Abstract: A monochloramine microsensor includes an elongated housing defining a central axis and an open interior and having a capillary opening at one end. A semi-permeable membrane covers the capillary opening, the semi-permeable membrane allowing diffusion of chloramines there-through while preventing water from entering into the interior of the housing. A chloramine sensitive element in the form of a wire, fiber or nanotube is mounted within the housing, the chloramine sensitive element, when used in conjunction with an anode, outputs current in an amount proportional to the concentration of chloramine present in a liquid sample in which the chloramine sensitive element is immersed. The chloramine sensitive element extends along a length of the central axis to a first end adjacent to and spaced from the semi-permeable membrane. The chloramine sensitive element is a gold wire, a platinum wire, a carbon fiber or a carbon nanotube.

Abstract: A quasi free piston engine uses, a small, lightweight crankshaft to connect the piston assemblies of the free piston engine with a flywheel. While most of the power output from the combustion pistons is extracted by pumping pistons as hydraulic power, the small crankshaft and flywheel ensure exact TDC position of the combustion pistons in operation, and provide a rotating means to drive combustion cylinder intake and exhaust valves. Flywheel speed may be monitored to provide feedback on power extraction for further control of the system. In addition, a hydraulic push-rod system for efficient valve actuation is provided.

Abstract: The disclosed sorbents are for adsorbing sulfur compounds, particularly sulfur-containing aromatic compounds, from liquid hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline, cracked gasoline, diesel, high sulfur liquid fossil fuels, ultra-low sulfur fuel (ULSF) in fuel cell applications, and mixtures thereof. The sorbent compositions comprise one or more silicates having one or more metal nitrates admixed together. The one or more metal nitrates include iron (II) or (III), zinc (II), cadmium (II) and mercury (II) nitrate. The method of preparing and using the sorbents is also provided.

Abstract: A process for treatment of water to convert ammonia to nitrate including: feeding water containing dissolved ammonia, as an influent introducing water to be treated, into a packed column containing filter media as packing; introducing air through a diffuser at the bottom of the packed column to maintain the water saturated with oxygen throughout the packed column; establishing colonies of bacteria converting ammonia to nitrate within the column; and removing an ammonia-free and nitrite-fee effluent from the column.

Abstract: A bent axis pump/motor includes a back plate positioned within a casing, and a check valve positioned in the back-plate, the check valve configured to control passage of fluid from within the casing to an interior of the back plate. A yoke, coupled to the back plate, includes trunnions, positioned within respective apertures in the casing, upon which the yoke rotates. Bearings, occupying less than the complete circumference of the respective trunnion, are positioned between each of the trunnions and respective inner walls of the apertures. Trunnion apertures, for passage of fluid, are positioned in a portion of the circumference not occupied by the respective bearing. A valve positioned within the casing selectively couples high- and low-pressure fluid to the trunnions. Fluid supply channels, formed integrally with the casing, transmit fluid from the valve to the trunnions via fluid apertures provided within the apertures in the casing.

Abstract: An actuator includes a piston within a cylinder, the cylinder having a first fluid port in communication with an open side of the piston, and a second fluid port in communication with a shaft side of the piston. The piston travels in a first direction, toward the shaft side of the piston and in a second direction, toward the open side of the piston. The actuator includes a valve circuit configured to selectively couple the first fluid port with a high-pressure fluid source when piston travel in the first direction is desired, and with a low-pressure fluid source when piston travel in the second direction is desired. The valve circuit is further configured to couple the second fluid port to the high-pressure fluid source when piston travel is desired in the first or second direction, and to close the first and second fluid ports when no piston travel is desired.

Abstract: A lightweight, low permeation, piston-in-sleeve high pressure accumulator is provided. The accumulator includes a cylindrical composite pressure vessel with two integral rounded ends. A piston slidably disposed in a thin nonpermeable internal sleeve in the accumulator separates two chambers, one adapted for containing a working fluid and the other adapted for containing gas under pressure. Working fluid is provided in a volume between the nonpermeable internal sleeve and the composite pressure vessel wall. Further means are provided for withstanding harmful effects of radial flexing of the composite vessel wall under high pressures, and from stresses present in use in mobile applications such as with a hydraulic power system for a hydraulic hybrid motor vehicle. A method for pre-charging the device is also presented.

Abstract: A method is provided for close control and adjustment of in-cylinder oxygen concentration levels together with boost adjustments to minimize harmful emissions during transients in engines which utilize late direct cylinder injection of fuel. EGR flow rates are adjusted in a closed loop, linked fashion together with boost pressure changes during transients, to maintain intake charge-air oxygen concentration and boost levels within critical ranges for controlled temperature, low emission combustion. Changes in fuel feed into the cylinder are made to wait for or follow changes in the boost level of charge-air into the cylinder for combustion. Temporary fuel levels are not allowed to exceed desired fuel/oxygen ratios during transients, by controlling fuel feed responsive to the level of boost of charge-air being taken into the cylinder for combustion.

Abstract: A spool valve includes a first valve port coupled to a fluid source at a first pressure range, a second valve port coupled to a fluid source at a second, lower, pressure range, and first and second output ports coupled to a hydraulic device. The valve includes a valve spool configured to selectively channel fluid from the first and second valve ports to the first and second output ports, respectively, while in a first position, from the second valve port to both the output ports while in a second position, and from the second and first valve ports to the first and second output ports respectively, while in a third position, and a check valve to permit one-way fluid passage from the second output port to the first valve port. The valve may include an anti-reverse check valve configured to prevent fluid from flowing into the valve via the first output port.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward methods for operating a parallel hybrid vehicle in a manner that responds to the operator's demand for power output, while maximizing engine efficiency and minimizing disruptions in vehicle drivability. According to principles of the present invention, when the driver of a hybrid vehicle makes a demand for power output immediately after a braking event, the power provided to meet the initial demand is from either an ICE or a secondary power source. Which power source is used, and when it is engaged and disengaged, depends on various vehicle operating conditions. Also, the ICE is selectively turned off and on in response to various operating conditions.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward methods for operating a series hybrid vehicle in a manner that responds to the operator's demand for power output, while maximizing engine efficiency and minimizing disruptions in vehicle drivability. According to principles of the present invention, when the driver of a series hybrid vehicle makes a demand for power output, whether the secondary power source(s) is supplied with secondary energy stored in an energy storage device(s), direct input energy generated by an engine(s), or both, depends on the amount of available secondary energy stored in the vehicle's secondary storage device(s) alone, and in combination with vehicle speed. During the time that the engine is used to generate secondary energy, the power efficiency level at which the engine is operated also depends on the vehicle speed and the amount of available secondary energy stored in the vehicle's secondary storage device alone, and in combination with vehicle speed.

Abstract: This invention sets forth a commercially viable diesel combustion system that meets environmentally acceptable levels of NOx emissions (i.e. 0.2 g/bhp-hr or lower across a full map of engine speeds and loads) without the need for use of NOx aftertreatments, and simultaneously maintains engine-out PM emissions relatively close (e.g. with smoke levels at or below 3 BSN) to environmentally acceptable PM post-aftertreatment levels. The invention achieves these results by operating within a unique combination of parameters. These parameters comprise: (1) charge-air oxygen concentration below 16%, preferably between 10% and 15%, more preferably between 11% and 14%, and most preferably between 12% and 13.

Abstract: An improved method for detection of total coliforms and E. coli comprising a broth containing an ingredient that will encourage growth and repair of injured coliforms, buffers to maintain a pH in the range of 6.5-8, at least one agent that suppresses growth of gram positive cocci and spore-forming organisms, at least one active agent that will suppress growth of non-coliform gram negative bacteria, and at least one chromogen or fluorogen has been used effectively and is cost effective. In the preferred embodiment, both a fluorogen and chromogen were used. Preferred methods include use of filter and/or plates containing the growth-promoting ingredients and the indicators.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine wherein intake ambient air is boosted to a higher pressure by passage through at least one compressor and then introduced into the internal combustion engine. Fuel is also introduced into the internal combustion engine for providing combustion in admixture with the air charge at a combustion temperature approximating a target value. Various engine operating parameters, inclusive of torque demand, e.g., accelerator pedal depression, are sensed and the boosted pressure is changed in a manner proportional to a change in the sensed torque demand so as to maintain the combustion temperature at approximately the target value, i.e., below 2100° K.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust manifold and at least one exhaust flow control valve located between the engine and the exhaust manifold. The exhaust flow control valve diverts a portion of the exhaust gas from each cycle of one cylinder and feeds that diverted portion to another of the cylinders through an exhaust gas recirculation passage, bypassing the exhaust manifold, whereby an exhaust stroke of a piston within the one cylinder serves to pump exhaust gas through the exhaust flow control valve in another cylinder.

Abstract: A diesel-cycle engine with a unique exhaust gas recirculation system includes a plurality of cylinders with fuel feed for each of the cylinders and an intake manifold for distributing intake air to each of the cylinders for combustion of the fuel charges therein with generation of exhaust gas. The exhaust gas is discharged to ambient atmosphere through an exhaust line with a gas turbine therein. The gas turbine drives an intake compressor which serves to compress the intake air. An engine controller controls a valve regulating the amount of exhaust gas recirculation responsive to sensed concentration of an exhaust gas component. In another embodiment, an engine controller controls a valve regulating the amount of exhaust gas recirculation, responsive to sensed demand for torque and control of fuel injection quantity is responsive to sensed concentration of an exhaust gas component.

Abstract: An air bottoming powertrain, suitable for use in automobiles includes an internal combustion engine, a compressor which receives gaseous working fluid and compresses it to an elevated pressure, a cooler -For operating the compressor isothermally, an expander for deriving work from the compressed gas and a heat exchanger located in the compressed gas line for indirect heat exchange between the compressed working fluid and exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine. The expander may have a cylindrical barrel with a plurality of cylinders arranged in the circle and open at one end face of the cylinder barrel, which end face is sealed closed by a valve plate. The cylinder barrel and valve plate allow relative rotation therebetween to drive an output shaft, driven by compressed gas from the compressor. An alternative expander is a Scotch Yoke piston motor which includes plural paired and axially aligned cylinders on opposing sides of an output shaft.

Abstract: A fast-acting valve includes a valve body and a spool slidably mounted within the valve body between first and second limit positions. Both the spool and the valve body have a flow passage which come into alignment with the valve spool at a position intermediate the first and second limit positions and spaced therefrom by a given distance. That given distance allows the spool member to accelerate in travel from the first and second limit positions to the valve open position so that the opening of the valve (and closing) occurs quite quickly. Reciprocating movement of the valve spool relative to the valve body can be provided by springs mounted in opposing ends of the valve body bore in cooperation with solenoids mounted on opposing sides of the valve body. The fast-acting valve may be modified into the form of poppet valve or a cartridge valve.

Abstract: An electrostatic bag filter unit is formed of a plurality of sections arranged in series. One section is a bag filter section containing a plurality of parallel elongated filter fabric bag elements extending across and traverse to a gas flow path therethrough and a plurality of grounded, electrically-conductive support frames, each support frame being internal to and supporting one of the filter fabric bag elements. Optionally, the bag filter section may further include a plurality of non-discharging electrodes disposed parallel to and interspersed among the filter fabric bag elements. A filter precharger section is located immediately upstream of and contiguous with the bag filter section and is formed of a linear array of alternating corona discharge electrodes and grounded electrodes arranged perpendicular to the gas flow path.

Abstract: Azeotropes of hydrofluorocarbons and hydrofluoroethers useful for use as refrigerants are disclosed. Zeotropes of hydrofluoropropanes and hydrofluoroethers with hydrofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, and hydrocarbons useful as refrigerants are also disclosed. The invention also includes refrigeration and heating processes in which these refrigerants are useful.