Abstract: A sodium-ion battery that includes an anode comprising hard carbon and lithium; and an electrolyte composition comprising an ether solvent and a sodium salt.

Abstract: An arrangement for burning lime mud into lime in a lime kiln. The lime mud flows counter-currently to flue gases from a feed end to a firing end and the fuel used is flue gas that is produced by gasifying a fuel in the presence of combustion air in a gasifier. The combustion air for gasification is preheated with heat generated in lime mud combustion. The arrangement is provided with a conduit between the lime kiln and the gasifier for leading air from the lime kiln into the gasifier as combustion air. At least a portion of the combustion air for gasification is preheated with heat generated in the lime mud combustion so that air is led into cooling of lime obtained in the combustion and further into the kiln, from or through the firing end of which air is taken into the gasification.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods of storing electrical energy for electric vehicles are provided. A battery pack can be disposed in an electric vehicle to power the electric vehicle. A battery cell can be arranged in the battery pack. The battery cell can include a housing. The housing can define a cavity within the housing. The cavity of the battery cell can include a separator having a first side and a second side, a cathode disposed along the first side of the separator, and an anode disposed along the second side of the separator. The anode can include a first portion adjacent to the second side of the separator, and a second portion adjacent to the first portion and separated from the separator by the first portion. A porosity of the first portion of the anode can be greater than a porosity of the second portion of the anode.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods of storing electrical energy for electric vehicles are provided. A battery pack can be disposed in an electric vehicle to power the electric vehicle. A battery cell can be arranged in the battery pack. The battery cell can include a housing. The housing can define a cavity within the housing. The cavity of the battery cell can include a separator having a first side and a second side, a cathode disposed along the first side of the separator, and an anode disposed along the second side of the separator. The anode can include a first portion adjacent to the second side of the separator, and a second portion adjacent to the first portion and separated from the separator by the first portion. A porosity of the first portion of the anode can be greater than a porosity of the second portion of the anode.

Abstract: A downdraft gasifier and method of gasification with high yield biochar that utilizes a plurality of high throughput, vertically positioned tubes to create a pyrolysis zone, an oxidation zone beneath the pyrolysis zone and a reduction zone beneath the oxidation zone. A rotating and vertically adjustable rotating grate is located beneath the reduction zone of the gasifier. In addition, a drying zone is located above the pyrolysis zone so the heat of the gasifier can be used to dry feedstock before it enters the gasifier. By optimizing the grate height and rpm, feedstock retention time in the drying zone, the drying zone temperature and feedstock moisture content, the result is gasification of biomass with a high yield and continuous biochar production.

Abstract: A battery includes a first current collector, first electrode layer, and first counter electrode layer. The first counter electrode layer is a counter electrode of the first electrode layer. The first current collector includes first front and rear face regions, second front and rear face regions, and a first fold portion. The first rear face region is a region situated on the rear face of the first front face region. The second rear face region is a region situated on the rear face of the second front face region. The first fold portion is situated between the first and second front face regions. The first current collector is folded at the first fold portion, whereby the first and second rear face regions face each other. The first electrode layer is in contact with the second front face region, and the first counter electrode layer with the first front face region.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery module heat management assembly which comprises a cooling mechanism (1), heating films (2) and heat insulating layers (3).

Abstract: A modular apparatus of fuel cell system includes a start burner, a reformer, an after-burner, and a heat exchanger. The start burner, the reformer, the after-burner, and the heat exchanger are disposed in a chamber. The start burner is surrounded by the reformer, and the after-burner is disposed on the start burner and surrounds the reformer. The heat exchanger surrounds the after-burner and the reformer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a short circuit structure for mechanically cutting an electrode tab and/or an electrode lead of a pouch-shaped battery cell in order to secure the safety of the pouch-shaped battery cell when the pouch-shaped battery cell swells due to gas generated in the pouch-shaped battery cell while the pouch-shaped battery cell is in an abnormal state or when the pouch-shaped battery cell is overcharged, and a pouch-shaped secondary battery including the same. Current is prevented from flowing in the pouch-shaped secondary battery when the pouch-shaped secondary battery is overcharged or when the pouch-shaped secondary battery is in an abnormal state. In addition, a reduction in the energy density of the pouch-shaped secondary battery is prevented when a voluminous device is further provided in the pouch-shaped secondary battery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for solid fuel gasification with tar self-removed within the gasifier, and the apparatus consists essentially of a feeder, a gasifier, a slag extractor, a cyclone separator for gasification gas fly ash or fly ash filter separator, a condenser, a condensate evaporator, a preheating device for gasification medium and a gas holder. Feed the solid fuel into the gasifier through the double sealed feeding valves from the feeding inlet, the solid fuel within the gasifier generates gasification gas, ash and slag after reaction of drying, pyrolysis, gasification and combustion. The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for solid fuel gasification with tar self-removed within the gasifier, which can not only accomplish effective removal of tar and zero discharge of coking wastewater, but also optimize gas quality during the process, improve energy efficiency and reduce operating cost.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a power production system that is adapted to achieve high efficiency power production with carbon capture when using a solid or liquid hydrocarbon or carbonaceous fuel. More particularly, the solid or liquid fuel first is partially oxidized in a partial oxidation reactor that is configured to provide an output stream that is enriched in methane content. The resulting partially oxidized stream can be cooled, filtered, additionally cooled, and then directed to a combustor of a power production system as the combustion fuel. The partially oxidized stream is combined with a compressed recycle CO2 stream and oxygen. The combustion stream is expanded across a turbine to produce power and passed through a recuperator heat exchanger. The recycle CO2 stream is compressed and passed through the recuperator heat exchanger and optionally the POX heat exchanger in a manner useful to provide increased efficiency to the combined systems.

Abstract: A natural gas processing system is mounted on at least one mobile platform that is transported to a natural gas source, such as a well. A liquid removal tank separates liquid contaminants from the gas. A particulate filter removes particulates from the gas. A membrane separates the natural gas into a retentate gas and a permeate gas. A gas compressor is selectively connected either upstream of the membrane or downstream of the membrane. For low pressure source gas, the upstream connection will compress the natural gas before entering the membrane. For high pressure source gas, the downstream connection will compress the natural gas after exiting the membrane. An electrical generator and an air compressor are provided. A process control is connected to all the valves in the system, all instruments, the gas compressor, the electrical generator, and the air compressor. The process control monitors and controls the natural gas processing system.

Abstract: A distributed Biogas Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Generator can provide automatically hot water and electricity for local applications. Since biogas is produced by an anaerobic digester from human, animal, kitchen and agriculture's wastes, it is a short term recycled product from the photosynthesis of CO2, and has a net zero carbon emission. The sulfur compounds in the biogas can be removed by the following steps: (1), converting all sulfur compounds into H2S by the hydrogen produced from the biogas over Pt group metal catalysts; (2). adsorbing the H2S at high temperature by the regenerable Pt group metal catalyst and adsorbents. The desulfurized biogas is further converted by an ATR/CPO reformer or a steam generating reformer to produce various reformates, which can be connected to a downstream 1C engine/gas turbine, and/or a steam turbine to drive electric generators for generating electricity. The hot reformate and the exhaust gases can be cooled in heat exchangers to produce hot water/hot air.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a steam reformer comprises at least one longitudinal collecting tube, wherein along the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal collecting tube ports for connection to catalyst tubes are provided, which in the connected condition are aligned parallel to each other and vertically to the longitudinal collecting tube, a transverse collector which is connected to the at least one longitudinal collecting tube and has a longitudinal axis which extends vertically to the at least one longitudinal collecting tube and vertically to the catalyst tubes, wherein the longitudinal collecting tube is formed as hot exhaust system and the transverse collector is formed as cold exhaust system. The transverse collector is arranged on a side of the longitudinal collecting tube facing away from the ports centrally to the longitudinal collecting tube.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including: a fuel cell; a voltage sensor that measures output voltage of the fuel cell; a converter that boosts the output voltage; and a control unit that controls the converter using a duty ratio including a feedforward term and a feedback term, the feedforward term being set to perform feedforward control, the feedback term being set to perform feedback control, wherein when the control unit causes the converter to boost the output voltage, and when the feedforward term calculated by specified Expression I exceeds an upper limit calculated by specified Expression II, the control unit causes the converter to boost the voltage output from the fuel cell with the duty ratio including the upper limit and the feedback term.

Abstract: A fluidized bed biogasifier is provided for gasifying biosolids. The biogasifier includes a reactor vessel and a feeder for feeding biosolids into the reactor vessel at a desired feed rate during steady-state operation of the biogasifier. A fluidized bed in the base of the reactor vessel has a cross-sectional area that is proportional to at least the fuel feed rate such that the superficial velocity of gas is in the range of 0.1 m/s (0.33 ft/s) to 3 m/s (9.84 ft/s). In a method for gasifying biosolids, biosolids are fed into a fluidized bed reactor. Oxidant gases are applied to the fluidized bed reactor to produce a superficial velocity of producer gas in the range of 0.1 m/s (0.33 ft/s) to 3 m/s (9.84 ft/s). The biosolids are heated inside the fluidized bed reactor to a temperature range between 900° F. (482.2° C.) and 1700° F. (926.7° C.) in an oxygen-starved environment having a sub-stoichiometric oxygen level, whereby the biosolids are gasified.

Abstract: Device and methods for sealing and encapsulation for biocompatible energization elements are described. In some examples, the device and methods for sealing and encapsulation for biocompatible energization elements involve heat welding, laser welding, or both where a laminar structure is enclosed by a polymer film capable of sealing. In some examples, a field of use for the apparatus and methods may include any biocompatible device or product that requires energization elements.

Abstract: An output performance recovering device for a fuel cell includes: a diagnosis unit configured to determine whether it is necessary to recover a catalyst of a fuel cell mounted as a power source for traveling in a vehicle from short-term performance deterioration; a recovery unit configured to control a voltage of the fuel cell and to perform recovery processing for recovering the catalyst from the short-term performance deterioration; a calculation unit configured to calculate a parameter correlated with a predicted output value of the fuel cell which has been predicted to be output on a scheduled traveling route of the vehicle based on a gradient of the scheduled traveling route of the vehicle and a predicted vehicle speed of the vehicle on the scheduled traveling route; and a determination unit configured to determine whether the parameter indicates the predicted output value is greater than a first threshold value.

Abstract: A redox flow battery is described herein that has a sodium-super-ionic-conductor NaSICON barrier disposed between an anolyte chamber of the battery and the catholyte chamber of the battery. The NaSICON barrier prevents crossover of solvents or active redox species between the anolyte chamber and the catholyte chamber, while permitting transport of sodium ions between the chambers. In exemplary embodiments, the anolyte chamber includes an anolyte solution that comprises a first active redox species dissolved in a first solvent, while the catholyte chamber includes a catholyte solution that comprises a second active redox species dissolved in a second solvent.

Abstract: The invention includes a downdraft gasifier having a rotatable auger/grate extending through its reduction zone. The auger at times moves biofuel through the gasifier and at times supports it in the gasifier. A frusto-conical biomass grate funnels biomass onto the auger and is perforate for permitting the passage of gases while retaining the biomass. A guide tube surrounds the auger below the frusto-conical biomass grate. The invention also includes mixing gas or solid particulate fuel in a conduit segment that houses a mixing chamber. Fuel is fed through a fuel inlet port into the mixing chamber. High velocity combustion air from a blower is forced into the mixing chamber through a restricted orifice that generates a suction pressure for drawing gas or solid particulate fuel into the mixing chamber. A combustion chamber supply conduit delivers fuel from the mixing chamber into a burner.