Abstract: Energy generation systems and methods are disclosed. An energy generation system includes a fuel tank configured to store a fuel in liquid form and a power generating device including a fuel cell or an internal combustion engine configured to receive the fuel and generate electrical energy with the fuel. The energy generation system also includes an expander connected between the fuel tank and the power generating device, the expander configured to receive the fuel as a gas and a generator connected to the expander so as to generate electrical energy when fuel passes through the expander.

Abstract: A carbon capture system includes a hydrogen production module. The hydrogen production module is used to control the amount of hydrogen entering an internal combustion engine to reduce an amount of water vapor generated by the internal combustion engine, thereby increasing the efficiency of the carbon capture device. If too much water vapor is detected in an exhaust of the engine, the amount of hydrogen produced by a hydrogen production module can be increased, thereby reducing the amount of hydrogen entering the engine and reducing the amount of water vapor generated by the engine. A reformer catalyst can be used by the hydrogen production module to remove at least a portion of hydrogen in a fuel stream of the engine.

Abstract: A system for detecting humidity level at a cathode of a fuel cell stack including one or more PEMFCs and determining a flooding probability of the stack based on the humidity level, includes a stack including a plurality of PEMFCs, each PEMFC including an exhaust; voltage detector; humidity detector; and controller. The controller may be configured to: receive a voltage as measured at an anode of one or more of the PEMFCs with the voltage detector; determine a humidity level at the exhaust of the one or more of the PEMFCs; and implement one or more actions based on the voltage and the humidity level, the actions including: reduce a load on the PEMFC; increase an air flow at a cathode of the one or more PEMFCs; decrease an inlet humidity at an inlet to the one or more PEMFCs; or increase a temperature of the one or more PEMFCs.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine system is described herein. The system uses a reactor to create pilot fuel from the primary fuel to assist in the ignition of the primary fuel. The system uses one or more heaters to increase the temperature of the primary fuel to an operational temperature of a reactor used to convert the primary fuel in a dehydration reaction. The heaters use waste heat generated by the operation of the engine. The waste heat can be lubricant used to remove heat from components of the engine as well as heat from the exhaust of the engine, for example. A controller is used to maintain an operational range of a level of the pilot fuel in an accumulator. The accumulator acts as a buffer to allow the engine to continue to receive the pilot fuel during dynamic and changing conditions of the engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine system is described herein. The system uses reactor to create pilot fuel from the primary fuel to assist in the ignition of the primary fuel. A controller is used to maintain an operational range of a level of the pilot fuel in an accumulator. The accumulator acts as a buffer to allow the engine to continue to receive the pilot fuel during dynamic and changing conditions of the engine. The controller increases or decreases the rate of production of the pilot fuel by a pilot fuel system to maintain the operational range of the level of the pilot fuel in the accumulator. The controller can receive inputs such as pilot fuel level or power signals from the engine to adjust the rate of production of the pilot fuel to meet engine demand.

Abstract: An inert blanket system includes a reformer that produces hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide. The hydrogen gas is separated from the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is ported to a vapor region of a tank to reduce the flammability of the gases in the vapor region of the tank. Excess carbon dioxide is ported to an overflow system designed to store the excess carbon dioxide for future use or to sequester the carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A system for detecting humidity level at a cathode of a fuel cell stack including one or more PEMFCs and determining a flooding probability of the stack based on the humidity level, includes a stack including a plurality of PEMFCs, each PEMFC including an exhaust; voltage detector; humidity detector; and controller. The controller may be configured to: receive a voltage as measured at an anode of one or more of the PEMFCs with the voltage detector; determine a humidity level at the exhaust of the one or more of the PEMFCs; and implement one or more actions based on the voltage and the humidity level, the actions including: reduce a load on the PEMFC; increase an air flow at a cathode of the one or more PEMFCs; decrease an inlet humidity at an inlet to the one or more PEMFCs; or increase a temperature of the one or more PEMFCs.

Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system can store a fuel reagent such as methanol for conversion into hydrogen to power one or more facility systems via a backup power system. A reactor controller can monitor a power demand of the one or more facility systems and determine whether the power demand is met by a primary power system. The fuel reagent can be provided to a fuel reactor in response to the reactor controller determining that the one or more facility systems are operating at a power deficit to generate an amount of hydrogen that, when provided to the backup power system, causes the backup power system to generate an amount of power that meets or exceeds the power deficit.

Abstract: A carbon capture system includes a hydrogen production module. The hydrogen production module is used to control the amount of hydrogen entering an internal combustion engine to reduce an amount of water vapor generated by the internal combustion engine, thereby increasing the efficiency of the carbon capture device. If too much water vapor is detected in an exhaust of the engine, the amount of hydrogen produced by a hydrogen production module can be increased, thereby reducing the amount of hydrogen entering the engine and reducing the amount of water vapor generated by the engine. A reformer catalyst can be used by the hydrogen production module to remove at least a portion of hydrogen in a fuel stream of the engine.

Abstract: A storage tank includes a tank wall, a pressure regulator, a low-pressure coupling, and a fill coupling. The tank wall of the storage tank is configured to contain a stored fluid at an internal pressure within the tank wall, the tank wall including an outer layer, an inner layer, and a regulator mount. The pressure regulator of the storage tank is connected to the regulator mount and is configured to receive a flow rate of the stored fluid and reduce the stored fluid from the internal pressure to an output pressure. The flow rate of the stored fluid is provided, via the low pressure coupling and at the output pressure to an external system. The fill coupling extends through the tank wall and receives the stored fluid from a fluid source to be stored within the storage tank.

Abstract: Energy generation systems and methods are disclosed. An energy generation system includes a fuel tank configured to store a fuel in liquid form and a power generating device including a fuel cell or an internal combustion engine configured to receive the fuel and generate electrical energy with the fuel. The energy generation system also includes an expander connected between the fuel tank and the power generating device, the expander configured to receive the fuel as a gas and a generator connected to the expander so as to generate electrical energy when fuel passes through the expander.

Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system can store a fuel reagent such as methanol for conversion into hydrogen to power one or more facility systems via a backup power system. A reactor controller can monitor a power demand of the one or more facility systems and determine whether the power demand is met by a primary power system. The fuel reagent can be provided to a fuel reactor in response to the reactor controller determining that the one or more facility systems are operating at a power deficit to generate an amount of hydrogen that, when provided to the backup power system, causes the backup power system to generate an amount of power that meets or exceeds the power deficit.

Abstract: A system includes a fuel tank and a dehydration reactor that are configured to provide a primary fuel and a pilot fuel to a power system. The fuel tank is configured to store the primary fuel and is fluidly connected to a reactor feed line and a primary fuel line provide the primary fuel. The dehydration reactor is configured to receive the primary fuel via the reactor feed line and convert a portion of the primary fuel to the pilot fuel and a byproduct. The power system is configured to receive the pilot fuel from the dehydration reactor to initiate combustion of the primary fuel. The power system also includes a cylinder with an internal piston that receives the pilot fuel and the primary fuel, contains the combustion reaction, and generates power from the combustion reaction; and contains the combustion reaction.

Abstract: A cryogenic fluid containment system is disclosed. The system can store a fluid such as hydrogen at a cryogenic temperature and pressure. As the fluid naturally warms, boil-off fluid is produced by the fluid and can be directed to a backup power system that is configured to consume the boil-off fluid. The boil-off fluid being extracted from the cryogenic fluid containment system causes additional boil-off fluid to be generated from the fluid and refrigerate the fluid within the cryogenic fluid containment system. Additionally, the boil-off fluid can be monitored over time such that as the boil-off fluid accumulates within the storage tank, a boil-off controller can determine whether the boil-off fluid is to be extracted from the storage tank. The boil-off controller can enable the fluid to be maintained below a pressure threshold within the storage tank.

Abstract: A system includes a fuel tank and a dehydration reactor that are configured to provide a primary fuel and a pilot fuel to a power system. The fuel tank is configured to store the primary fuel and is fluidly connected to a reactor feed line and a primary fuel line provide the primary fuel. The dehydration reactor is configured to receive the primary fuel via the reactor feed line and convert a portion of the primary fuel to the pilot fuel and a byproduct. The power system is configured to receive the pilot fuel from the dehydration reactor to initiate combustion of the primary fuel. The power system also includes a cylinder with an internal piston that receives the pilot fuel and the primary fuel, contains the combustion reaction, and generates power from the combustion reaction; and contains the combustion reaction.

Abstract: A storage tank includes a tank wall, a pressure regulator, a low-pressure coupling, and a fill coupling. The tank wall of the storage tank is configured to contain a stored fluid at an internal pressure within the tank wall, the tank wall including an outer layer, an inner layer, and a regulator mount. The pressure regulator of the storage tank is connected to the regulator mount and is configured to receive a flow rate of the stored fluid and reduce the stored fluid from the internal pressure to an output pressure. The flow rate of the stored fluid is provided, via the low pressure coupling and at the output pressure to an external system.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine includes an air compressor, an air cooler connected downstream of the air compressor and the compressed air supply passage, and a bypass passage connected downstream of the air compressor. The fuel supply system also includes a fuel injector secured to the compressed air supply passage or secured to the bypass passage and a valve connected between the air compressor and the air cooler, the valve being configured to block a flow of intake air to the air cooler, causing the intake air to flow to the bypass passage or to permit the flow of intake air to the air cooler.

Abstract: A delay circuit for providing natural gas to an engine and systems, components, and methods thereof can comprise a first valve to selectively pass the natural gas from a starter motor configured to start the engine; a delay volume to receive the natural gas from the first valve; and a second valve to selectively pass the natural gas from the delay volume to an inlet of the engine. The natural gas is provided to the inlet of the engine via the delay system according to a predetermined delay by controlling the first valve and the second valve to selectively pass the natural gas to the inlet of the engine according to the predetermined delay.

Abstract: A method for estimating damage of a component of an internal combustion engine includes receiving a fuel rate signal indicative of a fuel rate of the internal combustion engine and estimating a temperature value of the component of the internal combustion engine based on at least the received fuel rate signal. The method also includes estimating an incremental amount of damage of the component of the internal combustion engine based on the estimated temperature value of the component of the internal combustion engine, updating a cumulative amount of damage of the component of the internal combustion engine based on the estimated incremental amount of damage, and outputting a notification based on at least the cumulative amount of damage of the component of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A cryogenic pump includes a pressurization assembly configured to be submerged in a cryogenic liquid; a hydraulic actuation assembly; and a transmission assembly in communication between the pressurization assembly and the hydraulic actuation assembly. The transmission assembly including a conduit having a first end adjacent the hydraulic actuation assembly and a second end adjacent the pressurization assembly. The conduit is configured to contain a material having a first state at the first end and a different second state at the second end.