Abstract: Liquefaction systems and associated processes and methods are disclosed herein. Liquefaction systems in accordance with the present technology can include a liquefier positioned to liquefy gases from an emission stream. The liquefier can include a compressor configured to compress a first gas to produce a first liquid, and to compress a second gas to produce a second liquid. The first liquid can be directed to a first collection tank and the second liquid can be directed to a second collection tank. In some embodiments, a liquefaction system can direct a portion of a compressed liquid to a liquefier to pre-cool gases in the emission stream and/or to cool gases at various stages of compression.

Abstract: A vehicular fuel system with onboard fuel characterization including an onboard combustion modifier source capable of supplying a combustion modifier agent, such as hydrogen, and a fuel tank capable of storing a fuel. An injector-igniter is operative to direct inject the fuel and a proportionate amount of the modifier agent into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. An engine control unit is operatively connectable to the combustion modifier source and the injector. The system may further comprise a mixing valve operative to proportionately mix the fuel and modifier agent. The combustion modifier source may be a tank containing hydrogen or a thermo-chemical reactor, for example.

Abstract: Fittings and coupling assemblies for relatively easy and quick connections to conduits are disclosed herein. A fitting assembly configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure includes a male connector and a female connector that can be coupled together to form a fitting assembly for attachment to a conduit or tube. The male connector can include a retaining feature, such as an undulated barb, to correspond with a corresponding engagement feature, such as a tooth carried by a shroud of the female connector, to allow the male and female connectors to be rapidly coupled together and also prevent the connectors from unintentional loosening. To couple and also separate the male and female connectors, a user can apply a compressive force to at least one of the male and female connectors, followed by a partial rotation of one of the connectors.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to integrated injector/igniters providing efficient injection, ignition, and complete combustion of various types of fuels. One example of such an injectors/igniter can include a body having a base portion opposite a nozzle portion, and a fuel passageway extending from the base portion to the nozzle portion. A force generator and a first valve are carried by the base portion. The first valve is movable in response to actuation from the force generator to move between closed and open positions. The injector/igniter also includes a second valve at the nozzle portion that is deformable in response to pressure in the fuel passageway to deform between a closed position and an open position.

Abstract: A renewable energy system includes a digester assembly having an outer tube with an input region and a digestion region. The input region extends above grade and is configured to receive liquid waste. At least a portion of the digestion region is positioned below grade and configured to receive the liquid waste and to anaerobically digest the liquid waste with microorganisms to supply renewable byproducts, such as methane, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and/or carbon dioxide-rich water. The digester assembly can include two or more deformable tubes that are configured to move liquid through the outer tube by alternatingly compressing one another. In one embodiment, the deformable tubes are configured to replenish waste liquid and to deliver liquid byproducts. In another embodiment, the deformable tubes are configured to exhaust air, such as for delivery of gas byproducts and fostering an anaerobic environment.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for precision fabrication of nanoscale materials and devices. In one aspect, a method to manufacture a nanoscale structure include a process to dissociate a feedstock substance including a gas or a vapor into constituents, in which the constituents include individual atoms and/or molecules. The method includes a process to deposit the constituents on a surface at a particular location. The method includes a process to grow layers layer by layer using two or more particle and/or energy beams to form a material structure, in which the energy beams include at least one of a laser beam or an atomic particle beam.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber having a surrounding sidewall with a piston slideably disposed in the surrounding sidewall. A motion conversion mechanism is connected to the piston via a piston rod, and is operative to convert reciprocating motion of the piston into rotary motion. The motion conversion mechanism comprises a cam drum and at least one roller connected to the piston rod. A piston valve including a valve head and a valve stem extends through the piston. The piston valve is moveable between an open position and a closed position to control fluid movement through the flow passage. The valve head is pivotably connected to the valve stem and the engine includes a linkage connected to the valve head that is operative to pivot the valve head between an intake position and an exhaust position.

Abstract: Engine control systems having rotational sensors and controllers, and associated methods and systems, are disclosed herein. An engine control system in accordance with a particular embodiment can include a drum operably coupled to a rotating shaft of an engine. The drum can include a pattern positioned on its surface and a sensor can be positioned proximate to the drum to read the pattern and/or write a new pattern. A rod can operably couple the drum to an engine input mechanism and operate to axially move the drum. The axial movement of the drum can shift the pattern to different portions, resulting in a change in the timing for an engine event.

Abstract: An architectural construct is a synthetic material that includes a matrix characterization of different crystals engineered to exhibit certain properties. An architectural construct can be fabricated by a process involving layer deposition, formation, exfoliation and spacing. In one aspect, purified methane can be dehydrogenated onto a substrate by applying heat through the substrate. Deposited carbon can form a plurality of layers of a matrix characterization of crystallized carbon through self-organization. The layers can be exfoliated and spaced to configure parallel orientation at a desired spacing and thickness using selected precursors and applying heat, pressure, or both. The desired architectural construct can further be stabilized and doped to exhibit desired properties.

Abstract: A system for transferring and igniting a fuel comprising a fuel supply and a cryogenic fuel processor connected to the fuel supply and operative to remove impurities from the fuel. The system includes a power supply and an injector-igniter. The injector-igniter includes an injector housing connected to the power supply and having a fuel inlet connected to the fuel processor. An actuator body is disposed in the housing and a conductor sleeve is connected to the power supply and supported between the actuator body and injector housing with a first annular gap between the injector housing and the conductor sleeve. There is also a second annular gap between the actuator body and conductor sleeve, wherein the first and second annular gaps are in fluid communication with the fuel inlet, whereby fuel provides a dielectric between the conductor sleeve and the injector housing.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to integrated injector/igniters providing efficient injection, ignition, and complete combustion of various types of fuels. One example of such an injectors/igniter can include a body having a base portion opposite a nozzle portion. The base portion receives the fuel into the body and the nozzle portion can be positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber. The injector further includes a valve carried by the nozzle portion that is movable between a closed position and an open position to inject the fuel into the combustion chamber. An actuator is coupled the valve and extends longitudinally through the body towards the base portion, and a driver is carried by the body and is movable between a first position and a second position. Thermochemical regeneration of waste heat produced by combustion and associated combustion events is captured and invested in endothermic reactions to improve efficiency of the combustion event.

Abstract: A fuel injection system comprising an injector-igniter and a fuel tank in fluid communication with the injector-igniter. The injector igniter includes an injector housing and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a valve and a valve seat electrode located within the injector housing. The valve seat electrode forms an annular spark gap between the electrode and an electrode portion of the injector housing. An actuator, such as a piezoelectric actuator, is disposed in the housing and connected to the valve. In some embodiments, the system further comprises a thermochemical reactor operatively coupled to the injector-igniter to provide a supplemental supply of hydrogen for combustion enhancement. In other embodiments, a hydraulic stroke amplifier is disposed between the actuator and valve.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting, storing, and conveying aqueous thermal energy are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a floating film retains solar energy in a volume of water located under the film. A series of curtains hanging from a bottom surface of the film define a passage between a periphery of the film and a center of the film to direct the heated water at the center of the film. The heated water is circulated to deliver the heat to a dissociation reactor and/or donor substance. The donor is conveyed to the reactor and dissociated.

Abstract: Torque multiplier engines, and associated methods and systems, are disclosed herein. An internal combustion engine in accordance with a particular embodiment can include a connecting rod operably coupling a pair of opposing pistons. The engine can further include a first bearing coupled to the connecting rod and positioned to engage a first cam groove of an inner cam drum. A second bearing coupled to the connecting rod can be positioned to engage a second cam groove on an outer cam drum. The first and second bearings can translate linear motion of the opposing pistons to rotation of the cam drums.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for delivery of a target material and/or energy. The system includes a source configured to provide a mixture containing the target material and a non-target material, a delivery conduit coupled to the source to receive the mixture from the source, and an in-line extraction device concentric to the delivery conduit. The in-line extraction device is configured to selectively extract the target material and/or energy from the mixture in the delivery conduit and to delivery it to a downstream facility.

Abstract: Techniques, systems and material are disclosed for thermochemical regeneration of biomass into renewable engineered fuel, storage of the renewable engineered fuel, respeciation of the renewable engineered fuel and transport. In one aspect, a method includes generating low density hydrogen fuel from biomass dissociation at a first location of a low elevation. The low density hydrogen fuel is self-transported in a pipeline to a second location at a higher elevation than the first location by traveling from the first location to the second location without adding energy of pressure. A high density hydrogen carrier is generated at the second location of higher elevation by reacting the low density hydrogen fuel with at least one of a carbon donor, a nitrogen donor and an oxygen donor harvested from industrial waste. The high density hydrogen carrier is delivered to a third location of a lower elevation than the second location while providing pressure or kinetic energy.

Abstract: Embodiments of injectors configured for adaptively injecting and igniting various fuels in a combustion chamber are disclosed herein. An injector according to one embodiment includes an end portion configured to be positioned adjacent to a combustion chamber, and an ignition feature carried by the end portion and configured to generate an ignition event. The injector also includes a force generator assembly and a movable valve. The force generator assembly includes a first force generator separate from a second force generator. The first force generator creates a motive force to move the valve between the closed and open positions into the combustion chamber. The second force generator is electrically coupled to the ignition feature and provides voltage to the ignition feature to at least partially generate the ignition event.

Abstract: Fuel cells for selectively reacting a feedstock material with or without generating electricity, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A fuel cell system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first electrode positioned in a first region, a second electrode positioned in a second region, an ion-transport medium between the first and second regions, and an electrical circuit connected between the first and second electrodes. The system is operable in a first mode to react the feedstock material by a non-electricity-generating reaction to produce a product and in a second mode to react the feedstock material by an electricity-generating reaction to produce electricity. A controller receives an input (e.g., corresponding to a change in demand for electricity) and causes the system to switch between operating in the first mode and operating in the second mode in response to the input.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a system for providing a renewable source of material resources is provided comprising: a first source of renewable energy; first stream of materials from a first materials source; an electrolyzer coupled to the first source of renewable energy and the first stream of materials, wherein the electrolyzer is configured to produce a first material resource by electrolysis; a processor for further processing or use or the material resource to produce a second material resource, wherein the processor comprises a solar collector and where the solar collector is configured to provide heat to the first materials resource for disassociation; and a material resource storage coupled to the electrolyzer for receiving the material resource from the electrolyzer or providing the material resource to the processor for further processing or use.

Abstract: Injectors and solenoid valves incorporating actuators with kinetic energy transfer armatures. A fuel injector includes a longitudinally extending injector body and a valve supported in the injector body. The valve is configured for longitudinal movement within the injector body. An armature is connected to the valve and an impact member is disposed between the armature and a solenoid, and moveably connected to the armature. The solenoid is operative when energized to sequentially move the impact member and armature toward the solenoid, thereby actuating the valve. The fuel injector further includes a return magnet located adjacent the armature and opposite the solenoid, wherein the return magnet is operative to maintain the valve in a closed position when the solenoid is not energized.