Abstract: The invention provides a method for reclaiming heat from a fluid, the method having the steps of contacting the fluid to a phase change material for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the material and or liquefy some of it; and contacting the material to a second fluid for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the second fluid and to decrease the temperature of the material or to solidify some of it.

Abstract: A method can include providing two or more parts. The two or more parts can include a first part and a second part. The method can include disposing a source material between the first part and the second part. The method can include joining and densifying the first part and the second part by reacting a liquid with the source material.

Abstract: A lithium ion conducting membrane and methods of making the same. The membrane includes a polymeric matrix and a plurality of ion-conducting particles disposed within the polymeric matrix. An inorganic coating deposited in the polymeric matrix.

Abstract: An additively manufactured heat exchanger adapted for use in extreme environments, such as a concentrated solar power (CSP) electric power plant. The heat exchanger receives a liquid heat transfer fluid at a high temperature and high pressure. The heat exchanger efficiently exchanges heat with a working fluid flowing in a cross-flow or a counter-flow configuration. A first set of channels of the heat exchanger receives liquid heat transfer fluid, such as corrosive molten salt, and a second set of channels receives working fluid, such as super critical carbon dioxide. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the liquid heat transfer fluid to the working fluid.

Abstract: A method of depowdering objects (e.g., heat exchangers) having small and/or complex internal geometries and manufactured using an additive manufacturing technique performed with a powder material. The method includes applying a pressurized fluid to the objects via a pressurized fluid applicator operatively coupled to the object, thereby removing a portion of unbound powder material on or in the object. The method further includes applying vortex vibration to the object via a vortex vibration source operatively coupled to the object, thereby loosening a portion of the unbound powder material remaining on or in the object, and applying the pressurized fluid to the object via the pressurized fluid application, thereby removing a portion of the loosened, unbound powder material from the object. The latter two applying steps are repeated until a specified amount of the unbound powder material has been removed from the object.

Abstract: A method of forming MAX phase structures having one or more apertures includes filing a green body having one or more apertures with an insert powder and sintering while applying a load to the insert filled green body to from the MAX phase structure.

Abstract: A method of forming a MAX Phase composite can include forming a precursor powder into a discrete shape to thereby form a green body; heating the green body at a pre-sintering temperature to partially reduce the oxide present in the green body to thereby form a pre-sintered preform; and performing reactive infiltration by heating the pre-sintered preform in the presence of an infiltrating material comprising an A-group element to an infiltration temperature suitable for transforming the infiltrating material to a molten state, wherein the molten infiltrating material reacts with the pre-sintered preform to thereby form the MAX Phase composite

Abstract: The invention provides a method for storing heat and continuously generating electricity, the method comprising a phase change material; first fluid conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material wherein the first conduit is adapted to receive a first fluid; a second fluid conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material, wherein the second conduit is adapted to receive a second fluid; and a turbine in thermal communication with the second fluid. Also provided is a method for continuously charging the energy power block portion of a combined thermal energy storage and heat exchanger unit with heated fluid generated by concentrated solar power, the method comprising intermittently storing heat in a phase change material; and continually directing the heat from the phase change material to a turbine such that the phase change material buffers the turbine against inconsistent solar heat inputs.

Abstract: A method of depowdering objects (e.g., heat exchangers) having small and/or complex internal geometries and manufactured using an additive manufacturing technique performed with a powder material. The method includes applying a pressurized fluid to the objects via a pressurized fluid applicator operatively coupled to the object, thereby removing a portion of unbound powder material on or in the object. The method further includes applying vortex vibration to the object via a vortex vibration source operatively coupled to the object, thereby loosening a portion of the unbound powder material remaining on or in the object, and applying the pressurized fluid to the object via the pressurized fluid application, thereby removing a portion of the loosened, unbound powder material from the object. The latter two applying steps are repeated until a specified amount of the unbound powder material has been removed from the object.

Abstract: A heat exchanger adapted to receive high temperature, high pressure, and corrosive fluids including a body having an interior volume, a first set of channels extending through the body, a second set of channels extending through the body, a first set of headers, and a second set of headers. Each channel in the first set of channels having a first inlet aperture, a first inlet portion, a first outlet aperture, a first outlet portion, and a first conduit extending between the first inlet portion and the first outlet portion. Each channel in the second set of channels having a second inlet aperture, a second inlet portion, a second outlet aperture, a second outlet portion, and a second conduit extending between the second inlet portion and the second outlet portion. The first and second conduits having a uniform shape along its length.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for storing heat and continuously generating electricity, the method comprising a phase change material; first fluid conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material wherein the first conduit is adapted to receive a first fluid; a second fluid conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material, wherein the second conduit is adapted to receive a second fluid; and a turbine in thermal communication with the second fluid. Also provided is a method for continuously charging the energy power block portion of a combined thermal energy storage and heat exchanger unit with heated fluid generated by concentrated solar power, the method comprising intermittently storing heat in a phase change material; and continually directing the heat from the phase change material to a turbine such that the phase change material buffers the turbine against inconsistent solar heat inputs.

Abstract: A lithium ion conducting membrane and methods of making the same. The membrane includes a polymeric matrix and a plurality of ion-conducting particles disposed within the polymeric matrix. An inorganic coating deposited in the polymeric matrix.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for reclaiming heat from a fluid, the method having the steps of contacting the fluid to a phase change material for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the material and or liquefy some of it; and contacting the material to a second fluid for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the second fluid and to decrease the temperature of the material or to solidify some of it.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for storing and releasing heat having the steps of thermally contacting thermal transfer fluid to a mixture of foam and phase change material for a time sufficient for the material to change from a first phase to a second phase during a time when electricity rates are at a first price point; maintaining said material in the second phase until electricity rates are at a second point, wherein the second point is higher than the first price point; and thermally contacting the thermal transfer fluid to the composite in the second phase for a time sufficient for the material to change from the second phase to the first phase.

Abstract: The invention provides a single radiator cooling system for use in hybrid electric vehicles, the system comprising a surface in thermal communication with electronics, and subcooled boiling fluid contacting the surface. The invention also provides a single radiator method for simultaneously cooling electronics and an internal combustion engine in a hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising separating a coolant fluid into a first portion and a second portion; directing the first portion to the electronics and the second portion to the internal combustion engine for a time sufficient to maintain the temperature of the electronics at or below 175° C.; combining the first and second portion to reestablish the coolant fluid; and treating the reestablished coolant fluid to the single radiator for a time sufficient to decrease the temperature of the reestablished coolant fluid to the temperature it had before separation.

Abstract: The invention provides a modular device for latent heat storage, which is made of a conduit with a first end and a second end; and a jacket that surrounds a portion of the conduit between the first end and the second end, wherein the jacket is comprised of at least one phase change material. The invention further provides a system for latent heat storage, comprising a thermally insulated enclosure adapted to receive at least one modular latent heat storage device and a HTF, wherein the HTF flows from an upstream heat source into each of the first ends of the conduit and out of each of the second ends of the conduit comprising the at least one module to a downstream heat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for reclaiming heat from a fluid, the method having the steps of contacting the fluid to a phase change material for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the material and or liquefy some of it; and contacting the material to a second fluid for a time sufficient to increase the temperature of the second fluid and to decrease the temperature of the material or to solidify some of it. The invention also provides a system to reclaim heat from a first fluid, the system having a first void space containing phase changing material, and a second void space in thermal communication with the first void space. The system functions as an efficient thermal storage buffer when heat supplied from the first fluid is not equal to the heat received by the second fluid at any instant of time.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for storing and releasing heat having the steps of thermally contacting thermal transfer fluid to a mixture of foam and phase change material for a time sufficient for the material to change from a first phase to a second phase during a time when electricity rates are at a first price point; maintaining said material in the second phase until electricity rates are at a second point, wherein the second point is higher than the first price point; and thermally contacting the thermal transfer fluid to the composite in the second phase for a time sufficient for the material to change from the second phase to the first phase.

Abstract: Nanoelectrofuel compositions include a plurality of electroactive surface-treated or surface modified nanoparticles dispersed in an electrolyte or self suspended and exhibit fluid characteristics are provided. A Redox flow cell may employ the nanoelectrofuels compositions, wherein the redox flow cell includes a first inlet and a first outlet in fluid communication with a first half-cell body, a second inlet and a second outlet in fluid communication with a second half-cell body, a third cell body, and an ion-conductive membrane separating the first half-cell body from the second half-cell body and defining the second half-cell body.

Abstract: The invention provides a single radiator cooling system for use in hybrid electric vehicles, the system comprising a surface in thermal communication with electronics, and subcooled boiling fluid contacting the surface. The invention also provides a single radiator method for simultaneously cooling electronics and an internal combustion engine in a hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising separating a coolant fluid into a first portion and a second portion; directing the first portion to the electronics and the second portion to the internal combustion engine for a time sufficient to maintain the temperature of the electronics at or below 175° C.; combining the first and second portion to reestablish the coolant fluid; and treating the reestablished coolant fluid to the single radiator for a time sufficient to decrease the temperature of the reestablished coolant fluid to the temperature it had before separation.