Abstract: A method of extracting purified lithium sulfate brine from sedimentary rock is disclosed. The method includes the steps of sizing sedimentary rock ore, suspending the sized ore in an aqueous solution, and separating the aqueous solution into lithium bearing slurry and low lithium gangue. The lithium bearing slurry is then treated with an acid, dissolving lithium from the sedimentary rock and forming precipitates which are subsequently removed the slurry, forming an acidic lithium sulfate filtrate solution. The pH of the acidic lithium sulfate filtrate solution is then modified to form further precipitates which are then separated. The neutralized lithium sulfate solution is then crystallized to remove magnesium and potassium, and treated with quicklime, soda ash solution, and/or oxalic acid to form additional precipitates. Finally the additional precipitates are separated from the solution, and the solution is passed through an ion exchange apparatus, forming a purified lithium sulfate brine.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cathode material for a lithium ion cell comprises: generating a lithium nickel composite oxide material in a manufacturing process, wherein the manufacturing process results in residual lithium being present in the lithium nickel composite oxide material; washing the lithium nickel composite oxide material to remove at least part of the residual lithium, wherein the washing provides the lithium nickel composite oxide material with a moisture content; and drying the lithium nickel composite oxide material to remove at least part of the moisture content, the drying performed in an environment of substantially only an inert gas or air essentially free of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cathode material for a lithium ion cell comprises: generating a lithium nickel composite oxide material in a manufacturing process, wherein the manufacturing process results in residual lithium being present in the lithium nickel composite oxide material; washing the lithium nickel composite oxide material to remove at least part of the residual lithium, wherein the washing provides the lithium nickel composite oxide material with a moisture content; and drying the lithium nickel composite oxide material to remove at least part of the moisture content, the drying performed in an environment of substantially only an inert gas or air essentially free of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A novel method for monitoring the operation of a solar thermal system such as the healthy home system or the like. The present device includes a hardware housing with a processor device coupled to a bus and one or more memory devices. The processor device can be coupled to one or more input devices wherein the one or more input devices are coupled to at least the solar array. The input devices can be coupled to the electric panel, the space heater, the water heater, as well as other components of the healthy home. The method includes a variety of steps such as establishing connection to associated hardware in the healthy home system, running diagnostic checks to determine system health, validating acquired data, and displaying the data through text display and graphical illustrations. The method also includes updating the system information according to a schedule scheme such as a polling scheme, interrupt scheme, or others.

Abstract: Two major Forth extensions provide high-level support for building rapid prototypes for systems. These extensions form distinct language vocabularies available in the Forth environment. One is a Finite State Machine Language, named FSML, and the other is an object oriented language, named 200L. Using these extension and the inherent expandability of the Forth language, a prototype can be rapidly created. The modeling method requires four steps. First, using 200L, the system is described as a set of objects. At least one of the objects must be a controlling object and so identified. Second, using FSML, the controlling object is described as a finite state machine. Third, the system's operation is expressed as a collection of one or more finite state machines. Each finite state machine type is defined with a unique machine type name. Any number of instances of a finite state machine type can be dynamically created at execution time. Fourth, communication is allowed between the finite state machines.