Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) system converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) to continuous heat at over 900° C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. The delivered heat which may be used for processes including power generation and cogeneration. The TES system is configured to include control system components that reduce thermal losses associated with component inefficiency.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) system converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) to continuous heat at over 900° C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. The delivered heat which may be used for processes including power generation and cogeneration. The thermal storage medium may constitute refractory material such as brick or concrete configured with radiation cavities and fluid flow channels to provide for rapid radiative charging from VRE and long-term convective discharging.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) system converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) to continuous heat at over 900° C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. The delivered heat which may be used for processes including power generation and cogeneration. The TES system is configured to include a heat exchange system with overheat thermal protection.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) system converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) to continuous heat at over 900° C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. The delivered heat which may be used for processes including power generation and cogeneration. The TES system is configured to include control system components that reduce thermal losses associated with component inefficiency.

Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods for implementing a starter system that utilizes multiple starter solenoids physically isolated from each other. For example, the system may include a first solenoid mechanically connected to a starter motor. The first solenoid may be configured to receive a first starting current signal and mechanically couple the starter motor with an engine. The system may further include a second solenoid mounted within an explosion proof structure physically isolating the second solenoid from the first solenoid and the starter motor. The system may further include a non-incendive circuit mounted within the explosion proof structure. The non-incendive circuit may be configured to indicate that the starter motor is coupled with the engine and signal the second solenoid for activation to supply a cranking current signal to windings of the starter motor for operation.

Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods for implementing a starter system that utilizes multiple starter solenoids physically isolated from each other. For example, the system may include a first solenoid mechanically connected to a starter motor. The first solenoid may be configured to receive a first starting current signal and mechanically couple the starter motor with an engine. The system may further include a second solenoid mounted within an explosion proof structure physically isolating the second solenoid from the first solenoid and the starter motor. The system may further include a non-incendive circuit mounted within the explosion proof structure. The non-incendive circuit may be configured to indicate that the starter motor is coupled with the engine and signal the second solenoid for activation to supply a cranking current signal to windings of the starter motor for operation.

Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods for implementing a starter system that utilizes multiple starter solenoids physically isolated from each other. For example, the system may include a first solenoid mechanically connected to a starter motor. The first solenoid may be configured to receive a first starting current signal and mechanically couple the starter motor with an engine. The system may further include a second solenoid mounted within an explosion proof structure physically isolating the second solenoid from the first solenoid and the starter motor. The system may further include a non-incendive circuit mounted within the explosion proof structure. The non-incendive circuit may be configured to indicate that the starter motor is coupled with the engine and signal the second solenoid for activation to supply a cranking current signal to windings of the starter motor for operation.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage (TES) system converts variable renewable electricity (VRE) to continuous heat at over 900° C. Intermittent electrical energy heats a solid medium. Heat from the solid medium is delivered continuously on demand. Heat delivery via flowing gas establishes a thermocline which maintains high outlet temperature throughout discharge. The delivered heat which may be used for processes including power generation and cogeneration. The thermal storage medium may constitute refractory material such as brick or concrete configured with radiation cavities and fluid flow channels to provide for rapid radiative charging from VRE and long-term convective discharging.

Abstract: A network-based collaborative problem solving space is provided for managing alerts. The virtual collaboration space provide a virtual space for viewing streaming time series data, generating alerts for time series data, and viewing triggered alerts based on a threshold associated with the generated alert. Alert generation and triggering is automatically tracked within an event log, with particular event log entries associated with the alert generation and the triggering of an alert. When an alert is triggered, a link to the event log entry associated with generating the alert is provided. By reviewing the alert generation and surrounding event log entries, users of the virtual collaboration space may gain context as to the motivations for generating the original alert and thereby better understand whether the triggering of the alert is a serious issue.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating carbon-containing waste materials include a gasifying system, a drier system for pre-drying the material, and an energy-recovery system for recovering waste heat and/or producer gas from the gasifying system/method for use in pre-drying the material. The energy-recovery system can include a recirculation system for recovering the waste heat and/or a thermal oxidizer or other combustion device for burning the producer gas, along with a heat-transfer-loop for transferring the recovered heat energy to the drier for pre-drying the material. In another aspect of the invention, the gasifying systems and methods use a thermal-screw conveyor with a product chamber and rotary thermal screws, and an oxygen-delivery system configured for delivering oxygen into the product chamber for immediate absorption into the material, with or without the dryer system and/or the energy-recovery system.

Abstract: A system for treating a material includes first and second screw conveyors each having a rotary shaft and a helical flight extending radially outward therefrom, the flighting of the screw conveyors overlapping with each other, and first and second actuators operably coupled to the first and second screw conveyors in a one-to-one dedicated relationship to rotationally drive the screw conveyors independently of each other. In typical embodiments, also included is a system for varying the clocking position of the screw conveyors relative to each other, wherein the screw conveyor flights are axially adjusted with respect to each other between a normal position and an advanced and/or retarded position. Also disclosed are methods of varying the axial position of the screw conveyor flights with respect to each other between the normal and advanced and/or retarded positions.

Abstract: A system for treating a material includes first and second screw conveyors each having a rotary shaft and a helical flight extending radially outward therefrom, the flighting of the screw conveyors overlapping with each other, and first and second actuators operably coupled to the first and second screw conveyors in a one-to-one dedicated relationship to rotationally drive the screw conveyors independently of each other. In typical embodiments, also included is a system for varying the clocking position of the screw conveyors relative to each other, wherein the screw conveyor flights are axially adjusted with respect to each other between a normal position and an advanced and/or retarded position. Also disclosed are methods of varying the axial position of the screw conveyor flights with respect to each other between the normal and advanced and/or retarded positions.

Abstract: A system for treating a material includes first and second screw conveyors each having a rotary shaft and a helical flight extending radially outward therefrom, the flighting of the screw conveyors overlapping with each other, and first and second actuators operably coupled to the first and second screw conveyors in a one-to-one dedicated relationship to rotationally drive the screw conveyors independently of each other. In typical embodiments, also included is a system for varying the clocking position of the screw conveyors relative to each other, wherein the screw conveyor flights are axially adjusted with respect to each other between a normal position and an advanced and/or retarded position. Also disclosed are methods of varying the axial position of the screw conveyor flights with respect to each other between the normal and advanced and/or retarded positions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating materials is described. The apparatus is a furnace that includes multiple gravity-feed trays and a heat transfer fluid that heats material by the heat evolved during phase change. The apparatus also includes moving paddles that urge the material through each tray. The method provides for the torrefying of the material using a phase-change heat-transfer fluid by providing the material sequentially to at least two trays, where the at least two trays are substantially horizontal and disposed at different vertical heights; condensing the vapor phase at a temperature; and providing heat from the condensing the vapor phase to the material, where the temperature is sufficient to torrefy the material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating carbon-containing waste materials include a gasifying system, a drier system for pre-drying the material, and an energy-recovery system for recovering waste heat and/or producer gas from the gasifying system/method for use in pre-drying the material. The energy-recovery system can include a recirculation system for recovering the waste heat and/or a thermal oxidizer or other combustion device for burning the producer gas, along with a heat-transfer-loop for transferring the recovered heat energy to the drier for pre-drying the material. In another aspect of the invention, the gasifying systems and methods use a thermal-screw conveyor with a product chamber and rotary thermal screws, and an oxygen-delivery system configured for delivering oxygen into the product chamber for immediate absorption into the material, with or without the dryer system and/or the energy-recovery system.

Abstract: A system for treating a material includes first and second screw conveyors each having a rotary shaft and a helical flight extending radially outward therefrom, the flighting of the screw conveyors overlapping with each other, and first and second actuators operably coupled to the first and second screw conveyors in a one-to-one dedicated relationship to rotationally drive the screw conveyors independently of each other. In typical embodiments, also included is a system for varying the clocking position of the screw conveyors relative to each other, wherein the screw conveyor flights are axially adjusted with respect to each other between a normal position and an advanced and/or retarded position. Also disclosed are methods of varying the axial position of the screw conveyor flights with respect to each other between the normal and advanced and/or retarded positions.

Abstract: A process for preparing polyimide resins comprises stirring a diamine and a dianhydride in a solvent to form a slurry; heating the slurry to a temperature sufficient for the diamine and dianhydride to react wherein the temperature is below the melting point of the dianhydride, below the melting point of the diamine, or below the melting points of the dianhydride and diamine; and reacting the diamine and dianhydride to form a polyimide having sufficient molecular weight to precipitate from the solvent.

Abstract: A method of preparing a purified dianhydride is provided where said method comprises the steps of preparing a first mixture comprising water, at least one inorganic acid, and at least one dianhydride, said dianhydride comprising at least one impurity which is soluble in aqueous acid heating said first mixture until substantially all of said dianhydride is converted to a tetraacid comprised in a second mixture; filtering at least a portion of said second mixture to provide a solid tetraacid and a filtrate, said filtrate comprising at least a portion of said impurity; and heating the tetraacid provided in a solvent with concurrent distillation of water to provide a third mixture comprising a purified dianhydride and a solvent.

Abstract: Systems and methods for disposing of waste material are disclosed, in which a cross-belt magnet configuration is employed to separate ferromagnetic substances from waste material. For some embodiments, the system includes a first conveyor belt, a magnet, and a second conveyor belt. The first conveyor belt is configured to carry waste materials in a first direction. The magnet is located in proximity to the first conveyor belt such that the first conveyor belt is within range of the attractive force of the magnet. The magnet attracts the ferromagnetic substances. The second conveyor belt is interposed between the magnet and the first conveyor belt. The second conveyor belt is positioned non-parallel to the first conveyor belt, and is configured to carry the attracted ferromagnetic substances in a second direction, which is non-parallel to the first direction.