Abstract: A vacuum exhaust system includes a plurality of turbo pumps that evacuate a plurality of vacuum chambers. A plurality of chamber valves are positioned between the turbo pumps and the plurality of vacuum chambers. A plurality of branch channels are each connected to a corresponding exhaust of the plurality of turbo pumps and a main channel is formed from a confluence of the branch channels. A booster vacuum pump is connected to the main channel. A backing vacuum pump is connected to an exhaust of the booster vacuum pump. A plurality of bypass channels, each having a valve, provide a fluid communication path between at least some of the plurality of vacuum chambers and the booster vacuum pump.

Abstract: A cover for a lagoon is provided. The cover includes an expandable membrane; a plurality of stretchable members coupled to the expandable membrane and configured to compress the expandable membrane; and a plurality of restraining members coupled to the expandable membrane and configured to limit expansion of the expandable membrane.

Abstract: There is provided an energy capture system. The system may comprise one or more rotor blades or solar panels and a compressor. The compressor is configured to be driven by the one or more rotor blades or solar panels to draw gas and to compress the gas, thereby producing a compressed material. The system further comprises a pressure receiver coupled to an output of the compressor and configured to receive the compressed material from the compressor. The system further comprises an energy recovery unit coupled to the pressure receiver and configured to receive the compressed material from the pressure receiver. The energy recovery unit is configured to generate mechanical and/or electrical energy using the compressed material.

Abstract: Storage systems and methods of manufacturing and using the same. A storage tank is provided with an inner vessel, an outer vessel, and a support system between the vessels. The support system may comprise a repeating pattern of openings that effectively lengthens the heat path between the inner and outer vessels.

Abstract: An anaerobic digestion system is provided. The system includes a biomass storage container and a cover positioned over the biomass storage container, where the cover is sealed at an outer edge of the anaerobic digester. Weights may be arranged on the surface of the cover, and the sealed edges may form a water collection region. Additional systems, including thermal management, gas processing, energy storage and recovery, and sensing can also be included.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the storage and delivery of fuel, such as methane. In certain aspects, a system is provided with an inner vessel, and outer vessel, and a rope suspension system connecting the two vessels. In certain aspects, the disclosed storage tanks operate at low pressure with long hold times, and have a non-cylindrical shape.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the storage and delivery of fuel, such as methane. In certain aspects, a system is provided with an inner vessel, and outer vessel, and a rope suspension system connecting the two vessels. In certain aspects, the disclosed storage tanks operate at low pressure with long hold times, and have a non-cylindrical shape.

Abstract: Devices and methods for a detection system and heterodyne mixer having a local oscillator (LO) input, a radio frequency (RF) input, an intermediate frequency (IF) output, and a suspended waveguide structure that has a quartz substrate and patterned metal transmission line with a plurality of suppression slots.

Abstract: A high-frequency detection system (100) such as a terahertz camera is disclosed which includes a first detector array (102), a second detector array (104), and a polarizing plate (106). The polarizing plate is interposed between the detector arrays such that it passes and/or reflects radiation signals (110) from a source (108) to the detector arrays. A first radiation signal (112) having a first polarization is passed through the polarizing plate to the first detector array, and a second radiation signal (114) having a second polarization is reflected from the polarizing plate to the second detector array. Both radiation signals are from source (108), which can be one or more human beings emitting radiation towards the detection system. In some embodiments, the detector arrays (102, (104) may be joined.

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing materials, such as cryogenic materials, with inner and outer vessels of a storage tank that mutually support each other. An inner vessel may also have a webbing, such as a rope lattice, that provides additional support for the storage tank.

Abstract: Systems and methods for separating a biogas or other gaseous material into its constituent parts, including solid methane and carbon dioxide, using liquid nitrogen in a processing chamber. The individual parts may be extracted from the processing chamber. Separation and extraction can be performed on a mobile processing plant.

Abstract: Systems and methods use sound waves for evaluating a fuel. The fuel supplied from a storage tank to an engine by a feed pipe can be evaluated by determining its properties based on the velocity of one or more sound waves in the fuel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the storage and delivery of fuel, such as methane. In certain aspects, a system is provided with an inner vessel, and outer vessel, and a rope suspension system connecting the two vessels. In certain aspects, the disclosed storage tanks operate at low pressure with long hold times, and have a non-cylindrical shape.

Abstract: Wide-angled incoherent millimeter or sub-millimeter electromagnetic waves from an extended active source are used to probe substrates and their protective coatings or outer layers, such as paint or thermal insulation. The incoherent waves provide dispersion and angular variation with respect to angular incidence to the substrate. Illumination of the substrate permits differentiation between un-corroded and corroded sections of the sample because reflectivity, emissivity and/or transmissivity from the substrate or protective coating various according to its homogeneousness. A detector/camera is arranged to identify and resolve differences in detected power within an observed frequency range of the area under test, with this contrast in power being relative to either adjacent areas or anticipated reference levels.

Abstract: Wide-angled incoherent millimetre or sub-millimetre electromagnetic waves from an extended active source are used to probe substrates and their protective coatings or outer layers, such as paint or thermal insulation. The incoherent waves provide dispersion and angular variation with respect to angular incidence to the substrate. Illumination of the substrate permits differentiation between un-corroded and corroded sections of the sample because reflectivity, emissivity and/or transmissivity from the substrate or protective coating various according to its homogeneousness. A detector/camera is arranged to identify and resolve differences in detected power within an observed frequency range of the area under test, with this contrast in power being relative to either adjacent areas or anticipated reference levels.

Abstract: Incoherent millimeter wave, sub-millimeter wave and terahertz test signals are used to probe metal substrates covered by a protective coating or outer layer, such as paint or thermal insulation, obscuring direct assessment of the substrate. The incoherent test signals, provide signal dispersion and angular variation of the test signals with respect to angular incidence to the substrate. Illumination of the substrate permits differentiation between un-corroded and corroded sections of the sample because reflectivity (and emissivity) from a metal-based substrate is heavily dependent on the surface resistivity which is dependent on the corroded state. A detector/camera is arranged to pick up reflections from the substrate and an associated control system identifies regions of the sample that reflect the test signal illumination differently or otherwise indicate a variation from a reference value.

Abstract: Incoherent millimeter wave, sub-millimeter wave and terahertz test signals are used to probe metal substrates that are covered by a protective coating or outer layer, such as paint or thermal insulation, obscuring direct assessment of the substrate. The incoherent test signals, which may be from a naturally occurring passive source (such as the sky) and/or from an active noise source, provide signal dispersion and angular variation of the test signals with respect to angular incidence to the substrate. Illumination of the substrate permits differentiation between un-corroded and corroded sections of the sample because reflectivity (and emissivity) from a metal-based substrate is heavily dependent on the surface resistivity which in turn is dependent on the corroded state.

Abstract: Incoherent millimetre wave, sub-millimetre wave and terahertz test signals are used to probe metal substrates covered by a protective coating or outer layer, such as paint or thermal insulation, obscuring direct assessment of the substrate. The incoherent test signals, provide signal dispersion and angular variation of the test signals with respect to angular incidence to the substrate. Illumination of the substrate permits differentiation between un-corroded and corroded sections of the sample because reflectivity (and emissivity) from a metal-based substrate is heavily dependent on the surface resistivity which is dependent on the corroded state. A detector/camera is arranged to pick up reflections from the substrate and an associated control system identifies regions of the sample that reflect the test signal illumination differently or otherwise indicate a variation from a reference value.

Abstract: Incoherent millimetre wave, sub-millimetre wave and terahertz test signals are used to probe metal substrates that are covered by a protective coating or outer layer, such as paint or thermal insulation, obscuring direct assessment of the substrate. The incoherent test signals, which may be from a naturally occurring passive source (such as the sky) and/or from an active noise source, provide signal dispersion and angular variation of the test signals with respect to angular incidence to the substrate. Illumination of the substrate permits differentiation between un-corroded and corroded sections of the sample because reflectivity (and emissivity) from a metal-based substrate is heavily dependent on the surface resistivity which in turn is dependent on the corroded state.

Abstract: An array of feedhorns feeds detected radiation through waveguides to diode-based mixers to produce modulated intermediate frequency (“IF”) signals. The mixers and waveguides are accommodated on a substrate surface and multiple substrates can be layered up to support a two-dimensional array of waveguide openings in a face of a waveguide/mixer block. A feedhorn block is brought into register with this face so that each waveguide opening connects with a feedhorn. An end portion of each feedhorn is drilled into the opening of a respective waveguide. The main feedhorn block and the waveguide/mixer block are then assembled into registration. This method of construction avoids transverse interfaces in the walls of the feedhorns or waveguides just at the point where the transition is made from one to another.