Abstract: A device for generating bubbles, comprising a porous material having at least one hydrophilic surface (1), arranged such that a liquid (7) in which the bubbles (6) are intended to be formed may contact the hydrophilic surface (1) and at least one hydrophobic surface (2), arranged such that a gas (5) used to generate the bubbles (6) may flow past the hydrophobic surface (2) before it flows past the hydrophilic surface (1). The device may be used for creating fine bubbles in numerous applications, such as wastewater treatment, plant cultivation, aquafarming, aeration systems, bioreactors, fermeters, oil extraction or fuel cells.

Abstract: A device for generating bubbles, comprising a porous material having at least one hydrophilic surface (1), arranged such that a liquid (7) in which the bubbles (6) are intended to be formed may contact the hydrophilic surface (1) and at least one hydrophobic surface (2), arranged such that a gas (5) used to generate the bubbles (6) may flow past the hydrophobic surface (2) before it flows past the hydrophilic surface (1). The device may be used for creating fine bubbles in numerous applications, such as wastewater treatment, plant cultivation, aquafarming, aeration systems, bioreactors, fermeters, oil extraction or fuel cells.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly (101) comprises an electrode (1601) in a reaction region, the assembly (101) configured with an electrolyte flow path (601) for flowing communication of an electrolyte with the electrode (1601); a supply device (1701) for controllably supplying a regeneration component to the electrolyte; and a monitor device (801) operable to monitor the oxidation state of the electrolyte. The electrolyte comprises a redox couple, the oxidation state of which changes with both reaction at the electrode (1601) and contact with the regeneration component. The monitor device (801) is configured to output a signal representative of the oxidation state of the electrolyte and the supply device (1701) is configured to be responsive to the output of the signal to control supply of the regeneration component to the electrolyte.

Abstract: A redox fuel cell comprising an anode and a cathode separated by an ion selective polymer electrolyte membrane; means for supplying a fuel to the anode region of the cell; means for supplying an oxidant to the cathode region of the cell; means for providing an electrical circuit between respective anodes and cathodes of the cell; a catholyte solution comprising at least one catholyte component, the catholyte solution comprising a redox mediator couple; and a regeneration zone comprising a catholyte channel and a porous member having an active surface, the catholyte channel being arranged to direct a flow of catholyte adjacent to or towards the active surface, the means for supplying an oxidant to the cell being adapted to supply the oxidant to the porous member.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided having a plurality of fuel cells combined to form a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell system is characterized in that at least one fuel cell is a redox flow fuel cell having an electrode assembly, which electrode assembly has a proton-permeable separator, which separator is arranged between an anode region and a cathode region. The redox flow fuel cell has a regenerator spatially separated from the electrode assembly, and a water-forming reaction of the redox flow fuel cell occurs in the regenerator. The redox flow fuel cell also has at least one oxidation-fluid delivery unit for feeding oxidation fluid into the regenerator in order to perform the water-forming reaction in the regenerator of the redox flow fuel cell. The redox flow fuel cell also has a pumping circuit, comprising a pumping device and a pumping line, for transporting an electrochemical storage system through the cathode region or the anode region of the redox flow fuel cell and through the regenerator.

Abstract: The invention concerns in one aspect, a separator (100, 200, 300) for a liquid electrolyte regenerator of a fuel cell system and, in another aspect, a foam reducing apparatus. In the separator, a helical fluid channel (100, 200, 300) formed on a helix (150) is arranged to conduct liquid and gas of a gas-liquid mixture and separate the liquid from the gas-liquid mixture. The helical channel (100, 200, 300) may be an enclosed channel or pipe (210, 302) and the overall diameter (DHELIX) of the helical channel may be around twice the pipe diameter. The helical channel can form part of a bulk gas-liquid separator (200), or a gas-liquid contactor and separator (300, 400, 500), or a condensing heat exchanger (300, 400, 500). The foam reduction apparatus (FIG. 15 155, 157; FIG. 20; FIG. 16, 1600; FIG. 18, 1800), has a low surface energy material and is arranged to provide contact between foam and a surface of the low surface energy material.

Abstract: The present invention concerns in one aspect a separator for separating the gas and liquid phases of a foam and, in another aspect, a foam reducing apparatus. The separator comprises a first side and a second side and having through-flow means provided therein for permitting a foam or a foam phase to pass from the first side to the second side, the separator further comprising at least one foam contacting surface having a low surface energy, and means for recovering at least one separated foam phase from the foam. The foam reducing apparatus comprises a low surface energy material and means for contacting foam, when said foam is input to the foam reduction apparatus, along a surface of said low surface energy material. The separator and the foam reducing apparatus may be used independently or in combination to good effect to more efficiently disrupt foam to provide separate gas and liquid phases.

Abstract: A redox fuel cell comprising an anode and a cathode separated by an ion selective polymer electrolyte membrane; means for supplying a fuel to the anode region of the cell; means for supplying an oxidant to the cathode region of the cell; means for providing an electrical circuit between respective anodes and cathodes of the cell; a catholyte solution comprising at least one catholyte component, the catholyte solution comprising a redox mediator couple; and a regeneration zone comprising a catholyte channel and a porous member having an active surface, the catholyte channel being arranged to direct a flow of catholyte adjacent to or towards the active surface, the means for supplying an oxidant to the cell being adapted to supply the oxidant to the porous member.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device (1) for generating fine bubbles, comprising a substrate (3) having holes (5) therethrough, each hole comprising a gas inlet (7) and a gas outlet (9), wherein the width of the gas outlet is greater than the width of the gas inlet. A method of manufacturing said device and a method of generating fine bubbles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for conducting an open online auction. The seller will provide both a minimum price to which he/she is willing to sell an item and a desired price that is higher than the minimum price. The minimum price and desired price set by the seller are unknown to potential buyers. During the auction duration, the price of an item will fluctuate between the minimum price and desired price set by the seller. Potential buyers have the option to purchase an item under the present invention at any time during the auction period and end the auction upon his/her purchase, however, the price at which potential buyers is willing to purchase varies from one bidder to another. If no buyer is willing to purchase the item at the price range between seller's minimum price and desired price during the auction period, the auction will end with no winner. The auction has a scheduled deadline provided by the auction system provider and selected by the seller of the item.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fresh method and system for truly automated online prescription purchases while providing improved security for issuing prescription simultaneously. Within the said online pharmacy network, both patients and doctors (M.D.s) are registered users. Doctors (M.D.s) will be verified by one of the authorities, such as the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), an organization that maintains a database of physician board certification information on more than 700,000 specialty physicians representing 36 medical specialties and 88 subspecialties. ABMS contains information primary sourced from 24 recognized medical specialty boards, not self reported by physicians, and is fully recognized by key healthcare accreditation organizations for credentialing purposes. Once a doctor's status is verified, he/she has the authority to issue online prescriptions or approve patients' online prescription requests within the said online pharmacy network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fresh method for generating customer loyalty through stock related incentives. Instead of the traditional stock incentive plans for only employees and investors, the present invention stresses the crucial importance of customers in an increasingly complicated business world. In a reward program dedicated to customers, customers will receive a set amount of stock options (or stocks) according to their revenue generating potentials. The number of stock options (or stocks) will continue to be distributed to customers throughout the business reporting cycle. (quarterly, semi-annually, or annually) based on each customer's contribution in generating corporate revenues. Overtime, customers will become significant stockholders of a company, and they will continue to reward the company with their loyalty not just through words, but through actions given the fact that the future growth and profit potential of the company are of personal interests to the customer stockholders.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fresh method and system for conducting sealed offer online auctions for the purpose of price discovery related to new products and services. Instead of the traditional marketing scheme, the present invention harmonizes the theory of price discovery in economics with the theory of sample marketing. The purpose of a New Product Auction is to raise awareness of a particular product through online actions while discover the true market price for that product in order to establish a selling price later on. In a New Product Auction, the seller/marker of a new product will offer a set amount (greater than one) of that product in a no reserve online auction. The seller/maker will give description about the usages and benefits of the product, and buyers will place sealed bid on such new product based on their perception of value about that product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new method and system for conducting sealed offer online auctions. Unlike traditional auctions where buyers bid on sellers' items, wish list auction allows buyers to post online listings and attracts sellers to place item offers tailored to the buyers' needs. In a wish list auction, buyers need only to post what they are searching for, and the sellers will place a sealed offer containing information about the respective items they possess, such as prices, detailed descriptions, pictures, and transaction terms. If the buyer find any fitting offers, he/she will either accept the offering price or to make a counter offer to the seller. The seller in turn can either accept or decline a counter offer from the buyer. The winner of a wish list auction can be greater than one since buyer can accept multiple offerings from multiple sellers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for conducting a sealed offer online auction. For every bidder, he/she will send in only one offer to the online system on the item he/she is bidding on. Their offers are kept sealed from other bidders, but are open to only the seller of the item. These offers are arranged in an order not by price, but according to the time when the offers are placed. The seller can end the auction anytime up to the auction deadline by accepting an offer from one of the bidders. The accepted offer need not be the highest offer at the time; however, it is reasonable to assume that the seller will accept the highest offer at the time. In the case of same highest offer made by more than one bidder, the seller can choose any one of those highest offer at the seller's discretion prior to the auction deadline. The seller can also decline an offer from any bidder based on the bidder's feedback history listed with the online auction system provider prior to the auction deadline.

Abstract: In order to minimize potential damage to a rewritable storage media, and to consequently extend the life of the media, the laser power is carefully controlled in order to avoide sharp power transitions. Rather than simply turning the laser power on to its full power level, the power utilized during writing dedicated sections of data sectors is transitioned from 0 to its full power level over a desired period of time. In this way, the thermal shock caused by repeated rewriting in these areas can be minimized, thus extending the life of the rewritable media.