Abstract: The direct air capture (DAC) systems and methods efficiently and economically regenerate a desiccant bed without adding any thermal energy and without requiring any pressurization or depressurization of the desiccant reactors. The methods leverage water concentration differences in stream flows, the water concentration profile across a desiccant bed, and, optionally, exothermic water adsorption. These three elements, working in combination, are referred to as “reverse dry flow regeneration” or a “reverse dry air swing” regeneration process. Systems and methods for reverse flow regeneration include those for CO2 DAC applications, but they are also applicable to point source carbon capture and other similar technologies that require initial gas dehydration before exposure to a hydrophilic material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a processing system comprising a processing unit (1, 60, 100) that can be operated between an upper (To) and a lower (Tu) temperature. A first heat accumulator (3, 61) and a second heat accumulator (4, 62) are operationally interconnected by means of a line arrangement (L) for a heat-transporting medium, said processing unit (1, 60, 100) being arranged in a first section (I) of said line arrangement (L) between the first (3, 61) and the second heat accumulator (4, 62).

Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes a crane elevator cage, where the crane or elevator cage is operable to move one or more blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy (e.g., via the potential energy of the block in the higher elevation) and operable to move one or more blocks from a higher elevation to a lower elevation (e.g., by gravity) to generate electricity (e.g., via the kinetic energy of the block when moved to the lower elevation). The energy storage system can, for example, store electricity generated from solar power as potential energy in the stacked blocks during daytime hours when solar power is available, and can convert the potential energy in the stacked blocks into electricity during nighttime hours when solar energy is not available, and deliver the converted electricity to the electrical grid.

Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes an elevator operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy and from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity. A winch assembly is movably coupled to a cable that is coupled to the elevator. The winch assembly has planetary gear assemblies, brakes that selectively engage at least a portion of the planetary gear assemblies, and a spool coupled to the cable. A drive shaft extends between a motor-generator and the winch assembly. A brake is operable so that the spool rotates to reel-in the cable to raise the elevator to move a block from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy or so that the spool rotates to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator to move a block from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity.

Abstract: A lift drive system for an energy storage and delivery system includes an electric motor that rotates a driven shaft, a brake assembly for selectively braking the rotation of the driven shaft, and optionally includes a clutch selectively operable to decouple the electric motor from the driven shaft. A steel ribbon is disposed at least partially about and in contact with the driven shaft, where rotation of the driven shaft by the electric motor causes linear movement of the steel ribbon. The steel ribbon can connect at one end to an elevator cage assembly and at an opposite end to a counterweight.

Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes an elevator operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy and from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity. A winch assembly is movably coupled to a cable that is coupled to the elevator. The winch assembly has planetary gear assemblies, brakes that selectively engage at least a portion of the planetary gear assemblies, and a spool coupled to the cable. A drive shaft extends between a motor-generator and the winch assembly. A brake is operable so that the spool rotates to reel-in the cable to raise the elevator to move a block from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy or so that the spool rotates to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator to move a block from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity.

Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes an elevator operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy and from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity. A winch assembly is movably coupled to a cable that is coupled to the elevator. The winch assembly has planetary gear assemblies, brakes that selectively engage at least a portion of the planetary gear assemblies, and a spool coupled to the cable. A drive shaft extends between a motor-generator and the winch assembly. A brake is operable so that the spool rotates to reel-in the cable to raise the elevator to move a block from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy or so that the spool rotates to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator to move a block from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity.

Abstract: The invention relates to integrated methods for direct capture of carbon dioxide and water from the atmosphere and their conversion into value-added products in an economical and carbon negative fashion. In one embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the water captured in a DAC process is treated, bottled, and sold as value-added drinking water, thereby offsetting the cost of the capture process. Preferably the drinking water is bottled in low carbon footprint packaging to offer cost benefit while maintaining overall carbon neutrality or negativity. In other embodiments of the invention, a portion of the captured water is split by photovoltaic electrolysis into hydrogen and oxygen as further value-added products. In other embodiments of the present invention, a portion of the captured carbon dioxide is chemically reduced, preferably utilizing hydrogen from the aforementioned photovoltaic-electrolysis process, to produce methanol for use as a carbon-advantaged fuel.

Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes an elevator operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy and from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity. A winch assembly is movably coupled to a cable that is coupled to the elevator. The winch assembly has planetary gear assemblies, brakes that selectively engage at least a portion of the planetary gear assemblies, and a spool coupled to the cable. A drive shaft extends between a motor-generator and the winch assembly. A brake is operable so that the spool rotates to reel-in the cable to raise the elevator to move a block from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy or so that the spool rotates to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator to move a block from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity.

Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes an elevator, where the elevator is operable to move one or more blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy (e.g., via the potential energy of the block in the higher elevation) and operable to move one or more blocks from a higher elevation to a lower elevation (e.g., by gravity) to generate electricity (e.g., via the kinetic energy of the block when moved to the lower elevation). The energy storage system can, for example, store electricity generated from solar power as potential energy in the stacked blocks during daytime hours when solar power is available, and can convert the potential energy in the stacked blocks into electricity during nighttime hours when solar energy is not available, and deliver the converted electricity to the electrical grid.

Abstract: A heliostat includes an optical member (e.g., a mirror), a mounting frame under the optical member, a support stand and a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly allows the optical member to pivot about two orthogonal directions relative to the support stand. A drive mechanism adjusts one or both of an elevation angle and a roll angle of the optical member.

Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes a crane elevator cage, where the crane or elevator cage is operable to move one or more blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy (e.g., via the potential energy of the block in the higher elevation) and operable to move one or more blocks from a higher elevation to a lower elevation (e.g., by gravity) to generate electricity (e.g., via the kinetic energy of the block when moved to the lower elevation). The energy storage system can, for example, store electricity generated from solar power as potential energy in the stacked blocks during daytime hours when solar power is available, and can convert the potential energy in the stacked blocks into electricity during nighttime hours when solar energy is not available, and deliver the converted electricity to the electrical grid.

Abstract: A method for energy storage and delivery includes operating a pair of elevator cages to move blocks between a first set of rows in an upper section of the frame and a corresponding second set of rows in a lower section of the frame. The elevator cages move blocks from alternating rows of the second set of rows to corresponding alternating rows of the first set of rows to store electrical energy corresponding to a potential energy of said blocks and move blocks from alternating rows of the first set of rows to corresponding alternating rows of the second set of rows under a force of gravity to generate electricity via an electric motor-generator electrically coupled to the elevator cages. The elevator cages move said blocks between each of the second set of rows and each of the corresponding first set of rows by an equal vertical distance.

Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes a crane operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy (e.g., via the potential energy of the block in the higher elevation) and operable to move blocks from the higher elevation to the lower elevation (e.g., by gravity) to generate electricity (e.g., via the kinetic energy of the block when moved to the lower elevation). The blocks remain vertically spaced from each other, and a vertical distance between the lower elevation and the higher elevation of each of the blocks is the same.

Abstract: An elevator cage is used in an energy storage and delivery system to move blocks between a lower elevation of a tower and a higher elevation of a tower to store energy and to move blocks between a higher elevation of the tower and a lower elevation of the tower under force of gravity to generate electricity. The elevator cage removably receives a block thereon and supports the block on at least three sides.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a concrete workpiece (1, 60), wherein fresh concrete is poured into a negative (35, 80) of the workpiece (1, 60), and the concrete at least partly hardens in the negative and is then removed. The invention is characterized in that a positive (5, 71) is produced from me concrete workpiece (1, 60) to be produced, the positive is arranged in a casting formwork (20, 70), and negative fresh concrete is then poured onto the positive. The negative fresh concrete is removed after being at least partly hardened (35, 80), and the concrete body produced in this manner is used as a negative (35, 80) in order to produce the workpiece (1, 60) therein using the fresh concrete poured into the negative (35, 80).

Abstract: A heliostat for tracking the sun is disclosed. The heliostat comprises a frame (104) with legs (102); an optical assembly (120) configured to hang between the legs of the frame by means of a plurality of wires (130); and a plurality of actuators (520) configured to change the orientation of the optical assembly via the plurality of wires. The optical assembly may include a mirror (122) or photovoltaic panel that tracks the sun, and concrete backing (610). The optical assembly may further include a tracking controller (150) to energize the plurality of actuators, photovoltaic cell (252) configured to power the tracking controller and actuators, cleaning assembly (1710), and reservoir (770) for capturing rain water on the optical assembly. The optical assembly may further include a camera (254) for capturing images of the frame and determining the orientation of the optical assembly based on the images.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for producing a dimensionally stable concrete work-piece characterised in that to produce the concrete work-piece a fully-sealed dimensionally stable form is filled with fresh concrete in a predetermined geometry, during the subsequent and undisrupted hydration a predetermined temperature distribution of the walls of the form surrounding the hydrated concrete is carried out and the concrete workpiece is shaped at a compressive strength of more than 10 MPa.

Abstract: A grabber used, for example in the lifting and lowering of blocks, includes one or more arms with a damped self-centering mechanism at a distal end thereof. The damped self-centering mechanism dampen a contact force received thereon and facilitates a self-centering of the damped self-centering mechanism relative to a surface of, for example, a block when the grabber is moved relative to the block (e.g., when the arms are lowered through bores in the block).

Abstract: A solar collector system comprising at least one heliostat and an inflatable cover configured to protectively conceal the at least one heliostat while it tracks the sun. The inflatable cover comprises a flexible membrane, which is transparent and colorless so that sunlight is transmitted through the cover. The cover may comprise an elastomeric material such as ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE). The solar collector system may further include a pump for inflating the inflatable cover, a pressure relief valve configured to prevent air pressure in the inflatable cover from exceeding a predetermined threshold, and a pressure sensor configured to automatically turn on the pump when the internal pressure falls below a predetermined threshold. The inflatable cover effectively removes wind loading from the heliostats, thus enabling the heliostats to use low-power, less-expensive actuators.