Abstract: An electrochemical system has a first reservoir receiving a feed stream. The feed stream includes a solvent and a solute different than the salt. A second reservoir receives a brine stream with a higher salt concentration higher than the feed stream. Electrodes contact a loop of redox-active electrolyte material causing reversible redox reactions. The reactions cause the loop to accept a first ion from the salt in the first reservoir and drive a second ion into the brine stream in the second reservoir. Three ionic exchange membranes of alternating type define the first and second reservoirs. A concentrate stream is output from the first reservoir, the concentrate stream having a second solute concentration greater than the first solute concentration.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane includes an ion-conducting polymeric electrolyte material and platelets, distributed through the polymeric electrolyte material. The platelets have an aspect ratio of length to thickness of at least 2:1. The platelets are aligned generally parallel to a length of the membrane. The platelets can be functionalized with free radical scavengers, or other moieties, to extend the lifetime of the membrane or of a membrane electrode assembly incorporating the membrane.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a method of additive manufacturing. The method comprises: i) forming a first layer, the first layer comprising at least one material chosen from an article material, a support structure material and a fracturable material; ii) forming an additional layer on the first layer, the additional layer comprising at least one material chosen from the article material, the support structure material and the fracturable material; and iii) repeating ii) one or more times to form a three-dimensional build comprising an article and at least one support structure attached to the article at an interface, the interface comprising the fracturable material formed during one or more of i), ii) or iii), the fracturable material comprising a polymer. A three-dimensional build is also disclosed.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a method of additive manufacturing. The method comprises: i) forming a first layer, the first layer comprising at least one material chosen from an article material, a support structure material and a fracturable material; ii) forming an additional layer on the first layer, the additional layer comprising at least one material chosen from the article material, the support structure material and the fracturable material; and iii) repeating ii) one or more times to form a three-dimensional build comprising an article and at least one support structure attached to the article at an interface, the interface comprising the fracturable material formed during one or more of i), ii) or iii), the fracturable material comprising a salt. A three-dimensional build is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing highly spherical polymer particles comprising a polyamide having an optical absorber in a backbone of the polyamide (IBOA-polyamide) may comprise: mixing a mixture comprising the IBOA-polyamide, a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the IBOA-polyamide, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the IBOA-polyamide and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the IBOA-polyamide in the carrier fluid; and cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the IBOA-polyamide to form particles comprising the IBOA-polyamide and the emulsion stabilizer, when present, associated with an outer surface of the particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating for variation of the image placement for each color station in an intermediate transfer drum system. A sensor detects the image placed by the previous station and triggers the imaging on the drum such that it properly registered to the previous image. However, the variation of the drum's radius results in runout which creates an error in the image placement, since the surface drum travel will be larger or smaller than expected. The method to correct for a lead edge offset for radial runout involves dividing the drum into regions and calculating an offset center of each region. As the drum transitions from region to region the offset value is updated to determine when to start imaging for proper placement on the sheet. The offset can be derived from the image runout to find the distance traveled from the transfer point or can be measured directly from color-to-color registration variation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing includes producing a powder resin comprising a polymer precursor and a thermal initiator, packing a fiber structure with the powder resin, resulting in a resin-packed structure, and heating the resin-packed structure to a curing temperature high enough to melt and cure the resin-packed structure to form a final structure.

Abstract: Melt emulsification may be employed to form elastomeric particulates in a narrow size range when nanoparticles are included as an emulsion stabilizer. Such processes may comprise combining a polyurethane polymer and nanoparticles with a carrier fluid at a heating temperature at or above a melting point or a softening temperature of the polyurethane polymer, applying sufficient shear to disperse the polyurethane polymer as liquefied droplets in the presence of the nanoparticles in the carrier fluid at the heating temperature, cooling the carrier fluid at least until elastomeric particulates in a solidified state form, and separating the elastomeric particulates from the carrier fluid. In the elastomeric particulates, the polyurethane polymer defines a core and an outer surface of the elastomeric particulates and the nanoparticles are associated with the outer surface. The elastomeric particulates may have a D50 of about 1 ?m to about 1,000 ?m.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for object tracking via identifier-tracker pairings is provided. At least one tracker-identifier pair is maintained. The tracker is associated with an entity, including a person or object. The identifier is accessed to locate the entity. The tracker associated with the identifier is identified and a location of the entity is determined based on a location of the tracker. The location of the entity is provided to the user.

Abstract: A method for producing polyamide particles may include: mixing a mixture comprising a polyamide, a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the polyamide, and nanoparticles at a temperature greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the polyamide and at a shear rate sufficiently high to disperse the polyamide in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature of the polyamide to form solidified particles comprising polyamide particles having a circularity of 0.90 or greater and that comprise the polyamide and the nanoparticles associated with an outer surface of the polyamide particles; and separating the solidified particles from the carrier fluid.

Abstract: A printing system is disclosed, including a metal ejecting apparatus, which may include a structure defining an inner cavity to receive a metal printing material, and a nozzle orifice in connection with the inner cavity and configured to eject one or more droplets of a liquid metal may include the metal printing material. The printing system also includes a first print material feed system configured to supply a first print material into the inner cavity. The printing system also includes a second print material feed system may include a second print material configured to measure a level of metal printing material in the inner cavity, where the second print material is a wire. A method of sensing and controlling level in a metal jetting apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatuses include, among other components, a pair of opposing drive rollers, a pair of opposing idle rollers, and a rotatable support operatively connected to the axles of the idle rollers. Axles of the drive rollers and the idle rollers are positioned along a circle. The axles of the drive rollers and the idle rollers alternate along the circle. Also, rotation of the rotatable support moves the idle rollers along the circle until the idle rollers contact the drive rollers. Each of the idle rollers is positioned by the rotatable support to only contact a single drive roller at a time.

Abstract: Methods for synthesizing a polyamide having the optical absorber in the backbone of the polyamide may comprise: polymerizing polyamide monomers in the presence of an optical absorber selected from the group consisting of a polyamine optical absorber, a polyacid optical absorber, an amino acid optical absorber, and any combination thereof to yield the polyamide having the optical absorber in the backbone of the polyamide. Said polyamides having the optical absorber in the backbone of the polyamide may be useful in producing objects by methods that include melt extrusion, injection molding, compression molding, melt spinning, melt emulsification, spray drying, cryogenic milling, freeze drying polymer dispersions, and precipitation of polymer dispersions.

Abstract: The techniques discussed herein generally relate to a method and system for qualitative modeling of and reasoning about the behavior of spatio-temporal physical systems. In some embodiments, qualitative representations based on Tonti diagrams are used to describe lumped or distributed parameter systems. Using a topological structure of the physical system, some embodiments generate qualitative governing equations as symbolic constraints on qualitative state variables. The qualitative constraints may be used to produce a qualitative simulation of the physical system. The qualitative simulation may be used to guide conceptual design iterations with given design criteria, or for instantiation of quantitative or hybrid (qualitative and quantitative) models and simulations.

Abstract: A nonlimiting example method for synthesizing a pigment-pendent polyamide (PP-polyamide) may comprise: functionalizing metal oxide particles bound to a pigment particle with a compound having an epoxy to produce a surface treated pigment having a pendent epoxy; and reacting the pendent epoxy with a polyamide to yield the PP-polyamide. Another nonlimiting example method for synthesizing a PP-polyamide may comprise: functionalizing metal oxide particles bound to a pigment particle with a silica particle having a carboxylic acid surface treatment to produce a surface treated pigment having a pendent carboxylic acid; converting the pendent carboxylic acid to a pendent acid chloride; and reacting the pendent acid chloride with a polyamide to yield the PP-polyamide.

Abstract: Polymer particles that comprise a thermoplastic polymer and a nucleating agent may be useful in additive manufacturing methods where warping may be mitigated. For example, a method of producing said polymer particles may comprise: mixing a mixture comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a nucleating agent, a carrier fluid, and optionally an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature at or greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer to emulsify a thermoplastic polymer melt in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to form polymer particles; and separating the polymer particles from the carrier fluid, wherein the polymer particles comprise the thermoplastic polymer, the nucleating agent, the emulsion stabilizer, if included, and wherein the polymer particles have a crystallization temperature that is substantially the same as a crystallization temperature of the thermoplastic polymer prior to mixing.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a power grid includes one or more power transformer monitors. Each power transformer monitor includes a plurality of optical sensors disposed on one or more optical fibers that sense parameters of the power transformer. Each optical sensor is configured to sense a power transformer parameter that is different from a power transformer parameter sensed by at least one other sensor of the plurality of optical sensors. An optical coupler spatially disperses optical signals from the optical sensors according to wavelength. A detector unit converts optical signals of the optical sensors to electrical signals representative of the sensed power transformer parameters.

Abstract: Apparatuses have a processing device that is operable with a connection to a physical cryptographic key device that has a valid cryptographic key. Such devices further include a connector that is adapted to connect to the physical cryptographic key device. The processing device is operatively connected to the connector. The processing device is adapted to change available functionality based on connection to, and disconnection from, the physical cryptographic key device.

Abstract: Pigmented polymer particles may comprise a thermoplastic polymer and a pigment, wherein at least some of the pigmented polymer particles have a morphology according to (a), (b), (c), or any combination thereof: (a) the pigment having a coating comprising the thermoplastic polymer and the coated pigment adhered to a thermoplastic polymer particle, (b) the pigment being embedded in an outer surface of the thermoplastic polymer particle, and (c) the pigment being encapsulated by the thermoplastic polymer particle. The pigmented polymer particles, especially the highly spherical pigmented polymer particles, may be useful, among other things, as starting material for additive manufacturing. For example, a method may comprise: depositing, upon a surface, the foregoing pigmented polymer particles optionally in combination with other thermoplastic polymer particles; and once deposited, heating at least a portion of the particles to promote consolidation thereof and form a consolidated body.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a print fluid deposition assembly, a media transport device, and an air flow control system. The print fluid deposition assembly comprises a carrier plate and a printhead arranged to eject a print fluid through an opening of the carrier plate to a deposition region. The media transport device holds a print medium against the movable support surface by vacuum suction and transports the print medium through the deposition region. The air flow control system comprises an air supply unit comprising air flow guide structure extending into the opening of the carrier plate between the carrier plate and the printhead to flow air through the opening. The air flow control system controls the air supply unit to selectively flow the air based on a location of a print medium relative to the printhead.