Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to motion-generating particles for desulfation of lead-acid batteries, lead-acid batteries including such motion-generating particles, and methods of making and using the same. For example, the present disclosure provides a lead-acid battery including one or more electroactive plates disposed within a casing; an electrolyte disposed within the casing and surrounding the electroactive plates; a plurality of ferromagnetic particles disposed with the electrolyte within the casing; and one or more electromagnets. The one or more electromagnets may be configured to direct a magnetic field towards the electrolyte to selectively cause movement of the plurality of ferromagnetic particles so as to agitate the electrolyte.

Abstract: Systems, methods and compositions to produce fine powders are described. These include forming a hypereutectic melt including a target material, a sacrificial-matrix material, and an impurity, rapidly cooling the hypereutectic melt to form a hypereutectic alloy having a first phase and a second phase, annealing the hypereutectic alloy to alter a morphology of the target material to thereby produce target particles, and removing the sacrificial matrix to thereby produce a fine powder of the target particles. The first phase is defined by the target material and the second phase is defined by the sacrificial-matrix material. The sacrificial-matrix material forms a sacrificial matrix having the target material dispersed therethrough.

Abstract: A thermal interface member configured to be disposed between a heat sink and a heat-releasing device includes a thermal interface member. The thermal interface member has a thermally conductive, cure-in-place, polymer foam pad configured to maintain uniform contact with each of the heat sink and the heat-releasing device. The thermal interface member is additionally configured to absorb the thermal energy released by the heat-releasing device and direct the released thermal energy to the heat sink. The polymer foam pad has a matrix structure including at least one of anisotropic and isotropic thermally conductive anisotropic filler material, and is characterized by foam material density below 0.5 g/cm3.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to motion-generating particles for desulfation of lead-acid batteries, lead-acid batteries including such motion-generating particles, and methods of making and using the same. For example, the present disclosure provides a lead-acid battery including one or more electroactive plates disposed within a casing; an electrolyte disposed within the casing and surrounding the electroactive plates; a plurality of ferromagnetic particles disposed with the electrolyte within the casing; and one or more electromagnets. The one or more electromagnets may be configured to direct a magnetic field towards the electrolyte to selectively cause movement of the plurality of ferromagnetic particles so as to agitate the electrolyte.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to motion-generating mechanisms for desulfation of lead-acid batteries, lead-acid batteries including such motion-generating mechanisms, and methods of making and using the same. For example, the present disclosure provides a lead-acid battery that includes one or more electroactive plates disposed within a casing; an electrolyte disposed within the casing and surrounding the electroactive plates; and one or more movable members disposed on or adjacent to one or more interior surfaces of the casing and in communication with the electrolyte. The one or more movable members each have a first position and a second position and movement between the first position and the second position agitates the electrolyte.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to motion-generating pumps, energy storage devices including such motion-generating pumps, and methods of making and using the same for the desulfation of lead-acid batteries. The energy storage device includes a battery casing defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers may include one or more electroactive plates disposed therein and an electrolyte disposed so as to surround the one or more electroactive plates. The energy storage device further includes one or more circulating systems configured to agitate the electrolyte in each of the plurality of chambers. A method for desulfation in a lead-acid battery may include using one or more circulating systems to circulate an electrolyte so as to prevent precipitation.

Abstract: A battery control system includes first and second batteries each including first and second terminals configured to output a first voltage, third and fourth terminals configured to output a second voltage, a plurality of individually housed batteries, and a plurality of switches configured to connect ones of the individually housed batteries to and from ones of the first, second, third, and fourth terminals. A control module is configured to selectively provide the first voltage from either one of the first battery and the second battery to a first set of loads and selectively provide the second voltage from either one of the first battery and the second battery to a second set of loads.

Abstract: A thermal interfacing assembly for use in a power module having at least one battery module and a cooling plate, and corresponding method of forming the thermal interfacing assembly. The thermal interfacing material is deposited over a first surface of the cooling plate such that the thermal interfacing material conforms to the shape of the first surface. The thermal interfacing material is configured to be electrically insulating and thermally conductive. A first embedded heater is positioned adjacent to the thermal interfacing material. The first embedded heater includes an electrically-conductive portion and a resistive portion. The battery module is installed adjacent to the first embedded heater such that the first embedded heater is directly in contact with a first face of the battery module. The first embedded heater is employed to at least partially induce in-place curing of the thermal interfacing material.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system may comprise an evaporator core including an upstream inlet face in which humid air is received, a downstream outlet face from which dehumidified air is discharged, and a plurality of air-contacting surfaces extending between the inlet and outlet faces. In one form, an antimicrobial coating may be formed on the air-contacting surfaces of the evaporator core. The antimicrobial coating may comprise an ionic material having immobilized ionic groups of one type of charge and mobile counterions of another type of charge. The mobile counterions may be ionically associated with the immobilized ionic groups. In another form, an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) may be used to direct UV light onto the air-contacting surfaces of the evaporator core.

Abstract: Systems, methods and compositions to produce fine powders are described. These include forming a hypereutectic melt including a target material, a sacrificial-matrix material, and an impurity, rapidly cooling the hypereutectic melt to form a hypereutectic alloy having a first phase and a second phase, annealing the hypereutectic alloy to alter a morphology of the target material to thereby produce target particles, and removing the sacrificial matrix to thereby produce a fine powder of the target particles. The first phase is defined by the target material and the second phase is defined by the sacrificial-matrix material. The sacrificial-matrix material forms a sacrificial matrix having the target material dispersed therethrough.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing an electrolyte membrane for metal batteries are described. According to aspects of the disclosure, a method includes preparing a mixture including an electrolyte portion and a matrix precursor portion, forming an electrolyte membrane by initiating polymerization of the gel-forming precursor and the gel-forming initiator to thereby form a polymer matrix, and disposing the electrolyte membrane between an anode and a cathode. The matrix precursor portion includes a gel-forming precursor and a gel-forming initiator. The electrolyte portion is disposed substantially throughout the polymer matrix.

Abstract: A storage vessel includes a plurality of storage cells arranged in series. The storage vessel defines a first port that opens into at least one of the storage cells. A fill conduit is connected to the storage vessel at the port. A valve is connected with the fill conduit and is configured to control a supply of fluid through the fill conduit to fill the storage vessel. A heat sink is disposed in the storage vessel and is configured to reduce heat of the fluid during the fill of the storage vessel.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing a self-healing UV-protective polymer coating include a polymer matrix formed by initiating polymerization of a UV-absorbing-matrix precursor and a UV initiator and a self-healing portion disposed within the polymer matrix. The polymer matrix includes a plurality of active sites therein. The self-healing portion includes a self-healing precursor that is flowable and a self-healing initiator. The self-healing initiator is configured to polymerize the self-healing precursor using a cationic ring opening process.

Abstract: A battery that cycles lithium ions includes at least one first monopolar electrode having a first polarity and having a first tab and at least one second monopolar electrode having a second polarity opposite to the first polarity and a second tab. The first tab and the second tab are in direct electrical communication with an external circuit. At least one bipolar electrode is disposed between and electrically insulated from the first monopolar electrode and the second monopolar electrode, wherein a first side of the bipolar electrode has the first polarity and a second side of the bipolar electrode has the second polarity. The battery thus comprises at least one first unit cell connected in parallel and at least one second unit cell connected in series.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing an electrolyte membrane for metal batteries are described. According to aspects of the disclosure, a battery cell includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane therebetween. The electrolyte membrane is formed from a mixture including a matrix precursor portion and an electrolyte portion. In some aspects, the membrane is polymerized after being applied to the battery component.

Abstract: A thermal interface member may comprise a substrate having a first surface and an opposite second surface, an electrically conductive layer disposed on the first surface of the substrate, and an electrically resistive layer disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The substrate may comprise a compliant electrically insulating and thermally conductive material including a polymeric matrix phase and a dispersed phase of thermally conductive particles. The conductive layer may be patterned into a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode on the first surface of the substrate. The resistive layer may be in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes of the conductive layer and may comprise a resistive material having a positive resistance temperature coefficient and a resistance that increases with an increase in temperature.

Abstract: A system for pump assist to maximize fuel consumption in a natural gas powertrain includes a fuel delivery system including a natural gas storage tank supplying a first natural gas flow, a pressure sensor disposed to provide data regarding a natural gas pressure within the storage tank, and a natural gas pump operable to selectively boost the first natural gas flow to create a second natural gas flow with increased pressure. The system further includes an engine operable to utilize one of the natural gas flows to provide an output torque and including a fuel injector and a computerized fuel system controller programmed to monitor the data regarding the natural gas pressure within the storage tank, compare the data regarding the natural gas pressure within the storage tank to a threshold cut-off pressure for the fuel injector, and command activation of the natural gas pump based upon the comparing.

Abstract: A thin, conformable electrochemical device according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes an electrically-insulating housing, a plurality of current collectors, a plurality of electrochemical cells, and positive and terminals. The housing includes first and second film portions that cooperate to at least partially define an interior region. The current collector and electrochemical cells are disposed within the interior region. The electrochemical cells are electrically connected to one another via the current collectors. The plurality of electrochemical cells includes a first electrochemical cell and a second electrochemical cell. Each electrochemical cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. The positive and negative terminals are electrically connected to the electrochemical cells.

Abstract: Systems, methods and compositions to produce fine powders are described. These include forming a hypereutectic melt including a target material, a sacrificial-matrix material, and an impurity, rapidly cooling the hypereutectic melt to form a hypereutectic alloy having a first phase and a second phase, annealing the hypereutectic alloy to alter a morphology of the target material to thereby produce target particles, and removing the sacrificial matrix to thereby produce a fine powder of the target particles. The first phase is defined by the target material and the second phase is defined by the sacrificial-matrix material. The sacrificial-matrix material forms a sacrificial matrix having the target material dispersed therethrough.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system may comprise an evaporator core including an upstream inlet face in which humid air is received, a downstream outlet face from which dehumidified air is discharged, and a plurality of air-contacting surfaces extending between the inlet and outlet faces. In one form, an antimicrobial coating may be formed on the air-contacting surfaces of the evaporator core. The antimicrobial coating may comprise an ionic material having immobilized ionic groups of one type of charge and mobile counterions of another type of charge. The mobile counterions may be ionically associated with the immobilized ionic groups. In another form, an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) may be used to direct UV light onto the air-contacting surfaces of the evaporator core.