Abstract: Disclosed is a scanning system including a mechanism base; a carriage, with a first carriage side attached to a first base side and a second carriage side connected to a drive mechanism, wherein the carriage is configured to move the mechanism base; a probe associated with the carriage, the probe having a first side and a second side; an actuator assembly including an actuator and a housing having a first side and a second side, wherein a first housing side is connected to the actuator and a second housing side is connected to the carriage; and an adjustable mount having a first side and a second side, wherein a first mount side is attached to the second housing side and the second mount side is attached to the first probe side, wherein the actuator assembly is configured to maintain the second probe side in a constant contact with an object.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining electrical continuity of electrical interconnects, the method comprising the steps of measuring a first standing wave ratio value when the electrical interconnects are disconnected, measuring a second standing wave ratio value when the electrical interconnects are connected, and comparing the first standing wave ratio value to the second standing wave ratio value, wherein electrical continuity is positively determined when the second standing wave ratio value is much larger than the first standing wave ratio value.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to color changeable, film materials comprising a metal substrate layer; a conducting polymer or conducting polymer composite layer; and an electrolyte layer. The conducting polymer or conducting polymer composite layer of the film material is capable of exhibiting changes in one or more optical properties when the film material is in contact with a metal. The subject invention also pertains to methods of preparing conducting polymer films capable of exhibiting changes in optical properties.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for deterring wildlife, such as bats and birds, from drawing too proximate to an operating wind turbine. Wildlife species may be sensitive to transmitted frequencies, such as ultrasonic frequencies above the range of human hearing. For example, bats may avoid areas where ultrasonic frequencies are being emitted, either because the emitted ultrasonic frequency interferes with the echolocation of the bat, or because encountering the ultrasonic frequency is uncomfortable for the bat. In some aspects, acoustic transmitters may be arranged along a length of a blade of a wind turbine. A controller may direct the acoustical transmitters to transmit signals having ultrasonic frequencies to deter wildlife encounters. The controller may direct the transmitters to transmit only during periods where wildlife encounters are likely to occur (e.g. at night, during migration seasons, during favorable weather conditions, or the like).

Abstract: A method of enhancing a chemical reaction. The method includes providing catalyst particles with a predefined geometric shape having at least one of edges and points; and applying microwave energy to the catalyst particles, enhancing catalytic activity of the catalyst particles without increasing bulk temperature of surrounding reactants.

Abstract: One or more embodiments relates to a method of catalytically converting a reactant gas mixture for pollution abatement of products of hydrocarbon fuel combustion. The method provides substituted mixed-metal oxides where catalytically active metals are substituted within the crystal lattice to create an active and well dispersed metal catalyst available to convert the reactant gas mixture. Embodiments may be used with gasoline and diesel fueled internal combustion engine exhaust, although specific embodiments may differ somewhat for each.

Abstract: One or more embodiments relates to a portable, personal device for providing cooking and power and adapted for use with a burner, the device including a plurality of metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) coupled together; a microelectronic control circuit connected to at least the MS-SOFCs; a light source coupled to at least the microelectronic control circuit; and at least one USB port coupled to at least the microelectronic control circuit; whereby the device is able to simultaneously provide light and power a personal device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hermetic bond for a joint including a first layer of silicon carbide; a second layer of silicon carbide; and a bonding layer positioned between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the bonding layer includes an iridium layer, a first reaction zone positioned between the iridium foil layer and the first layer, and a second reaction zone positioned between the iridium foil layer and the second layer, wherein the first reaction zone and the second reaction zone include iridium silicides.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermocouple assembly having a resilient mount; a buffer having a first side and a second side, with the buffer first side connecting with the resilient mount; an insulator having a first side and a second side, with the insulator first side connecting with the buffer second side; and a thermocouple having a first side and a second side, the thermocouple first side connecting with the insulator second side, and the thermocouple second side being configured to be in thermal contact with an object to be measured.

Abstract: A system disaggregates and estimates power consumption of electric loads powered by a single electrical outlet. The system includes a processor having a routine; a current sensor cooperating with the processor to measure samples for one line cycle of an aggregated current waveform for the electric loads powered by the single electrical outlet; and a voltage sensor cooperating with the processor to measure samples for the one line cycle of a voltage waveform for the electric loads powered by the single electrical outlet. The processor routine transfers the measured samples for the one line cycle of the aggregated current waveform and the voltage waveform into an aggregated voltage-current trajectory for the single electrical outlet, and provides an instantaneous decomposition of power consumption for a plurality of different categories of the electric loads from the aggregated voltage-current trajectory for the one line cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for simulating proximity detection of physical effects, the system including an external probe; a base unit associated with the external probe via a connector, the base unit comprising at least one processor coupled to the connector, the at least one processor configured to compute results based on an input received from the external probe; an input device; and a graphical display unit configured to display at least one of the computed results from the at least one processor and the input received from the input device and input received from the external probe.

Abstract: An exemplary method of bonding of silicon carbide and objects having a hermetic silicon carbide-iridium-silicon carbide bond. The method includes the steps of inserting an iridium foil between two SiC layers; heating the iridium foil and SiC layers at a temperature of 1500° C. in a vacuum of <10-5 torr; applying a pressure between 1 ksi and 7 ksi to the iridium foil and SiC layers; maintaining the temperature and pressure for 6-10 hours; and forming a hermetic seal having a leak rate <3×10-9 cm3/sec between the iridium foil and the two SiC layers. The SiC-iridium bonds lack cracks and are hermetic.

Abstract: A single-heating stage method for reclaiming or recovering metals like nickel and vanadium from a petroleum waste byproduct has three steps: melting the petroleum waste byproduct in a reducing atmosphere, generating agglomerated metal in the melted byproduct, and lifting the agglomerated metal to an exposed surface of the melted byproduct. The metal precipitates out of the molten byproduct, agglomerates into a separate portion, and rises to an exposed surface of the melted petroleum waste byproduct even though the metal may have greater density than the molten petroleum waste byproduct. The original petroleum waste byproduct stratifies into a byproduct remnant and the agglomerated metal disk. The agglomerated metal disk is separable from the byproduct remnant and may be additionally separated into constituent metals in those embodiments with multiple metals in the disk.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating a swirl is disclosed that is used to induce an axi-symmetric swirling flow to an incoming flow. The disclosed subject matter induces a uniform and axi-symmetric swirl, circumferentially around a discharge location, thus imparting a more accurate, repeatable, continuous, and controllable swirl and mixing condition of interest. Moreover, the disclosed subject matter performs the swirl injection at a lower pressure drop in comparison to a more traditional methods and devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for dual side control includes a measurement module that measures a voltage and a current of an IPT system. The voltage includes an output voltage and/or an input voltage and the current includes an output current and/or an input current. The output voltage and the output current are measured at an output of the IPT system and the input voltage and the input current measured at an input of the IPT system. The apparatus includes a max efficiency module that determines a maximum efficiency for the IPT system. The max efficiency module uses parameters of the IPT system to iterate to a maximum efficiency. The apparatus includes an adjustment module that adjusts one or more parameters in the IPT system consistent with the maximum efficiency calculated by the max efficiency module.

Abstract: A method of monitoring operation of a reactor system includes causing a chemical reaction to occur within an assembly of the reactor system, and measuring a chemical composition of one or more reactants of the chemical reaction with spatial resolution at a plurality of points along a path within the assembly using a sensor system structured to implement distributed sensing. The sensor system includes an optical fiber sensing member provided at least partially within the assembly, wherein the optical fiber sensing member comprises a functionalized optical fiber based sensor device structured to exhibit a change in one or more optical properties in response to changes in the chemical composition of the one or more reactants.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary test apparatus having an autoclave head, a fretting mechanism connected on a first end to a first side of the autoclave head, a load train operably connected with a first end of the fretting mechanism, an autoclave adapter connected on a first side to a second side of the autoclave head, and a force balance assembly connected to a second side of the autoclave head and configured to equalize a pressure acting on the load train. Certain exemplary embodiments include an upper plate, a plurality of upper tie rods connected to a first side of the upper plate and a second side of the autoclave adapter, a lower plate, a plurality of lower tie rods connected to the first side of the autoclave head and a first side of the lower plate, and a pressure vessel sealingly connected to the first side of the autoclave head.

Abstract: The present subject matter discloses a method of measuring a peak load, including the steps of placing an indenter between a first surface and a second surface, exerting a load on at least one of the first and second surfaces, measuring at least one of a width, depth, radial chord length, and cross-sectional area of an indentation formed by the indenter in at least one of the first and second surfaces; and converting the measured parameter into a load value. Certain methods further include the steps of converting the measured parameter into a load per length value and obtaining a load value by integrating along a circumferential length of the indentation. In still other methods, the exerted load is a compressive load.

Abstract: A composite high reflectivity mirror (CHRM) with at least one relatively smooth interior surface interface. The CHRM includes a composite portion, for example dielectric and metal layers, on a base element. At least one of the internal surfaces is polished to achieve a smooth interface. The polish can be performed on the surface of the base element, on various layers of the composite portion, or both. The resulting smooth interface(s) reflect more of the incident light in an intended direction. The CHRMs may be integrated into light emitting diode (LED) devices to increase optical output efficiency.

Abstract: An aluminum nitride piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer successfully operates at temperatures of up to 1000° C. and fast (>1 MeV) neutron fluencies of more than 1018 n/cm2. The transducer comprises a transparent, nitrogen rich aluminum nitride (AlN) crystal wafer that is coupled to an aluminum cylinder for pulse-echo measurements. The transducer has the capability to measure in situ gamma heating within the core of a nuclear reactor.