Abstract: A modular jet impingement assembly includes an inlet tube fluidly coupled to a fluid inlet, an outlet tube fluidly coupled to a fluid outlet, and a modular manifold having a first distribution recess extending into a first side of the modular manifold, a second distribution recess extending into a second side of the modular manifold, a plurality of inlet connection tubes positioned at an inlet end of the modular manifold, and a plurality of outlet connection tubes positioned at an outlet end of the modular manifold. A first manifold insert is removably positioned within the first distribution recess, a second manifold insert is removably positioned within the second distribution recess, and a first and second heat transfer plate each removably coupled to the modular manifold. The first and second heat transfer plates each comprise an impingement surface.

Abstract: A facility can include a main power source. One or more facility systems can be operatively connected to the main power source. The facility can include a plurality of sensors. The plurality of sensors can be configured to acquire facility data. A plurality of energy harvesters can be operatively connected to the plurality of sensors. The plurality of energy harvesters can be configured to convert energy received in one form into another form of energy. The plurality of energy harvesters can be operatively connected to supply energy to the plurality of sensors. The plurality of sensors can be exclusively powered by energy supplied by the plurality of energy harvesters. Thus, the plurality of sensors are decoupled from the main power source. The facility can be a fixed facility or a mobile facility. The facility can be used for disaster relief or other applications.

Abstract: Pool boiling systems, cooling systems configured to cool one or more heat generating portions of a vehicle, and methods of maintaining a functional orientation of a pool boiling unit are disclosed. A pool boiling system may include the pool boiling unit and a stabilizing unit coupled to the pool boiling unit. The stabilizing unit maintains the pool boiling unit in a functional orientation across a plurality of operating orientations of the pool boiling system.

Abstract: A power electronics assembly that includes a first cooling chip fluidly coupled to a second cooling chip. The first cooling chip and the second cooling chip each include a cooling chip fluid inlet, a cooling chip fluid outlet, and one or more cooling chip fluid channels extending between and fluidly coupled to the cooling chip fluid inlet and the cooling chip fluid outlet. The power electronics assembly also includes a semiconductor device positioned between and thermally coupled to the first cooling chip and the second cooling chip and a thermo-electric generator positioned between and thermally coupled to the semiconductor device and one of the first cooling chip or the second cooling chip.

Abstract: Systems and methods for degassing and charging phase-change thermal devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a flask, a first shut-off valve fluidly coupled to an outlet of the flask, and a first valve fluidly coupled to the first shut-off valve by a fluid line. The system further includes a second valve fluidly coupled to the first valve, wherein the second valve is operable to be fluidly coupled to the phase-change thermal device, a second shut-off valve fluidly coupled to the second valve, a third valve fluidly coupled to the first valve, a vacuum pump fluidly coupled to the third valve, and a fluid injection device fluidly coupled to the fluid line between the first valve and the first shut-off valve. The fluid injection device draws the working fluid from the flask and injects a desired amount into the phase-change thermal device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the continuous operation of an air conditioning unit or climate control system in a vehicle. The system may include a power generating unit, such as an engine or a fuel cell stack, and an exhaust loop in fluid communication with the power generating unit. First and second adsorption-based thermal batteries are provided in thermal communication with the exhaust loop. The vehicle may be configured to simultaneously operate in both an air conditioning operational mode powered by the first thermal battery, and a charging operational mode that regenerates the second thermal battery. A thermoelectric generator may also be provided such that the system is entirely self-powered, reducing or eliminating a need for supplemental, i.e. plug-in, charging.

Abstract: Heat transfer management apparatuses are disclosed. In one embodiment, a heat transfer management apparatus includes a composite lamina having an insulator substrate and a plurality of thermal conductor traces coupled to the insulator substrate, where the plurality of thermal conductor traces are arranged into a first enhanced thermal conduction region and a second enhanced thermal conduction region. The heat transfer management apparatus also includes a heat generating component mount coupled to the composite lamina and a temperature sensitive component mount coupled to the composite lamina and positioned distally from the heat generating component mount.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of wirelessly charging a battery are disclosed. The wireless charging system may include a charge receiver, charge transmitter, and an active control sheet. The active control sheet may include a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells may be activated or deactivated according to the location of the charge receiver relative to the charge transmitter. Charging may be initiated, and electrical charge transferred, from the charge transmitter, through the activated cells on the active control sheet, and to the charge receiver.

Abstract: A system for recovering waste heat energy for a motor assisted turbocharger, including a turbine, a first power transmission device connected on a first side to the turbine, a drive gear disposed about and connected on a first side to a second side of the first power transmission device, a second power transmission device connected on a first side to a second side of the drive gear, and a compressor connected to a second side of the second power transmission device. The system further includes a motor gear drivingly connected to the drive gear, a motor generator connected to the motor gear, a waste heat recovery circuit including an expander, an output gear connected to the expander and drivingly connected to the motor gear.

Abstract: An electrical energy production system includes at least a pair of thermally regenerating ammonia batteries. One of the batteries is in a charging mode; the other is in a discharging mode. A controller is operatively connected to the at least a pair of thermally regenerating ammonia batteries. At least one heat source is connected to the at least a pair of thermally regenerating batteries. A control valve is connected to the controller and to the at least a pair of thermally regenerating batteries. The control valve distributes heat from the heat source to a specified one of the at least a pair of thermally regenerating ammonia batteries. An electrical path connects each of the pair of thermally regenerating batteries to the controller and to a power rectification circuit. An external load is connected to the power rectification circuit such that a continuous power source is provided to the external load.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating electric power using low grade thermal energy from a vehicle. The methods may include surrounding at least a portion of a coolant conduit system with a flexible thermo-electrochemical cell including a nanoporous cathode electrode, a nanoporous anode electrode, and an electrolyte. A coolant fluid may be circulated through the coolant conduit system, which is in thermal communication with a power generating unit, such as an internal combustion engine or fuel cell stack. The method includes maintaining a temperature gradient in the electrolyte solution by contacting the anode electrode with the coolant conduit system, and exposing the cathode electrode to a temperature lower than a temperature of the coolant conduit system. Generated electrical charges can be collected for subsequent use.

Abstract: A system for recovering waste heat energy for a motor assisted turbocharger, including a turbine, a first power transmission device connected on a first side to the turbine, a drive gear disposed about and connected on a first side to a second side of the first power transmission device, a second power transmission device connected on a first side to a second side of the drive gear, and a compressor connected to a second side of the second power transmission device. The system further includes a motor gear drivingly connected to the drive gear, a motor generator connected to the motor gear, a waste heat recovery circuit including an expander, an output gear connected to the expander and drivingly connected to the motor gear.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system of bonded substrates may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and a composite bonding layer positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate. The composite boding layer may include an interior bond region, an exterior bond region, and a metal matrix. The material of the interior bond region may have a greater elastic modulus than the material of the exterior bond region. A portion of the metal matrix may be in the interior bond region and a portion of the metal matrix may be in the exterior bond region. The composite bonding layer may also include a plurality of soft material members positioned in the portion of the metal matrix in the exterior bond region, or a plurality of hard material members positioned in the portion of the metal matrix in the interior bond region, or both.

Abstract: A thermal switch includes a substrate having a target region and a peripheral region. A metallization array is coupled to the substrate and is positioned adjacent the target region, the metallization array including a plurality of first temperature dependent thermally conductive metallization segments and a plurality of second temperature dependent thermally conductive metallization segments. The metallization array directs heat flux toward the target region within a first temperature range and directs heat flux away from the target region within a second temperature range.

Abstract: A system for rapidly heating a vehicle engine when the engine is below a pre-determined temperature allows for improved fuel efficiency after a vehicle cold-start. The system includes an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) loop having a two-phase ORC fluid traveling circuitously through a conduit. The ORC fluid is vaporized by a power electronics cooling device and by an evaporator in thermal communication with exhaust waste heat. The vaporized ORC fluid is passed through an expander to generate electrical power. When the vehicle engine is below the pre-determined temperature, heat from the vaporized ORC fluid is transferred directly or indirectly to the engine. When the vehicle engine is at or above the pre-determined temperature, heat from the vaporized ORC fluid is instead transferred to an alternate heat sink.

Abstract: A system for cooling a vehicle compartment using a twin cell thermal battery and waste heat. Cool air from the evaporators of a twin cell thermal battery system is used to chill a compartment, such as an icebox in a trunk or a cabin of a vehicle. The energy needed to create the cooling effect for the cool compartment comes directly from the waste heat of vehicle exhaust gas. The system provides for the air conditioning and charging mode to work simultaneously because of a twin cell battery configuration. A thermoelectric generator (TEG) is also provided in addition to the twin cell battery thereby making the system self-powered. The system uses energy that would otherwise be lost to the environment to provide a cooling source within the vehicle.

Abstract: A thermally managed electrical supply unit is provided. The unit contains an energy unit comprising a battery or a battery pack; a casing of a porous thermally conductive framework comprising a phase change material on at least one surface of the energy unit; at least one heat flux rectifier unit on the thermally conductive framework casing; wherein a surface of the heat flux rectifier opposite to the PF/PCM casing is subject to cooling. Also provided is a method for thermal management of an energy unit comprising absorption of heat from the energy unit within a phase change material, transfer of the heat energy from the phase change material through a heat flux rectifier and removal of the heat transferred across the heat flux rectifier. The flow of heat across the heat flux rectifier is irreversible and the heat flux rectifier acts as an on/off switch to control the heat flow.

Abstract: An absorption cycle based system is disclosed for using waste heat from a vehicle and providing selective heating, cooling, and dehumidifying to a vehicle compartment. The system includes a waste heat loop in thermal communication with a power generating unit of the vehicle, and a vapor absorption subsystem. The vapor absorption subsystem may include a thermal compressor in thermal communication with the waste heat loop, a radiator unit, a condensing unit for heating the vehicle compartment, an evaporating unit for selectively cooling and dehumidifying the vehicle compartment, and a plurality of valves configured to selectively direct refrigerant through the vapor absorption subsystem. The vehicle compartment may include at least one of a passenger cabin, an electronics housing, a battery pack, an engine compartment, and a refrigeration compartment.

Abstract: Constraint-based methods for determining orientations of material physical properties using an isoparametric shape function are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of defining an orientation of an material physical property includes defining nonlinear and/or discontinuous design constraints of design values in a geometric domain associated with one or more physical attributes of the material physical property, and translating the nonlinear and/or discontinuous design constraints into continuous, first order design constraints of the design values by applying an isoparametric shape function. The method further includes performing a topology optimization using the continuous, first order design constraints of the design values, and reverse-translating results of the topology optimization back into the geometric domain using the isoparametric shape function. The results of the topology optimization in the geometric domain are indicative of the orientation of the material physical property.

Abstract: A system for powering an active grille shutter assembly comprising a linkage system connected to a shutter, a generator connected to the shutter, an energy storage device connected to the generator, an electric motor connected to and powered by the energy storage device, and connected to the linkage system, and a controller connected to the energy storage device and the electric motor. The position of the shutter is adjusted by the linkage system, the position of the linkage system is adjusted by the electric motor, the operation of the electric motor is controlled by the controller, the electric motor is powered by energy stored in the energy storage device, and the energy storage device receives energy from the operation of the generator.