Abstract: An elevator cage is used in an energy storage and delivery system to move blocks between a lower elevation of a tower and a higher elevation of a tower to store energy and to move blocks between a higher elevation of the tower and a lower elevation of the tower under force of gravity to generate electricity. The elevator cage removably receives a block thereon and supports the block on at least three sides.

Abstract: An elevator cage is used in an energy storage and delivery system to move blocks between a lower elevation of a tower and a higher elevation of a tower to store energy and to move blocks between a higher elevation of the tower and a lower elevation of the tower under force of gravity to generate electricity. The elevator cage removably receives a block thereon and supports the block on at least three sides.

Abstract: A method for energy storage and delivery includes operating a pair of elevator cages to move blocks between a first set of rows in an upper section of the frame and a corresponding second set of rows in a lower section of the frame. The elevator cages move blocks from alternating rows of the second set of rows to corresponding alternating rows of the first set of rows to store electrical energy corresponding to a potential energy of said blocks and move blocks from alternating rows of the first set of rows to corresponding alternating rows of the second set of rows under a force of gravity to generate electricity via an electric motor-generator electrically coupled to the elevator cages. The elevator cages move said blocks between each of the second set of rows and each of the corresponding first set of rows by an equal vertical distance.

Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes a crane operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy (e.g., via the potential energy of the block in the higher elevation) and operable to move blocks from the higher elevation to the lower elevation (e.g., by gravity) to generate electricity (e.g., via the kinetic energy of the block when moved to the lower elevation). The blocks remain vertically spaced from each other, and a vertical distance between the lower elevation and the higher elevation of each of the blocks is the same.

Abstract: The method according to the invention relates to the storage of energy in the form of a compressed fluid which is pumped into a container (2) arranged below a water surface (4) to store the energy, wherein the fluid entering the container displaces an existing content, comprising water, from the container and into the surrounding water, and compressed fluid is removed from the container (2) to remove energy, wherein surrounding water flows back into the container according to the volume of the removed, compressed fluid, characterized in that the container (2) is provided with flexible walls at least in some parts and is arranged on a seabed (6) or lake bed (6) and there is covered by ballast (15) such that it is pressed against the substrate even when completely filled with compressed fluid.

Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes a crane elevator cage, where the crane or elevator cage is operable to move one or more blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy (e.g., via the potential energy of the block in the higher elevation) and operable to move one or more blocks from a higher elevation to a lower elevation (e.g., by gravity) to generate electricity (e.g., via the kinetic energy of the block when moved to the lower elevation). The energy storage system can, for example, store electricity generated from solar power as potential energy in the stacked blocks during daytime hours when solar power is available, and can convert the potential energy in the stacked blocks into electricity during nighttime hours when solar energy is not available, and deliver the converted electricity to the electrical grid.

Abstract: A pneumatic support having a body (112) which can be pneumatically pressurised and which, when under operating pressure, operationally holds a compression member (96, 128 to 131?) which extends substantially over the length of the body and a tensile member (98, 138 to 141?) which likewise extends substantially over the length (I) of the body at a distance from each other, wherein the compression member (96, 128 to 131?) and the tensile member (98, 138 to 141?) are connected to each other at the end in connection nodes (91), and wherein the body which can be pneumatically pressurised has pneumatic drop-stitch transverse fibre pressure panels (100, 165, 113 to 116).

Abstract: A method to prepare a polylactic acid-based polymer; the method comprises: —a mixing step, during which lactide monomers, at least one polymerization catalyst and natural origin reactants are mixed together; —a polymerization step, during which the mixture obtained from the previous mixing step is heated at a temperature ranging from 120 to 220° C. in inert atmosphere; and —a cooling step, during which a polymer mass obtained from said polymerization step is cooled down. The natural origin reactants are: (i) a first compound with general formula (I) wherein n ranges from 1 to 20 (ii) a second compound chosen among citric acid, malic acid and derivatives thereof with the carboxylic groups partially or completely in the form of ester or anhydride and with the hydroxyl groups partially or completely in the form of ester.

Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes a crane operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy (e.g., via the potential energy of the block in the higher elevation) and operable to move blocks from the higher elevation to the lower elevation (e.g., by gravity) to generate electricity (e.g., via the kinetic energy of the block when moved to the lower elevation). The blocks remain vertically spaced from each other, and a vertical distance between the lower elevation and the higher elevation of each of the blocks is the same.

Abstract: A method for energy storage and delivery includes operating a pair of elevator cages to move blocks between a first set of rows in an upper section of the frame and a corresponding second set of rows in a lower section of the frame. The elevator cages move blocks from alternating rows of the second set of rows to corresponding alternating rows of the first set of rows to store electrical energy corresponding to a potential energy of said blocks and move blocks from alternating rows of the first set of rows to corresponding alternating rows of the second set of rows under a force of gravity to generate electricity via an electric motor-generator electrically coupled to the elevator cages. The elevator cages move said blocks between each of the second set of rows and each of the corresponding first set of rows by an equal vertical distance.

Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes a crane elevator cage, where the crane or elevator cage is operable to move one or more blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy (e.g., via the potential energy of the block in the higher elevation) and operable to move one or more blocks from a higher elevation to a lower elevation (e.g., by gravity) to generate electricity (e.g., via the kinetic energy of the block when moved to the lower elevation). The energy storage system can, for example, store electricity generated from solar power as potential energy in the stacked blocks during daytime hours when solar power is available, and can convert the potential energy in the stacked blocks into electricity during nighttime hours when solar energy is not available, and deliver the converted electricity to the electrical grid.

Abstract: An elevator cage is used in an energy storage and delivery system to move blocks between a lower elevation of a tower and a higher elevation of a tower to store energy and to move blocks between a higher elevation of the tower and a lower elevation of the tower under force of gravity to generate electricity. The elevator cage removably receives a block thereon and supports the block on at least three sides.

Abstract: A pneumatic support having a body (112) which can be pneumatically pressurised and which, when under operating pressure, operationally holds a compression member (96, 128 to 131?) which extends substantially over the length of the body and a tensile member (98, 138 to 141?) which likewise extends substantially over the length (I) of the body at a distance from each other, wherein the compression member (96, 128 to 131?) and the tensile member (98, 138 to 141?) are connected to each other at the end in connection nodes (91), and wherein the body which can be pneumatically pressurised has pneumatic drop-stitch transverse fibre pressure panels (100, 165, 113 to 116).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for transitioning a substantially planar mirror (2) to a curved configuration. A device or system may comprise a clamping assembly for associating with a mirror (2) and a rotating assembly configured to rotate at least a portion of a mirror according to a rotation angle (?). In some cases, a rotation angle is adjustable.

Abstract: The pneumatic support has a pneumatic body which can be placed pneumatically under pressure and which, under operating pressure, operationally keeps at a distance apart a compression member which extends substantially over its length and a tension member which likewise extends substantially over its length, wherein forces are introduced at force introduction points in end regions of the compression member and the tension member into said members and wherein connecting elements are provided between the compression member and the tension member and introduce forces into the compression member and the tension member likewise at force introduction points, wherein, furthermore, the pneumatic body has formations which extend between adjacent force introduction points and which project outwardly beyond a rectilinear connection between the adjacent force introduction points. As a result, undesired distortion of the support under operating pressure, but without operating load, is avoided.

Abstract: The pneumatic support has a pneumatic body which can be placed pneumatically under pressure and which, under operating pressure, operationally keeps at a distance apart a compression member which extends substantially over its length and a tension member which likewise extends substantially over its length, wherein forces are introduced at force introduction points in end regions of the compression member and the tension member into said members and wherein connecting elements are provided between the compression member and the tension member and introduce forces into the compression member and the tension member likewise at force introduction points, wherein, furthermore, the pneumatic body has formations which extend between adjacent force introduction points and which project outwardly beyond a rectilinear connection between the adjacent force introduction points. As a result, undesired distortion of the support under operating pressure, but without operating load, is avoided.

Abstract: A support structure including a tension-compression element is composed of tension-compression bars that are connected in real joints as well as tension straps that extend from one joint to another. The outermost tension-compression bars are connected in one respective knot. Two pressurized hollow members that are surrounded by a cover are arranged on both sides of a plane that extends through the tension-compression element such that the linear tensions ? generated in the cover preload the tension straps on the plane of the tension-compression element, secure the tension-compression bars against bending, and stabilize the joints. The linear tensioning components that extend perpendicular to said plane of symmetry strut the tension-compression element against lateral bending. Air-tight, optionally elastic pneumatic elements can be inserted into the hollow members.

Abstract: The pneumatic support according to the invention has pneumatic bodies 61 to 63 which can be placed under pressure and which operationally keep a compression member 51 and a tension member 52 at a distance apart, resulting in a pneumatic support with high loadability but also, disadvantageously, with high operating deformation. The connection elements 57, 58 extending in a zigzag shape between the compression member 51 and the tension member 52 over the length of the support 50 are preferably diagonal struts formed as flexible tension members and reinforce the support 50 with respect to the pneumatic supports of the prior art in such a way that the deformation of said support in the case of an asymmetrical load, as is the case with a bridge over which vehicles travel, is for example still 10%.

Abstract: A parabolic collector for the concentration of solar radiation has a reflective surface which is approximated to an ideal paraboloid and has a number of individual collectors. According to the invention, individual collectors are provided with a pressure cell with a concentrator formed from a flexible film, whereby, under operating pressure conditions, the concentrator is curved differently in a predetermined manner in a first and in a second direction for approximating the ideal paraboloid, such that the radius of curvature in the first direction is greater than that in the second direction. The production method for such a concentrator consists in the fact that the outline of the individual collectors is designed in the outline of the parabolic collector, the true dimensions of the individual collectors being determined from the intersection of cylinders positioned on the outline with the paraboloid of the parabolic collector.

Abstract: A pneumatic support comprises a long hollow body, tapering towards the ends and two pressure/tension elements. The hollow body is embodied by a sleeve of gas-tight, flexible, non-stretch material. Said sleeve can be formed from two layers, an external non-stretch, flexible sleeve and an inner gas-tight elastic bladder. The hollow body can be pressurised with compressed gas by means of a valve. The both pressure/tension elements lie along diametrically opposed surface lines of the hollow body on the same and are partly or completely frictionally connected to the hollow body along said surface lines. The ends of the pressure/tension elements are frictionally connected to each other.