Abstract: A method of fabricating a hollow-core photonic-bandgap fiber, comprising the steps of: providing a stack of capillaries, wherein the stack has a hollow core and the capillaries at a boundary of the core comprise a plurality of first, corner core capillaries and a plurality of second, intermediate core capillaries; applying a pressure differential between the corner core capillaries and the intermediate core capillaries, whereby a size of the corner core capillaries can be controlled in relation to the intermediate core capillaries; and reducing the stack to a fiber, wherein the fiber has a hollow core and a cladding which surrounds the core at a core boundary and comprises a lattice or network of struts and interstitial nodes which together define an array of cavities.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of performing a passive maintenance operation on an energy storage farm may generally include receiving data associated with a maintenance schedule for each energy storage system in the plurality of energy storage systems, identifying at least one energy storage system as a charge contributor based at least in part on the data associated with the maintenance schedule, identifying at least one energy storage system as a discharge contributor based at least in part on the data associated with the maintenance schedule, and controlling the operation of the energy storage farm such that power distribution in the energy storage farm is biased so as to increase the state of charge of the charge contributor(s) prior to increasing the state of charge of the discharge contributor(s).

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of distributing power among a plurality of energy storage systems in an energy storage farm may generally include receiving a power distribution input associated with a power amount to be received by or delivered from the energy storage farm, determining an initial power value for each energy storage system based at least in part on a state of charge associated with the energy storage system, determining an unallocated power value for the energy storage farm based at least in part on the received power request and the initial power values of the energy storage systems, determining an updated power value for each energy storage system based at least in part on the unallocated power value, and controlling the operation of the energy storage farm such that each energy storage system delivers or receives an amount of power equal to its determined updated power value.

Abstract: This invention controls the temperature of the critical spot of the UV lamps and on the critical spots having a deposit of mercury or amalgam containing mercury by directing a uniform flow of air on and around the critical spots having amalgam or be other means to remove heat from the critical spots.

Abstract: A radiation source having a nozzle configured to direct a stream of fuel droplets along a trajectory towards a plasma formation location, a laser configured to direct laser radiation at the fuel droplets at the plasma formation location to generate, in use, a radiation generating plasma. The nozzle has an internal surface that is configured to prevent contamination present in fuel used to form the fuel droplets from being deposited on that internal surface.

Abstract: This invention controls the temperature of the critical spot of the UV lamps and on the critical spots having a deposit of mercury or amalgam containing mercury by directing a uniform flow of air on and around the critical spots having amalgam or be other means to remove heat from the critical spots

Abstract: Provided are solar control laminates comprising a solar control film and a polymeric sheet. The solar control film comprises a polymeric film coated with a coating comprising inorganic infrared absorbing nanoparticles. Preferably, inorganic infrared absorbing nanoparticles comprise nanoparticles of antimony tin oxide (ATO), indium tin oxide (ITO), lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) or mixtures thereof. Optionally, the solar control laminate also comprises a rigid sheet, such as a glass sheet.

Abstract: A radiation source having a nozzle configured to direct a stream of fuel droplets along a trajectory towards a plasma formation location, a laser configured to direct laser radiation at the fuel droplets at the plasma formation location to generate, in use, a radiation generating plasma. The nozzle has an internal surface that is configured to prevent contamination present in fuel used to form the fuel droplets from being deposited on that internal surface.

Abstract: A crustacean trap includes a bottom wall and a side wall that extends from the bottom wall, the side wall being collapsible so that an operatively upper end of the side wall is displaceable towards and away from the bottom wall. An entryway is provided towards the upper end of the crustacean trap to allow a crustacean to enter the crustacean trap. Afloat is towards the upper end of the side wall and a sinker is towards a lower end of the side wall. A buoyancy of the float and a weight of the sinker have a relationship such that when the crustacean trap is placed in water the crustacean trap sinks and the float displaces the upper end of the side wall away from the bottom wall.

Abstract: Middle distillate fuel composition is provided containing (a) a middle distillate base fuel, in particular a diesel base fuel, and (b) a Fischer-Tropsch derived paraffinic base oil component with a viscosity of at least 8 mm2/s at 100° C. In component (b), the ratio of the percentage of epsilon methylene carbon atoms to the percentage of isopropyl carbon atoms is suitably 8.2 or below. Its pour point may be ?30° C. or lower. Also disclosed is the use of a Fischer-Tropsch derived paraffinic heavy base oil in a middle distillate fuel composition, for the purpose of improving the cold flow properties of the composition and/or for reducing the concentration of a cold flow or flow improver additive in the composition.

Abstract: A transportable and erectable stairtower having a removable/slidable wheel carriage and a removable installation section arranged for transporting and erecting the stairtower. The stairtower has vertical column members and lateral members defining levels of the stairtower. Removable staircases extend between alternate levels of lateral members. A platform landing is formed at the intersection of first and second stair segments of the staircase. Removable ramps may be connected to the stairtower above, below, and at a position corresponding to the platform landings. A safety device in the form of catch pans, gutters, and leaders may be provided to protect workers by collecting debris and rainwater. A transporting vehicle may be connected to the installation section to transport the stairtower to a desired location. A lifting vehicle may be used to lift the stairtower from a horizontal to a vertical orientation.

Abstract: An acoustic solar control laminate comprising a multi-layer interlayer formed of a solar control film bonded between two polymeric sheets with at least one being an acoustic poly(vinyl acetal) sheet is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a lubricant in a diesel engine equipped with a regenerable diesel particulate trap, wherein the lubricant comprises a base oil component having a paraffin content of greater than 80 wt % paraffins, a saturates content of greater than 98 wt %, and comprising a series of iso-paraffins having n, n+1, n+2, n+3 and n+4 carbon atoms, wherein n is between 15 and 40, and to a process for operating a diesel engine equipped with a diesel particulate trap, comprising lubricating the diesel engine with the lubricant.

Abstract: Provided are multilayer laminates having one or more layers comprising twisted nematic liquid crystals and one or more layers of a polymeric sheet comprising a polymer with a modulus of 20,000 psi (138 MPa) or less. The twisted nematic liquid crystal layers reflect infrared radiation. Thus, the multilayer laminates are useful to reduce the transmission of infrared energy. For example, in some embodiments the multilayer laminates are useful as windows to reduce energy consumption necessary to cool the interior of a structure such as an automobile or building. Preferably, the multilayer laminates retain the beneficial properties of safety glass. The multilayer laminates may include additional layers such as infrared absorbing layers, half wave plates, and the like, to minimize the transmission of infrared energy. The multilayer laminates may also include further additional layers such as polymeric films, polymeric sheets, rigid sheets, and the like.

Abstract: Provided are multilayer laminates having one or more layers comprising twisted nematic liquid crystals and one or more layers of a polymeric sheet comprising a polymer with a modulus between 20,000 psi (138 MPa) and 100,000 psi (690 MPa). The twisted nematic liquid crystal layers reflect infrared radiation. Thus, the multilayer laminates are useful to reduce the transmission of infrared energy. For example, in some embodiments the multilayer laminates are useful as windows to reduce energy consumption necessary to cool the interior of a structure such as an automobile or building. Preferably, the multilayer laminates retain the beneficial properties of safety glass. The multilayer laminates may include additional layers such as infrared absorbing layers, half wave plates, and the like, to minimize the transmission of infrared energy. The multilayer laminates may also include further additional layers such as polymeric films, polymeric sheets, rigid sheets, and the like.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising infrared absorptive inorganic nanoparticles and an ethylene copolymer, and methods to produce the compositions. The infrared absorptive inorganic nanoparticles preferably include antimony tin oxide (ATO), indium tin oxide (ITO), lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6), or mixtures thereof. Also provided are polymer blends, polymeric films and sheets, solar control laminates, and processes to produce the polymer blends, polymeric films and sheets and solar control laminates.

Abstract: Provided are multilayer laminates having one or more layers comprising twisted nematic liquid crystals and one or more layers of a polymeric sheet comprising a polymer with a modulus between 20,000 psi (138 MPa) and 100,000 psi (690 MPa). The twisted nematic liquid crystal layers reflect infrared radiation. Thus, the multilayer laminates are useful to reduce the transmission of infrared energy. For example, in some embodiments the multilayer laminates are useful as windows to reduce energy consumption necessary to cool the interior of a structure such as an automobile or building. Preferably, the multilayer laminates retain the beneficial properties of safety glass. The multilayer laminates may include additional layers such as infrared absorbing layers, half wave plates, and the like, to minimize the transmission of infrared energy. The multilayer laminates may also include further additional layers such as polymeric films, polymeric sheets, rigid sheets, and the like.

Abstract: Provided are multilayer laminates having one or more layers comprising twisted nematic liquid crystals and one or more layers of a polymeric sheet comprising a polymer with a modulus of 20,000 psi (138 MPa) or less. The twisted nematic liquid crystal layers reflect infrared radiation. Thus, the multilayer laminates are useful to reduce the transmission of infrared energy. For example, in some embodiments the multilayer laminates are useful as windows to reduce energy consumption necessary to cool the interior of a structure such as an automobile or building. Preferably, the multilayer laminates retain the beneficial properties of safety glass. The multilayer laminates may include additional layers such as infrared absorbing layers, half wave plates, and the like, to minimize the transmission of infrared energy. The multilayer laminates may also include further additional layers such as polymeric films, polymeric sheets, rigid sheets, and the like.

Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising a nonmicellar twisted nematic liquid crystal having cholesteric near infrared-reflecting properties and at least one near infrared absorptive material. This composition reduces the transmission of near infrared radiation. The composition can be used as a layer, optionally in conjunction with polymeric films, polymeric sheets, rigid sheets, and the like, to form multilayer laminates. In some embodiments these multilayer laminates are useful as solar control windows or window films to reduce energy consumption necessary to cool the interior of a structure such as an automobile or building.