flow may be further optimized by extending the notch as far as practical into the rock matrix to increase the effective diameter of the wellbore and increase the length of the intersection between the fracture and the wellbore.

Abstract: System and methods for an electric power generating system are described. In one example, the electric power generating system includes a controller that adjusts a speed of a turbine that is located along a bypass conduit via a regenerative drive in response to a downstream pressure. The electric power generating system also includes a bypass valve that is located along the bypass conduit to control a system pressure when the turbine is not adjusted responsive to the downstream pressure.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide metal air electrochemical cell architectures. Various embodiments may provide a battery, such as an unsealed battery or sealed battery, with an open cell arrangement configured such that a liquid electrolyte layer separates a metal electrode from an air electrode. In various embodiments, the electrolyte may be disposed within one or more vessel of the battery such that electrolyte serves as a barrier between a metal electrode and gaseous oxygen. Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide for removing a metal electrode from electrolyte to prevent self-discharge of the metal electrode. Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide a three electrode battery configured to operate each in a discharge mode, but with two distinct electrochemical reactions occurring at each electrode.

Abstract: Methods and systems for discharge protection in a storage system are provided herein.

Abstract: Photoactive compounds are disclosed. The disclosed photoactive compounds include metal complexes with dipyrromethene-based ligands, which can be substituted with a variety of different side chains or groups or can include various fused ring configurations, such as including aromatic or heteroaromatic groups. The metal complexes may include two dipyrromethene-based ligands, which can be the same or different. The photoactive compounds can be used as photoactive materials in organic photovoltaic devices, such as visibly transparent or opaque photovoltaic devices.

Abstract: An electricity generating window includes a first glass pane, a second glass pane, and a photovoltaic device formed on an inner surface of the first glass pane or an inner surface of the second glass pane. The photovoltaic device includes a first transparent electrode layer, a second transparent electrode layer, and one or more active layers configured to transmit visible light and absorb ultraviolet or near-infrared light. In some embodiments, the electricity generating window also includes a spacer configured to separate the first glass pane and the second glass pane by a cavity. In some embodiments, the electricity generating window also includes one or more functional layers, such as an electrochromic layer or a low-E layer for reflecting infrared light.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media are described for instructing power shovel operators. Multiple types of information about the power shovel and other operations at a work site are integrated into a GUI in order to present power shovel operators with real-time visual feedback on operational decisions and actionable guidance on ongoing loading operations. The operator is presented with a user interface screen showing performance information such as a performance score indicating the operator's overall efficiency or effectiveness over a predetermined time period. The operator is presented with bucket load information to assist in deciding whether a current load of shoveled material in the bucket of the operator's power shovel should be loaded into a material transport vehicle (e.g., a haul truck), based on vehicle payload target information of the material transport vehicle. Other types of instruction are disclosed as part of the GUI.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method includes (i) authenticating a first user at an EV charger application on the first user device, where the application stores authentication data received via the internet, (ii) initiating a first charging session at a charger device with session information data packet including assigning a session identifier and transmitting a user identifier from the first user device via wireless communication, (iii) storing (a) an initial reading of an energy meter and (b) updated readings throughout the session, (iv) terminating the session and storing the final updated reading as part of the completed session information, (v) transferring the completed session information from the charger device to the second user device upon initiating a second session, (vi) upon detecting internet connectivity, transmitting the session information to a cloud service.

Abstract: Photovoltaic devices having photoactive layers coupled to buffer layers are disclosed. Such devices may be transparent to visible light but absorb near-infrared light and/or ultraviolet light. The photovoltaic devices may include a p-phenylene layer that acts as a buffer layer. The photovoltaic devices may include one or more photoactive layers. The one or more photoactive layers may include a single planar heterojunction, a single bulk heterojunction (BHJ), or multiple stacked BHJs that have complementary absorption characteristics, among other possibilities.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing and manufacturing a hierarchy system for use with a TMCCC-containing electrically-conductive structure (e.g., an electrode) as well as methods for use and manufacturing of such structures and electrochemical cells including these devices. Structures and methods include a coordination complex having LxMyNzTia1Va2Cra3Mna4Fea5Coa6Nia7Cua8Zna9Caa10Mga11[R(CN)6]b (H2O)c. The method includes binding electrochemically active material to produce a hierarchical structure, the hierarchical structure having a plurality of primary crystallites having a size D1, the plurality of these primary crystallites agglomerated into a set of agglomerates each agglomerate having a size D2>D1.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for using fuel-rich partial oxidation to produce an end product from waste gases, such as flare gas. In an embodiment, the system and method use air-breathing piston engines and turbine engines for the fuel-rich partial oxidation of the flare gas to form synthesis gas, and reactors to convert the synthesis gas into the end product. In an embodiment the end product is methanol.

Abstract: A power supply system that includes a traction battery, and a secondary battery that includes one or more hybrid modules having one or more low temperature chemistries. The power supply system also has one or more temperature sensors, and a switching device that connects or disconnects the secondary battery or the traction battery from a high-voltage DC (Direct Current) bus of an electric vehicle based on measurements of the one or more temperature sensors.

Abstract: A system for driving four-quadrant (4Q) switches of a power converter is provided herein and comprises a transformer driver module, a first gate driver module and a second gate driver module coupled to the transformer driver module via a first isolation transformer and a second isolation transformer, respectively, for receiving both switch signal information and power, and a first bidirectional switch and a second bidirectional switch coupled to the first gate driver module and the second gate driver module and to one another for driving the first bidirectional switch and the second bidirectional switch based on the switch signal information.

Abstract: A microinverter is provided herein and comprises DC side MOSFETs connected to an input side of the microinverter, AC side MOSFETs connected to an output of the microinverter, and a plurality of gate drivers connected to the AC side MOSFETs and configured to automatically drive the microinverter without a DC voltage being applied to the input side of the microinverter.

Abstract: An annular piston pile driver for use with a fluid jet drill system for boring holes in both residential and non-residential areas for geothermal energy shafts. The annular piston pile driver having an inner cylinder an outer cylinder, a piston, a driver coupling, an upper sealing component, and a lower sealing component. The outer cylinder circumscribing the inner cylinder such that the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder form an annular space therebetween. The piston comprising a piston shaft and a piston head, wherein the piston is disposed within the annular space and configured to travel along an axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting power includes a track and an airfoil coupled to the track. The track includes first and second elongate sections, where the first elongate section is positioned above the second elongate section. The airfoil is moveable in opposite directions when alternately coupled to the first elongate section and second elongate section.

Abstract: Battery electrodes using VACNT forests to create 3D electrode nanostructures, and methods of making, are described. The VACNTs are electrically and mechanically attached to the anode or cathode substrates, providing a large area of 3D surfaces for coating with active materials and high-conductivity electron pathways to the cell current collectors. A number of different active materials suitable for anodes and cathodes in lithium-ion batteries may be used to coat the individual carbon nanotubes. The high surface area provided by the VACNT forest and the nano-dimensions of the coated active materials enable both high energy-density and high power-density to be achieved with the same battery. Complete conformal coating of the individual CNTs may be achieved by a number of different methods, and coating with multiple active materials may be used to create nanolaminate coatings having improved electrochemical characteristics over single materials.

Abstract: An inverter subsystem that includes a direct current (DC) bus, a DC terminal, and a power storage interface that is configured to be connected to power storage. The DC terminal is configured to be: (1) connected to the DC bus via an internally-facing side of the DC terminal and (2) connected to a load via an externally-facing side of the DC terminal. The load is powered via the DC terminal.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a supported catalyst comprising a thermally stable core, wherein the thermally stable core comprises a metal oxide support and nickel disposed in the metal oxide support, wherein the metal oxide support comprises at least one base metal oxide and at least one transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide mixed with or dispersed in the base metal oxide. Optionally the supported catalyst can further comprise an electrolyte removing layer coating the thermally stable core and/or an electrolyte repelling layer coating the electrolyte removing layer, wherein the electrolyte removing layer comprises at least one metal oxide, and wherein the electrolyte repelling layer comprises at least one of graphite, metal carbide and metal nitride. Also disclosed is a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the supported catalyst as a direct internal reforming catalyst.