Abstract: A system and process for modulating the carbon content of ash produced by a biomass gasification process, for example, to selected levels chosen by an operator, through the controlled injection of steam and controlled introduction of warm air during processing of a biomass feedstock. The system and process include delivering a carbon-containing biomass feedstock to a gasification reactor and producing a syngas and an ash from the biomass feedstock, and regulating the carbon content of the ash between a level at which carbon not present in the ash and a second level at which carbon is present in the ash. The regulating step entails selectively decreasing the moisture level of the biomass feedstock prior to the biomass feedstock being delivered to the gasification reactor and thereby increasing the carbon content of the ash, or increasing a moisture level of a mixture of the biomass feedstock, ash and gases within the gasification reactor and thereby decrease the carbon content of the ash.

Abstract: A device for counting shots fired by a firearm including a permanent magnet mounted to moving portion of the firearm and electrically coupled to a coil mounted on a relatively stationary portion of the firearm. Movement of the magnet relative to the coil induces an electromotive force within the coil. The induced electromotive force can be used increment a shot-count indictor and thereby record the number of shots fired by the firearm. The electromotive force can also be measured by a verification circuit to determine the strength of a shot and thereby verify whether a round was actually discharged by the firearm. In some embodiments, information regarding the number of shots discharged and the strength of the shots can be transmitted to an external device.

Abstract: A system for storing and retrieving elemental hydrogen. The system includes a housing, a hydrogen storage element enclosed within the housing and having a solid-state hydrogen storage material, and a control system for regulating storage of hydrogen into and retrieval of hydrogen from the storage material. At least a portion of the storage material is a porous matrix material having atoms of a first element capable of bonding with more than one hydrogen atom per atom of the first element, and atoms of a second element capable of molecularly bonding to atoms of the first element and hydrogen. Different atoms of the first element have bond sites available for different numbers of hydrogen atoms at different levels of bonding energy. The atoms of the second element are bonded to those atoms of the first element having bond sites for more than one hydrogen atom.

Abstract: A facility and process capable of extracting oxygen in extraterrestrial environments from materials available in extraterrestrial environments, for example, on planets, planetoids, etc. The facility extracts oxygen from a mineral-containing solid material and is configured to form a free-falling molten stream of the solid material, evaporate at least a portion of the molten stream and produce a vapor containing gaseous oxygen, create a supersonic stream of the vapor, condense constituents of the supersonic stream to form particulates within the supersonic stream, separate the gaseous oxygen from the particulates, and then collect the gaseous oxygen.

Abstract: A system and method capable of efficient production of synthesis gas from biomass materials in a manner which can be scaled to relatively large throughput capacities. the system is operable to compact a loose biomass material and simultaneously introduce the compacted biomass material into entrances of internal passages of multiple parallel reactors, heat the compacted biomass material within the reactors to a temperature at which organic molecules within the compacted biomass material break down to form ash and gases comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen gases, inhibit combustion of the compacted biomass material when heated within the internal passages of the reactors, conduct the carbon monoxide and hydrogen gases through the reactors in a direction opposite the movement of the compacted biomass through the reactors, and remove the ash from the reactor.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing a porous material, such as nano-porous silicon (npSi) media suitable for storage and retrieval of elemental hydrogen. Processes of this invention generally entail applying a magnetic field to a substrate that contains charge carriers and is in contact with an etchant, and then etching the substrate with the etchant while relative movement occurs between the substrate and the magnetic field. During etching, the charge carriers move relative to the substrate and the magnetic field, and porosity forms at surfaces of the substrate contacting the etchant.

Abstract: A system and process capable of promoting the energy content of a syngas produced from a biomass material. The system and process entail compacting a loose biomass material and simultaneously introducing the compacted biomass material into an entrance of a reactor tube, and then heating the compacted biomass material within the tube to a temperature at which organic molecules within the biomass material break down to form ash and a fuel gas mixture. The fuel gas mixture is withdrawn from the tube and the ash is removed from the tube through an exit thereof. The entrance and exit of the tube, the compaction step, and the removal step cooperate to inhibit ingress of air into the tube by forming a plug of the biomass material at the entrance of the tube and a plug of ash at the exit of the tube.

Abstract: A device for counting shots fired by a firearm including a permanent magnet mounted to moving portion of the firearm and electrically coupled to a coil mounted on a relatively stationary portion of the firearm. Movement of the magnet relative to the coil induces an electromotive force within the coil. The induced electromotive force can be used increment a shot-count indictor and thereby record the number of shots fired by the firearm. The electromotive force can also be measured by a verification circuit to determine the strength of a shot and thereby verify whether a round was actually discharged by the firearm. In some embodiments, information regarding the number of shots discharged and the strength of the shots can be transmitted to an external device.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage tank for containing solid-state hydrogen storage media, and method for determining the hydrogen fill level in the tank. The tank has at least one compartment for storing the storage media, passages for transporting hydrogen gas to and from the compartment, and a heat distribution system for establishing a substantially uniform temperature in the storage media. A look-up table is generated for the tank that relates hydrogen pressure changes in the tank versus hydrogen fill levels in the tank as a function of temperature. The tank is filled to full capacity by adsorbing hydrogen on the storage media. Thereafter, hydrogen is released from the storage media for a time period during which there is a substantially constant demand on the tank, the change in pressure of the released hydrogen gas is measured, and the look-up table is applied to determine the hydrogen fill level in the tank.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage tank for containing solid-state hydrogen storage media, and method for determining the hydrogen fill level in the tank. The tank has at least one compartment for storing the storage media, passages for transporting hydrogen gas to and from the compartment, and a heat distribution system for establishing a substantially uniform temperature in the storage media. A look-up table is generated for the tank that relates hydrogen pressure changes in the tank versus hydrogen fill levels in the tank as a function of temperature. The tank is filled to full capacity by adsorbing hydrogen on the storage media. Thereafter, hydrogen is released from the storage media for a time period during which there is a substantially constant demand on the tank, the change in pressure of the released hydrogen gas is measured, and the look-up table is applied to determine the hydrogen fill level in the tank.

Abstract: A facility and process capable of extracting oxygen in extraterrestrial environments from materials available in extraterrestrial environments, for example, on planets, planetoids, etc. The facility extracts oxygen from a mineral-containing solid material and is configured to form a free-falling molten stream of the solid material, evaporate at least a portion of the molten stream and produce a vapor containing gaseous oxygen, create a supersonic stream of the vapor, condense constituents of the supersonic stream to form particulates within the supersonic stream, separate the gaseous oxygen from the particulates, and then collect the gaseous oxygen.

Abstract: A process and system suitable for producing syngas from biomass materials. The process and system entail the compaction of a loose biomass material to remove air therefrom and form a compacted biomass material. The compacted biomass material is then introduced into a reactor and heated in the substantial absence of air so as not to combust the compacted biomass material. Instead, the compacted biomass material is heated to a temperature at which organic molecules within the compacted biomass material break down to form ash and gases comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas. Thereafter, the carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas are released from the reactor, and the ash is removed from the reactor.

Abstract: An auxiliary power unit for generating electrical power. The auxiliary power unit includes a fuel cell system for combining hydrogen and oxygen to provide electrical power, and a system for storing and retrieving elemental hydrogen for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell system. The storing and retrieving system contains at least one hydrogen storage member formed by a mass of porous silicon having interior and exterior surfaces, in which at least the interior surfaces have dangling bond sites at which reversible chemisorption of hydrogen atoms occurs. The storing and retrieving system further includes a control system for liberating the chemisorbed hydrogen atoms from the dangling bond sites and releasing the liberated hydrogen atoms as hydrogen gas for use by the fuel cell system.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for producing a porous material, such as nano-porous silicon (npSi) media suitable for storage and retrieval of elemental hydrogen. Processes of this invention generally entail applying a magnetic field to a substrate that contains charge carriers and is in contact with an etchant, and then etching the substrate with the etchant while relative movement occurs between the substrate and the magnetic field. During etching, the charge carriers move relative to the substrate and the magnetic field, and porosity forms at surfaces of the substrate contacting the etchant.

Abstract: A solid-state hydrogen storage material and process for making the material more thoroughly rechargeable. The process entails forming a porous matrix material to contain atoms of a first element and hydrogen atoms, in which the atoms of the first element are capable of bonding with more than one hydrogen atom per atom of the first element, and the atoms of the first element are molecularly arranged within the porous matrix material so that different atoms of the first element are bonded to different numbers of hydrogen atoms at correspondingly different levels of bonding energy. At least some of the hydrogen atoms bonded to the atoms of the first element at the lowest bond energies are then removed without removing hydrogen atoms bonded at higher bond energies, after which atoms of a second element are bonded to those atoms of the first element from which hydrogen atoms were removed.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for producing a porous particulate media, such as nano-porous silicon (npSi). The apparatus has a rigid etching chamber configured to contain an etching reagent, an inlet for introducing the etching reagent into the etching chamber, and an outlet for outflow of the etching reagent from the etching chamber. One or more porous filter bags contain powders of a starting material for the porous particulate media, and are secured apart from each other within the etching chamber to enable contact between the etching reagent and the powders within the filter bags. Each filter bag is characterized by a pore size sufficiently small to confine the powders within the filter bag but sufficiently large to enable the etching reagent to flow through the filter bag. The etching reagent is flowed through the filter bags to etch the powders within each bag and produce the porous particulate media.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage process that utilizes a porous hydrogen storage medium capable of adsorbing hydrogen atoms, and an apparatus for carrying out the process. The process entails applying a charge to the storage medium while displacing one or more hydrogen atoms stored on the storage medium to create one or more danglings bond on the storage medium, and then replacing the hydrogen atoms displaced from the storage medium with placeholders, thereby preventing the dangling bonds from bonding to adjacent dangling bonds within the storage medium.

Abstract: An exercise device for the occupant of a wheelchair acting as a treadmill which may be used for cardiac stress testing, cardiac or stroke rehabilitation, fitness training, aerobic training or educational/physical games, with the device including a generally inclined ramp having parallel sides, a forward entrance portion, a movable dolly mounted on rails on the sides of the ramp, the dolly having a pair of laterally movable caster capture plates with openings to receive the front casters of a wheelchair and angular rods cooperating with the wheelchair drive wheels acting to adjust the lateral spacing of said plates, locking means for the dolly to retain it in its forward position, separate locking means for locking the dolly in its rearward position when a wheelchair has been moved onto the ramp into operative position, a pair of enlarged openings adjacent the rear edge of the ramp, and a pair of longitudinally movable rollers beneath the ramp and movable between a rear retracted position allowing the wheelcha