Abstract: In an opposed-piston engine which includes a catalytic aftertreatment device in its exhaust system an exhaust gas condition indicating a catalyst temperature of the aftertreatment device is monitored. When the catalyst temperature is near or below a light-off temperature, a catalyst light-off procedure is executed to elevate the temperature of the catalyst.

Abstract: A system including a point of load converter module (POL). The POL module includes a point of load printed circuit board. At least one inductor is mounted to the point of load printed circuit board. The POL module includes a power network. The point of load converter module is configured to be surface mounted. The system includes a heat sink including a first leg configured to be surface mounted adjacent the point of load printed circuit board, a second leg configured to be surface mounted adjacent the point of load printed circuit board opposite the first leg, and a cap portion connecting the first leg to the second leg. The heat sink is sized and shaped to encompass the POL and configured to connect to the power network. The power network may be a PGND network.

Abstract: A method of heating a fluid stream for a power plant comprises diverting a portion of a main flow of flue gas from a power plant at a first pressure (P1), flowing the diverted flue gas through a heat exchanger, flowing an auxiliary fluid stream through the heat exchanger, and transferring heat from the diverted flue gas into the auxiliary fluid stream in the heat exchanger to raise a temperature of the auxiliary fluid stream from a first temperature (T3) to a second temperature (T4), while lowering a first temperature of the diverted flue gas (T1) to a second temperature (T2). The diverted flue gas is then returned to the main flow of flue gas in the power plant at a second pressure (P2). The method of flue gas flow through the heat exchanger may be accomplished by adding a self-contained flow path from a boiler higher pressure (P1) zone to a lower pressure (P2) zone.

Abstract: A two-stroke cycle uniflow-scavenged opposed-piston engine is configured to use hydrogen fuel. The opposed-piston engine has at least one cylinder and a pair of pistons disposed for opposed motion in a bore of the cylinder. Hydrogen fuel is injected into the cylinder early in a compression stroke of the opposed-piston engine, and is ignited in a combustion chamber formed between the pistons late in the compression stroke.

Abstract: A device for load line regulation of a sigma convert is provided. The device comprises a sigma converter comprising an inductor inductor capacitor (LLC) circuit and a buck converter. The device also comprises control circuitry for the sigma converter. The control circuitry is configured to receive a plurality of electrical measurements associated with the sigma converter; determine, based on the plurality of electrical measurements, an adjusted electrical characteristic for load line regulation of the sigma converter; and provide, based on the adjusted electrical characteristic, gating signals to the buck converter to perform the load line regulation of the sigma converter.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, a first plate separator and a second plate separator on opposite sides of the membrane electrode assembly and a voltage sensor for detecting a cell voltage relative to opposite sides of the membrane electrode assembly. A transmitter is coupled to the sensor and configured to wirelessly transmit an indication of the cell voltage.

Abstract: A solid or liquid fuel to plasma to electricity power source that provides at least one of electrical and thermal power comprising (i) at least one reaction cell for the catalysis of atomic hydrogen to form hydrinos, (ii) a chemical fuel mixture comprising at least two components chosen from: a source of H2O catalyst or H2O catalyst; a source of atomic hydrogen or atomic hydrogen; reactants to form the source of H2O catalyst or H2O catalyst and a source of atomic hydrogen or atomic hydrogen; one or more reactants to initiate the catalysis of atomic hydrogen; and a material to cause the fuel to be highly conductive, (iii) a fuel injection system such as a railgun shot injector, (iv) at least one set of electrodes that confine the fuel and an electrical power source that provides repetitive short bursts of low-voltage, high-current electrical energy to initiate rapid kinetics of the hydrino reaction and an energy gain due to forming hydrinos to form a brilliant-light emitting plasma, (v) a product recovery syst

Abstract: Operating a bi-directional double-base bipolar junction transistor (B-TRAN). One example is a method comprising: conducting a first load current from an upper terminal of the power module to an upper-main lead of the transistor, through the transistor, and from a lower-main lead of the transistor to a lower terminal of the power module; and then responsive assertion of a first interrupt signal, interrupting the first load current from the lower-main lead to the lower terminal by opening a lower-main FET and commutating a first shutoff current through a lower-control lead the transistor to the lower terminal; and blocking current from the upper terminal to the lower terminal by the transistor.

Abstract: An electric vehicle (EV) charging system includes a plurality of electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) units, a plurality of associated EV charging stations, electrical power distribution wires or cables for distributing electrical power from the plurality of EVSE units to the plurality of EV charging stations, and an EVSE communications bus. Each EVSE unit includes a microcontroller unit (MCU) and a solid-state switch that control whether electrical current is able to flow to an associated EV charging station and connected plug-in EV (PEV) load. The MCUs communicate over the EVSE communications bus and, as PEVs charge, plug into, and unplug from the plurality of EV charging stations, reallocate or reapportion an available supply current among the plurality of EVSE units while also dynamically adjusting one or more circuit protection attributes also provided by the EVSE units.

Abstract: Method and system for electrochemically compressing hydrogen. In one embodiment, the system includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that includes a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), an anode, and a cathode. First and second gas diffusion media are positioned adjacent the cathode and anode, respectively. A humidifying membrane is positioned next to the second gas diffusion medium on a side opposite the anode. A water supply is connected to the humidifying membrane, and a hydrogen gas supply is connected to the second gas diffusion medium. A hydrogen gas collector including a back pressure regulator is connected to the first gas diffusion medium. Separators, positioned on opposite sides of the MEA, are connected to a power source. In use, hydrogen is electrochemically pumped across the MEA and collected in the hydrogen gas collector. The PEM is kept properly humidified by the humidifying membrane, which releases water into the second gas diffusion medium.

Abstract: Bi-directional trench power switches. At least one example is a semiconductor device comprising: an upper base region associated with a first side of a substrate of semiconductor material; an upper-CE trench defined on the first side, the upper-CE trench defines a proximal opening at the first side and a distal end within the substrate; an upper collector-emitter region disposed at the distal end of the upper-CE trench; a lower base region associated with a second side of substrate; and a lower collector-emitter region associated with the second side.

Abstract: A switched-mode power controller includes a primary side controller circuit configured in a startup mode of operation to generate a fixed switching frequency pulse width modulation (PWM) signal with incrementing duty-ratio value. The PWM signal drives a main-switch that charges an inductive device with stored energy and discharges the stored energy into a capacitor on a secondary side to generate a power controller output voltage. Based on a comparison of the power controller output voltage with a reference voltage, the primary side controller circuit is configured to stop the incrementing of the duty-ratio of the PWM signal and begin a quasi-resonant mode of operation during which the primary side controller circuit reduces a number of valleys detected in one or more off-times of the main-switch in one or more respective main-switch switching periods.

Abstract: A silicon carbide semiconductor device, in particular a monolithically integrated trench Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor with segmentally surrounded trench Schottky diode, includes a semiconductor substrate, a trench Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor and a trench Schottky diode. The trench Schottky diode has a perpendicularly disposed trench extending in a first horizontal direction, a metal electrode filled into the trench, and a plurality of doped regions disposed segmentally and extending in a second horizontal direction around the trench. The first horizontal direction is substantially orthogonal to the second horizontal direction, a side wall and a bottom wall of the metal electrode in the trench forms a Schottky junction, and the current flowing from the metal electrode is restricted between adjacent doped regions.

Abstract: A load independent inverter comprises a switched mode zero-voltage switching (ZVS) amplifier. The switched mode ZVS amplifier comprising: a pair of circuits comprises: at least a transistor and at least a capacitor arranged in parallel; and at least an inductor arranged in series with the transistor and capacitor. The amplifier further comprises only one ZVS inductor connected to the pair of circuits; and at least a pair of capacitors connected to the ZVS inductor and arranged in series with at least an inductor and at least a resistor.

Abstract: Nuclear fuel assemblies include fuel elements that are sintered or cast into billets and co-extruded into a spiral, multi-lobed shape. The fuel kernel may be a metal alloy of metal fuel material and a metal-non-fuel material, or ceramic fuel in a metal non-fuel matrix. The fuel elements may use more highly enriched fissile material while maintaining safe operating temperatures. Such fuel elements according to one or more embodiments may provide more power at a safer, lower temperature than possible with conventional uranium oxide fuel rods. The fuel assembly may also include a plurality of conventional UO2 fuel rods, which may help the fuel assembly to conform to the space requirements of conventional nuclear reactors.

Abstract: Devices and methods for DC-to-DC conversion. The device includes a first transformer having a first winding at a primary side and a second winding at a secondary side. The device also includes a second transformer having a third winding at a primary side and a fourth winding at a secondary side. The device includes a controller configured to control a first current in the first winding of the first transformer and a second current in the third winding of the second transformer to flow in a first pattern, and to control the first current and the second current to flow in a second pattern.

Abstract: A robotic vehicle with a battery powered power take-off (PTO) shaft. A single battery powers a PTO motor that is directly connected to a torque converter with a PTO shaft output and two independent track motors.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system included high thermal conductivity materials such as copper to increase thermal energy transfer by thermal conduction. The copper is protected from oxidation by nickel electroplating and protected from thermal damage by providing Hastelloy liners inside combustion chambers. Monel elements are used in the incoming air conduits to prevent cathode poisoning.