Abstract: A hybrid actuation device that includes a first plate coupled to a second plate, a shape memory alloy wire coupled to the first plate, and an artificial muscle positioned between the first plate and the second plate. The artificial muscle includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a first electrode and a second electrode each disposed in the electrode region of the housing and a dielectric fluid disposed within the housing. The expandable fluid region of the housing is positioned apart from a perimeter of the first plate and the second plate. A first alignment aid is positioned between the first plate and the first electrode, the first alignment aid having an inner surface facing the first plate and an outer surface facing the first electrode.

Abstract: An artificial muscle including a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, the housing defining an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, a strain sensor integrated into at least one of the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion of the housing, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the electrode pair is configured to actuate between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region to deform the strain sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing greenhouse gas emission in a vessel, and a vessel including the same, which are capable of satisfying IMO greenhouse gas emission regulations by separating and discharging NOx, SOx, and CO2 from exhaust gas exhausted from a vessel engine and increasing CO2 solubility and CO2 removal efficiency by removing CO2 after removing SOx.

Abstract: An electronic package structure includes a lower circuit pattern structure, an upper circuit pattern structure, a reflowable material and at least one core element. The upper circuit pattern structure is disposed above the lower circuit pattern structure. The reflowable material is disposed between the upper circuit pattern structure and the lower circuit pattern structure. The core element attaches to the reflowable material and is configured to inhibit displacement of the at least one core element during a reflow process.

Abstract: An electrostatic precipitation air cleaning system for removing mist, smoke or particles from an air stream. The electrostatic precipitation air cleaning system includes an ionizer, a collector, and an exhaust fan configured to draw the air stream through the ionizer and the collector. The electrostatic precipitation air cleaning system includes a high voltage power supply that provides an ionizer voltage to the ionizer and at least a first collector voltage and a second collector voltage. The electrostatic precipitation air cleaning system includes an electrostatic precipitator controller coupled to or integrated with the high voltage power supply and operable to select one of the at least the first collector voltage and the second collector voltage to provide to the collector.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a test method for simulating sediment pollutant release under the effect of river channel erosion, which comprises preparing a test device, presetting a water depth and a flow velocity in a test water tank, and calculating a flow rate in the test water tank; paving the sediment in a sediment storage box, and covering an upper surface of the sediment with a water baffle; adding water into the test water tank until a preset water depth, starting a variable speed motor to drive a flow-making propeller to run to make the flow rate reach the required flow rate and keep the flow velocity constant; after the water flow becomes constant, the water baffle retracting to expose the surface of the sediment; opening sampling ports for layered sampling; measuring water; and respectively measuring concentration variation and vertical distribution features of sediment pollutant under different simulated power conditions.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to a multi-mode heat transfer system. The heat transfer system includes an emitter device. The emitter device includes an inner core surrounded by an outer core having a thickness and an outer surface. A composite material pattern extends through at least a portion of the outer surface and at least a portion of the thickness of the outer core and is thermally coupled to the inner core. The composite material pattern in combination with an optimized emissivity surface coating/paint profile directs a heat from the inner core to an object other than the emitter device.

Abstract: The present application provides a semi-submersible immersed tube transportation and installation integrated ship and a construction process; the integrated ship includes: a deck structure; two floating structures, ballast water being able to be injected therein; and upper portions or top surfaces of the two floating structures are connected by the deck structure; and two support mechanisms, disposed on opposite sides of the two floating structures respectively; and each support mechanism is disposed at a lower portion or a bottom of the floating structure. The integrated ship can reduce the draught of the integrated ship carrying an immersed tube and realize the transportation requirements of shallow waterway.

Abstract: A method for depolarization suppression of in rhombohedral relaxor-based ferroelectric single crystal. The purpose of the present invention is to address the problem that the rhombohedral relaxor-based ferroelectric single crystals would depolarize when driven to sufficiently electric field due to their low coercive field. In the present invention, the crystal cut, poling direction and compressive stress application direction of the crystal is selected based on the domain structure and anisotropic nature of the crystal such that the spontaneous direction(s) of the crystal would rotate towards the poling direction in response to the applied compressive stress. Through application of appropriate compressive stress, the magnitude of depolarization field of the rhombohedral relaxor-based ferroelectric single crystals can be effectively increased.

Abstract: A prediction method for coal and gas outburst based on comparing borehole gas flow curves includes the following steps: constructing a seam-crossing borehole in the coal seam, measuring or calculating gas flow corresponding to critical gas pressure P, which is a reference gas flow Q(t)reference; performing linear regression on the reference gas flow Q(t)reference to form a reference flow curve; constructing a predicted seam-crossing borehole in a predicted area, and directly testing a gas flow at each time t in a delayed manner, which is a predicted gas flow Q(t)prediction; performing linear regression on the predicted gas flow Q(t)prediction to form a predicted flow curve; and judging whether the predicted flow curve is above the reference flow curve or whether the predicted flow curve intersects with the reference flow curve, and judging whether the coal seam in the predicted area has a risk of coal and gas outburst.

Abstract: A radar wave imaging device includes a radar transmitter unit having at least one radar transmit antenna for transmitting radar waves towards a scene and a radar receiving unit including a plurality of radar receiver members that are arranged as a two-dimensional array, for receiving reflected radar waves. The radar receiving unit includes an imaging radar optics unit for imaging at least a portion of a scene onto at least a portion of the two-dimensional array of radar receiver members. The imaging radar optics unit includes at least a first radar lens that is arranged between the radar receiver members and the scene. The radar receiver members are arranged in direct contact to a surface of the first radar lens that is facing away from the scene.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for conversion of a combined feed of oxygenates (such as methanol or dimethyl ether) and olefins to a high octane naphtha boiling range product with a reduced or minimized aromatics content. The oxygenate conversion can be performed under conditions that reduce or minimize hydrogen transfer. Optionally, a catalyst that further facilitates formation of branched paraffins can be used, such as a catalyst that has some type of 12-member ring site available on the catalyst surface.

Abstract: An explosive device is described herein, wherein the explosive device includes a substrate that has a surface, wherein surface energy of a portion of the surface of the substrate has been modified in a vacuum chamber from a first surface energy to a second surface energy. The explosive device additionally includes explosive material that has been deposited on the surface of the substrate in the vacuum chamber by way of physical vapor deposition (PVD), wherein the explosive material is deposited on the portion of the surface of the substrate subsequent to the surface energy of the portion of the surface of the substrate being modified from the first surface energy to the second surface energy.

Abstract: A novel lithium battery cathode, a lithium ion battery using the same and processes and preparation thereof are disclosed. The battery cathode is formed by force spinning. Fiber spinning allows for the formation of core-shell materials using material chemistries that would be incompatible with prior spinning techniques. A fiber spinning apparatus for forming a coated fiber and a method of forming a coated fiber are also disclosed.

Abstract: A variable stiffening device that include a first electrode structure and a second electrode structure. The first electrode structure includes an electrode extension that extends into a cavity defined between an electrode of the first electrode structure and an opposing electrode of the second electrode structure. The first and second electrode structures may be arranged in a load-bearing state by applying a voltage thereto to electrostatically attract the electrode to the opposing electrode to press the electrode extension within the cavity. Friction between the electrode extension and engaging surfaces defining the cavity prevent the electrode extension from slipping within the cavity, thereby maintaining a structural relationship among the components of the first and second electrode structures in response to an application of a load to the variable stiffening device.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating electric power from the motion of a vehicle according to the disclosure includes: a magnetic fluid storage unit in which a magnetic fluid is stored and from which the magnetic fluid is discharged by a pressing force of the vehicle; a pipe unit through which the magnetic fluid discharged from the magnetic fluid storage unit moves; and an induction coil unit arranged to surround a circumference of the pipe unit so that an induced electromotive force is generated when the magnetic fluid moves.

Abstract: A split air cabin ventilation system for construction of tunnel inclined shafts, including a first air cabin and a second air cabin which are both in a hollow closed structure with an air inlet end and an air outlet end respectively at both sides. The two air outlet ends are arranged away from each other. An end of the split air cabin is provided with an air inlet, and the other end is provided with an air outlet. The air inlet is connected to an air source, and the air outlet is connected to the air inlet ends of the first and second air cabins, respectively. The air inlet end of the first air cabin is connected to another air source.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a multi-mode heat transfer device includes forming a thermal metamaterial composite structure that includes an inner core to radiate heat and an outer core that at least partially surrounds the inner core. The outer core includes a high thermally conductive material inlay and a low thermally conductive material matrix that form a composite material pattern to thermally concentrate and direct heat radiated by the inner core to an area outside of the multi-mode heat transfer device, while also thermally cloaking heat radiated by the inner core. A plurality of thermal metamaterial composite structures are then stacked in a stacked formation to form a thermal metamaterial composite assembly. The method includes manipulating the emissivity of the thermal metamaterial composite assembly by selectively applying a coating or a plating to one or more outer surface regions of the outer core to enhance the transfer of heat by the composite material pattern.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods that transfer heat directly from hot particles to a cold fluid, such as sCO2, by bringing the hot particles and cold fluid into direct contact at the operating pressure of the cold fluid. These systems and methods can both stand-off large pressure differentials while allowing particles to pass through and limiting cold fluid leakage either continuously or through a batch process.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for nanoantenna-enhanced detection of infrared radiation. The apparatus includes one or more detector pixels. A plurality of detector pixels can constitute a focal plane array (FPA). Each detector pixel carries at least a first and a second subpattern of nanoantenna elements, with elements of the second subpattern interpolated between elements of the first subpattern. Each detector pixel also includes separate collection electrodes for collecting photogenerated current from the respective subpatterns.