Abstract: A two-step thermochemical reactor and method are disclosed. The reactor includes a housing and a reactor cavity formed within, and surrounded by, thermal insulation within the housing. The reactor cavity includes at least one unit cell, each cell having an electric heat source and a reactive material. The reactor also includes a feedstock inlet and a product outlet in fluid communication with the reactor cavity. The reactor also includes a reducing configuration, with the inlet being closed and the electric heat source of each unit cell being driven to thermally reduce the reactive material at a first temperature, releasing oxygen into the cavity. The reactor also has a splitting configuration where the reactive material is at a second temperature that is lower than the first, the feedstock inlet open and introducing feedstock gas into the cavity to reoxidize the reactive material and split into a product gas.

Abstract: This invention is directed to systems, compositions, and methods of producing food.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for gas transport is disclosed. The UAV includes a fuselage enclosing a volume, and a gas reservoir enclosed within the fuselage, filling at least a majority of the volume. The gas reservoir is configured to receive and store a gas at a pressure no greater than 100 bar. The UAV also includes a propulsion system having at least one engine, each of the at least one engine coupled to a prop that is driven by the at least one engine using energy derived from the gas stored in the gas reservoir. The UAV also includes a control system communicatively coupled to the propulsion system and configured to operate the unmanned aerial vehicle to autonomously transport the gas. The UAV may have a footprint while on the ground, and the footprint of the UAV may be no larger than three standard parking spaces.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for gas transport is disclosed. The UAV includes a fuselage enclosing a volume, and a gas reservoir enclosed within the fuselage, filling at least a majority of the volume. The gas reservoir is configured to receive and store a gas at a pressure no greater than 100 bar. The UAV also includes a propulsion system having at least one engine, each of the at least one engine coupled to a prop that is driven by the at least one engine using energy derived from the gas stored in the gas reservoir. The UAV also includes a control system communicatively coupled to the propulsion system and configured to operate the unmanned aerial vehicle to autonomously transport the gas. The UAV may have a footprint while on the ground, and the footprint of the UAV may be no larger than three standard parking spaces.

Abstract: Separating oxygen from a gas includes contacting an oxygen-selective sorbent with a gas stream, adsorbing oxygen in the gas stream with the sorbent, heating the sorbent to greater than 400° C., and desorbing a majority of the oxygen. The sorbent is selective for oxygen, and adsorbing occurs at a temperature between 275-325° C. An oxygen separation system includes a sorption bed, a heater configured to heat the sorption bed, an oxygen analyzer, a first conduit configured provide an input gas to the sorption bed, a second conduit configured to provide processed input gas from the sorption bed to the oxygen analyzer, a third conduit configured to provide a purge gas to the sorption bed, and a fourth conduit configured to provide processed purge gas to the oxygen analyzer. The first and third conduits are configured to flow the input gas and the purge gas flow in opposite directions through the sorption bed.

Abstract: A system for wireless power transmission is disclosed, and includes a plurality of UAVs, each having a transfer medium reservoir, an onboard power conversion unit, a communication module, a navigation module, a power delivery interface, and at least one sensor. Each UAV is configured to interface with a transfer medium source, receive a chemical power transfer medium into the transfer medium reservoir, fly to a target area containing a power recipient having a power demand, identify and land within a landing zone, provide chemical power transfer medium to an endpoint power conversion, and evaluate at least one directive to decide what action to take based on feedback. The system also includes a fleet control system communicatively coupled to the plurality of UAVs and configured to operate the plurality of UAVs as a swarm, generate at least one directive, and distribute the directive to the communication module of each UAV.

Abstract: A high temperature heater lamp including a ceramic envelope is disclosed. The ceramic envelope is substantially infrared transparent and is composed of a refractory ceramic. The heater lamp also includes two lead wires communicatively coupled via a filament. The filament is enclosed within the ceramic envelope, which is evacuated. The heater lamp may include at least two metallic IR shields within the ceramic envelope, at least one located on either side of the filament. The filament may be tungsten, a carbon filament, or molybdenum. At least one end of the ceramic envelope may be sealed with a metal cap affixed to the ceramic envelope by a high vacuum sealant. The heater lamp may be configured to operate at above 1500° C. The ceramic envelope may have a wall thickness less than 1 mm thick.

Abstract: A thermochemical labyrinth reactor is disclosed. The reactor has a reoxidation zone and a reduction zone with electric heaters. A recuperation zone connects the reduction and reoxidation zones with first and second channels, the first channel adjoining the second channel, being separated by windows allowing an exchange of thermal radiation between channels while preventing gas exchange. The reactor also includes reactor plates composed of a reactive material, and a transit system running through the three zones, with the transit system configured to shuttle the plates between the reduction zone and the reoxidation zone, moving the plates along a circuit. The reactor also has a feedstock gas emitter to introduce a feedstock gas flowing opposite the movement of the plates. A gas extractor is configured to extract a product gas resulting from the feedstock gas being split by the oxidizing reactive material. All three zones are surrounded by an insulating housing.

Abstract: A material for separating and pumping oxygen is disclosed. The material is a zeolite doped with a chemical element having an electron density of between 30 kJ/mol and 150 kJ/mol. The material is configured for controllable oxygen desorption between 150° C. and 300° C. and pumping the released oxygen into an area having an ambient pressure of less than 100 pascals.

Abstract: A high temperature heater lamp including a ceramic envelope is disclosed. The ceramic envelope is substantially infrared transparent and is composed of a refractory ceramic. The heater lamp also includes two lead wires communicatively coupled via a filament. The filament is enclosed within the ceramic envelope, which is evacuated. The heater lamp may include at least two metallic IR shields within the ceramic envelope, at least one located on either side of the filament. The filament may be tungsten, a carbon filament, or molybdenum. At least one end of the ceramic envelope may be sealed with a metal cap affixed to the ceramic envelope by a high vacuum sealant. The heater lamp may be configured to operate at above 1500° C. The ceramic envelope may have a wall thickness less than 1 mm thick.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for gas transport is disclosed. The UAV includes a fuselage enclosing a volume, and a gas reservoir enclosed within the fuselage, filling at least a majority of the volume. The gas reservoir is configured to receive and store a gas at a pressure no greater than 100 bar. The UAV also includes a propulsion system having at least one engine, each of the at least one engine coupled to a prop that is driven by the at least one engine using energy derived from the gas stored in the gas reservoir. The UAV also includes a control system communicatively coupled to the propulsion system and configured to operate the unmanned aerial vehicle to autonomously transport the gas. The UAV may have a footprint while on the ground, and the footprint of the UAV may be no larger than three standard parking spaces.

Abstract: A high temperature heater lamp including a ceramic envelope is disclosed. The ceramic envelope is substantially infrared transparent and is composed of a refractory ceramic. The heater lamp also includes two lead wires communicatively coupled via a filament. The filament is enclosed within the ceramic envelope, which is evacuated. The heater lamp may include at least two metallic IR shields within the ceramic envelope, at least one located on either side of the filament. The filament may be tungsten, a carbon filament, or molybdenum. At least one end of the ceramic envelope may be sealed with a metal cap affixed to the ceramic envelope by a high vacuum sealant. The heater lamp may be configured to operate at above 1500° C. The ceramic envelope may have a wall thickness less than 1 mm thick.

Abstract: A high temperature heater lamp including a ceramic envelope is disclosed. The ceramic envelope is substantially infrared transparent and is composed of a refractory ceramic. The heater lamp also includes two lead wires communicatively coupled via a filament. The filament is enclosed within the ceramic envelope, which is evacuated. The heater lamp may include at least two metallic IR shields within the ceramic envelope, at least one located on either side of the filament. The filament may be tungsten, a carbon filament, or molybdenum. At least one end of the ceramic envelope may be sealed with a metal cap affixed to the ceramic envelope by a high vacuum sealant. The heater lamp may be configured to operate at above 1500° C. The ceramic envelope may have a wall thickness less than 1 mm thick.

Abstract: A two-step thermochemical reactor and method are disclosed. The reactor includes a housing and a reactor cavity formed within, and surrounded by, thermal insulation within the housing. The reactor cavity includes at least one unit cell, each cell having an electric heat source and a reactive material. The reactor also includes a feedstock inlet and a product outlet in fluid communication with the reactor cavity. The reactor also includes a reducing configuration, with the inlet being closed and the electric heat source of each unit cell being driven to thermally reduce the reactive material at a first temperature, releasing oxygen into the cavity. The reactor also has a splitting configuration where the reactive material is at a second temperature that is lower than the first, the feedstock inlet open and introducing feedstock gas into the cavity to reoxidize the reactive material and split into a product gas.

Abstract: Methods for controlling or operating solar thermochemical reactions process that maximize the two-step thermochemical energy cycle efficiency by a combination of pressure and temperature swing are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for controlling or operating solar thermochemical reactions process that maximize the two-step thermochemical energy cycle efficiency by a combination of pressure and temperature swing are disclosed.

Abstract: A thermal swing reactor including a multi-flight auger and methods for solar thermochemical reactions are disclosed. The reactor includes a multi-flight auger having different helix portions having different pitch. Embodiments of reactors include at least two distinct reactor portions between which there is at least a pressure differential. In embodiments, reactive particles are exchanged between portions during a reaction cycle to thermally reduce the particles at first conditions and oxidize the particles at second conditions to produce chemical work from heat.

Abstract: Methods for controlling or operating solar thermochemical reactions process that maximize the two-step thermochemical energy cycle efficiency by a combination of pressure and temperature swing are disclosed.

Abstract: Reactors and methods for solar thermochemical reactions are disclosed. The reactors and methods include a cascade of reduction chambers at successively lower pressures that leads to over an order of magnitude pressure decrease compared to a single-chambered design. The resulting efficiency gains are substantial, and represent an important step toward practical and efficient solar fuel production on a large scale.

Abstract: A thermal swing reactor including a multi-flight auger and methods for solar thermochemical reactions are disclosed. The reactor includes a multi-flight auger having different helix portions having different pitch. Embodiments of reactors include at least two distinct reactor portions between which there is at least a pressure differential. In embodiments, reactive particles are exchanged between portions during a reaction cycle to thermally reduce the particles at first conditions and oxidize the particles at second conditions to produce chemical work from heat.