Abstract: A blender system is provided that includes a motorized base and a mixing assembly attached thereto in which materials to be blended may be contained and blended. The motorized base includes several mechanisms for reducing noise emitted by the motor that powers the blender blades. The mechanisms may include elastic isolators in communication with components within the blender system, stiff plates positioned to absorb vibrations and noise emitted by the motor, and a sound cover that can be placed around the mixing assembly.

Abstract: A method of pumping a fluid including providing a pump including a disposable component and a reusable component; connecting the disposable component and the reusable component; receiving a fluid medium from a fluid medium source into a first disposable conduit; drawing the fluid medium into a disposable piston pump assembly of a first disposable conduit; flowing the fluid medium through a disposable flow meter; measuring a flow rate of the fluid medium; discharging the fluid medium into a reusable bubble detector; and discharging the fluid medium from the reusable bubble detector if less than a preselected amount of gas is detected.

Abstract: A pump including a disposable component including a disposable component inlet port coupled to a first disposable conduit in fluid communication with a fluid medium source, wherein the first disposable conduit includes a disposable piston pump assembly and a disposable bubble eliminator, and the first disposable conduit is in fluid communication with a disposable component outlet port, wherein the disposable bubble eliminator is in fluid communication with a lumen of the first disposable conduit and is operable to reduce a gas content of a fluid medium; wherein the disposable piston pump assembly is operable to pump the fluid medium from the disposable component inlet port, through the first disposable conduit and the disposable bubble eliminator, to the disposable component outlet port; and a reusable component including a reusable movable stage operable to compress the disposable piston pump assembly; and a reusable mechanical actuator operable to drive the movable stage.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method including providing an anode and a cathode; providing a desalination device operably coupled to establish an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode when the desalination device is operating; providing water containing dissolved solids; thereby establishing the electrical potential; reducing a salinity of the water by supplying the water to the desalination device; and generating electrical power by reducing the salinity of the water.

Abstract: A pump including a disposable component including a disposable component inlet port coupled to a first disposable conduit in fluid communication with a fluid medium source, wherein the first disposable conduit includes a disposable piston pump assembly and a disposable bubble eliminator, and the first disposable conduit is in fluid communication with a disposable component outlet port, wherein the disposable bubble eliminator is in fluid communication with a lumen of the first disposable conduit and is operable to reduce a gas content of a fluid medium; wherein the disposable piston pump assembly is operable to pump the fluid medium from the disposable component inlet port, through the first disposable conduit and the disposable bubble eliminator, to the disposable component outlet port; and a reusable component including a reusable movable stage operable to compress the disposable piston pump assembly; and a reusable mechanical actuator operable to drive the movable stage.

Abstract: A pump including a disposable component including a disposable component inlet port coupled to a first disposable conduit in fluid communication with a fluid medium source, wherein the first disposable conduit includes a disposable piston pump assembly and a disposable bubble eliminator, and the first disposable conduit is in fluid communication with a disposable component outlet port, wherein the disposable bubble eliminator is in fluid communication with a lumen of the first disposable conduit and is operable to reduce a gas content of a fluid medium; wherein the disposable piston pump assembly is operable to pump the fluid medium from the disposable component inlet port, through the first disposable conduit and the disposable bubble eliminator, to the disposable component outlet port; and a reusable component including a reusable movable stage operable to compress the disposable piston pump assembly; and a reusable mechanical actuator operable to drive the movable stage.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method including providing an anode and a cathode; providing a desalination device operably coupled to establish an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode when the desalination device is operating; providing water containing dissolved solids; thereby establishing the electrical potential; reducing a salinity of the water by supplying the water to the desalination device; and generating electrical power by reducing the salinity of the water.

Abstract: A pump including a disposable component including a disposable component inlet port coupled to a first disposable conduit in fluid communication with a fluid medium source, wherein the first disposable conduit includes a disposable piston pump assembly and a disposable bubble eliminator, and the first disposable conduit is in fluid communication with a disposable component outlet port, wherein the disposable bubble eliminator is in fluid communication with a lumen of the first disposable conduit and is operable to reduce a gas content of a fluid medium; wherein the disposable piston pump assembly is operable to pump the fluid medium from the disposable component inlet port, through the first disposable conduit and the disposable bubble eliminator, to the disposable component outlet port; and a reusable component including a reusable movable stage operable to compress the disposable piston pump assembly; and a reusable mechanical actuator operable to drive the movable stage.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for volumetric and gravimetric storage of reactants and waste comprising: one or more reactant or fuel storage bladders; and one or more waste storage bladders, wherein the reactant or fuel storage bladders and the waste storage bladders form a stack of bladders, and the stack of bladders are interleaved between the reactant or fuel storage bladders and the waste storage bladders, such that both a volumetric and a gravimetric balance is maintained as reactant or fuel are used and the waste bladder is filled.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method including providing an anode and a cathode; providing a desalination device operably coupled to establish an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode when the desalination device is operating; providing water containing dissolved solids; thereby establishing the electrical potential; reducing a salinity of the water by supplying the water to the desalination device; and generating electrical power by reducing the salinity of the water.

Abstract: The present invention includes an underwater vehicle power unit and method of operating the same comprising: a fuel and waste stack comprising one or more reactant or fuel storage bladders and one or more waste storage bladders that are volumetrically and gravitationally balanced during operation; a fuel reactor that generates hydrogen; a fuel cell capable of generating an electrical current when exposed to hydrogen; and a controller that controls the flow of fuel into the hydrogen generator, the flow of hydrogen into the fuel cell and the flow of waste from the hydrogen generator, and/or the fuel cell into the one or more waste storage bladders.

Abstract: The present invention includes an underwater vehicle power unit and method of operating the same comprising: a fuel and waste stack comprising one or more reactant or fuel storage bladders and one or more waste storage bladders; a heater; a reactor that generates hydrogen and waste; a hydrogen and waste separator; a back-pressure regulator; a hydrogen and liquid separator; a fuel cell; and a controller that controls the temperature of the heater, the flow of fuel into the reactor, the flow of hydrogen into the fuel cell, the flow of water that dilutes the fuel, the flow of waste from the reactor and/or the fuel cell into the one or more waste storage bladders.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method including providing an anode and a cathode; providing a desalination device operably coupled to establish an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode when the desalination device is operating; providing water containing dissolved solids; thereby establishing the electrical potential; reducing a salinity of the water by supplying the water to the desalination device; and generating electrical power by reducing the salinity of the water.

Abstract: The present invention includes an underwater vehicle power unit and method of operating the same comprising: a fuel and waste stack comprising one or more reactant or fuel storage bladders and one or more waste storage bladders that are volumetrically and gravitationally balanced during operation; a fuel reactor that generates hydrogen; a fuel cell capable of generating an electrical current when exposed to hydrogen; and a controller that controls the flow of fuel into the hydrogen generator, the flow of hydrogen into the fuel cell and the flow of waste from the hydrogen generator, and/or the fuel cell into the one or more waste storage bladders.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for volumetric and gravimetric storage of reactants and waste comprising: one or more reactant or fuel storage bladders; and one or more waste storage bladders, wherein the reactant or fuel storage bladders and the waste storage bladders form a stack of bladders, and the stack of bladders are interleaved between the reactant or fuel storage bladders and the waste storage bladders, such that both a volumetric and a gravimetric balance is maintained as reactant or fuel are used and the waste bladder is filled.

Abstract: The present invention includes an underwater vehicle power unit and method of operating the same comprising: a fuel and waste stack comprising one or more reactant or fuel storage bladders and one or more waste storage bladders; a heater; a reactor that generates hydrogen and waste; a hydrogen and waste separator; a back-pressure regulator; a hydrogen and liquid separator; a fuel cell; and a controller that controls the temperature of the heater, the flow of fuel into the reactor, the flow of hydrogen into the fuel cell, the flow of water that dilutes the fuel, the flow of waste from the reactor and/or the fuel cell into the one or more waste storage bladders.