Abstract: The present disclosure discloses methods for preparing plant-based protein compositions, such as a pea protein isolate, comprising alkaline phosphate salts, wherein the compositions exhibit greatly improved solubility. The high solubility of these plant-based protein isolate compositions greatly facilitates the manufacture of food and beverage products containing plant-based protein.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include thermionic energy converters with a thermal concentrating hot shell and emitters for thermionic energy converters. In some embodiments, an illustrative thermionic energy converter includes: an emitter electrode; a hot shell configured to concentrate heat flow toward the emitter electrode; a collector electrode; and a cold shell that is thermally isolated from the hot shell.

Abstract: Combustion systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a combustion system comprises a first combustion zone, a second combustion zone downstream of the first combustion zone, and a heat module thermally coupled to the first combustion zone and/or second combustion zone. The first combustion zone is configured to (i) receive and combust preheated air and a first fuel and (ii) generate a first exhaust gas, and the second combustion zone is configured to (i) receive and combust the first exhaust gas and a second fuel and (ii) generate a second exhaust gas. The first exhaust gas can have a first excess air and the second exhaust gas can have a second excess air less than the first excess air. The heat module can comprise a thermionic converter or another heat-to-electricity converter able to generate a power output.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooking oven comprising at least two entities made of sheet metal (2, 3), each sheet metal entity (2, 3) comprising at least one surface carrying an enamel layer, specifically a vitreous enamel layer, said enamelled sheet metal entities (2, 3) overlapping each other and a screw connection for grounding and coupling said enamelled sheet metal entities (2, 3), wherein a ground element is at least indirectly coupled with one of said enamelled sheet metal entities (2, 3) for grounding said stack of enamelled sheet metal entities (2, 3), wherein at least one screw (5) with a screw shaft (5.1) is provided through said enamelled sheet metal entities (2, 3), wherein the screw (5) is at least indirectly electrically coupled with the ground element and said screw shaft (5.1) comprises a thread for providing an electric coupling between the enamelled sheet metal entities (2, 3).

Abstract: Combined heat and power (CHP) systems and related methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the CHP system includes a combustion component and a power cell operably coupled to the combustion component. The power cell can include a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to the combustion component to receive heat; a second heat exchanger; and an electricity generation component with a first portion thermally coupled to the first heat exchanger and a second portion thermally coupled to the second heat exchanger. The electricity generation component is positioned to receive at least a portion of the heat received at the first heat exchanger and generate an electrical output using the received heat. To recycle unused heat from the power cell, the second heat exchanger can be thermally coupleable to a third heat exchanger in a residential heating appliance.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one alkali metal thermal-to-electricity converter (AMTEC) has a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone, the high pressure zone being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the low pressure zone being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one thermophotovoltaic converter has a photon emitter and at least one photovoltaic cell, the photon emitter being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the at least one photovoltaic cell being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one alkali metal thermal-to-electricity converter (AMTEC) has a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone, the high pressure zone being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the low pressure zone being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one thermophotovoltaic converter has a photon emitter and at least one photovoltaic cell, the photon emitter being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the at least one photovoltaic cell being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for microarray transformation, wherein, by using a cavity chip with transformation matrix, a template array can be copied onto a planar support, and the information or spatial arrangement is changed in the process, so that a transformed second array forms. The invention further relates to a device for carrying out such a method.

Abstract: In a washing element holder (2), which on one side is closed off relative to the outside (s) with a sponge material (5) having pores (4), a washing device (1) has a washing element (3) which has at least one synthetic surfactant as a foaming substance and the principal constituent.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include thermionic energy converters with a thermal concentrating hot shell and emitters for thermionic energy converters. In some embodiments, an illustrative thermionic energy converter includes: an emitter electrode; a hot shell configured to concentrate heat flow toward the emitter electrode; a collector electrode; and a cold shell that is thermally isolated from the hot shell.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one thermionic energy converter has a hot shell and a cold shell, the hot shell being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the cold shell being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include combined heating and power modules and combined heat and power devices. In an illustrative embodiment, a combined heat and power device includes a heating system including: at least one burner; at least one igniter configured to ignite the at least one burner; a fluid motivator assembly including an electrically powered prime mover; and a heat exchanger fluidly couplable to the fluid motivator assembly. At least one thermionic energy converter has a hot shell and a cold shell, the hot shell being thermally couplable to the at least one burner, the cold shell being thermally couplable to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooking oven comprising at least two entities made of sheet metal (2, 3), each sheet metal entity (2, 3) comprising at least one surface carrying an enamel layer, specifically a vitreous enamel layer, said enamelled sheet metal entities (2, 3) overlapping each other and a screw connection for grounding and coupling said enamelled sheet metal entities (2, 3), wherein a ground element is at least indirectly coupled with one of said enamelled sheet metal entities (2, 3) for grounding said stack of enamelled sheet metal entities (2, 3), wherein at least one screw (5) with a screw shaft (5.1) is provided through said enamelled sheet metal entities (2, 3), wherein the screw (5) is at least indirectly electrically coupled with the ground element and said screw shaft (5.1) comprises a thread for providing an electric coupling between the enamelled sheet metal entities (2, 3).

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include cathodes with conformal cathode surfaces, vacuum electronic devices with cathodes with conformal cathode surfaces, and methods of manufacturing the same. In a non-limiting embodiment, a cathode for a vacuum electronic device includes: a substrate having a predetermined shape; and electron emissive material disposed on at least one portion of at least one surface of the substrate, a shape of the electron emissive material conforming to the predetermined shape of the substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein are directed towards the fabrication of a solar absorber comprising an IR reflector layer deposited on a substrate; a first cermet layer deposited in contact with the IR reflector layer; a second cermet layer deposited in contact with the first cermet layer; a first anti-reflection coating layer deposited in contact with the second cermet layer; a second anti-reflection coating layer deposited in contact with the first anti-reflection coating layer. A sputtering process may be used to deposit some or all of the layers, and the YSZ layers in each cermet layer may be deposited with a tuned partial oxygen pressure in order to form a layer that is oxygen-deficient.

Abstract: In a washing element holder (2), which on one side is closed off relative to the outside (s) with a sponge material (5) having pores (4), a washing device (1) has a washing element (3) which has at least one synthetic surfactant as a foaming substance and the principal constituent.

Abstract: In a washing element holder (2), which on one side is closed off relative to the outside(s) with a sponge material (5) having pores (4), a washing device (1) has a washing element (3) which has at least one synthetic surfactant as a foaming substance and the principal constituent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a screw connection comprising a structural element (2) comprising a screw hole (2.1) and a metal sheet (3) comprising a through hole (3.1), the structural element (2) and the metal sheet (3) being adapted to be connected by means of a screw (4) by screwing the screw (4) through the through hole (3.1) of the metal sheet (3) into the screw hole (2.1) of the structural element (2), wherein the metal sheet (3) comprises an embossment (5), said embossment (5) at least partially surrounding the through hole (3.1) in order to increase the distance (d) between an upper surface of the metal sheet (3) and the screw hole (2.1) provided in the structural element (2).