Abstract: Techniques, systems and material are disclosed for transport of energy and/or materials. In one aspect, a method includes generating gaseous fuel (e.g., from biomass dissociation) at a first location of a low elevation. The gaseous fuel can be self-transported in a pipeline to a second location at a higher elevation than the first location by traveling from the first location to the second location without adding energy of pressure. A liquid fuel can be generated at the second location of higher elevation by reacting the gaseous fuel with at least one of a carbon donor, a nitrogen donor, and an oxygen donor harvested from industrial waste. The liquid fuel can be delivered to a third location of a lower elevation than the second location while providing pressure or kinetic energy.

Abstract: The present application provides systems and methods for chemically combusting a feedstock in the presence of an oxidant.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for injecting and igniting a fuel using corona discharge for combustion. In one aspect, a method to ignite a fuel in an engine includes injecting ionized fuel particles into a combustion chamber of an engine, and generating one or more corona discharges at a particular location within the combustion chamber to ignite the ionized fuel particles, in which the generating includes applying an electric field at electrodes configured at a port of the combustion chamber, the electric field applied at a frequency that does not produce an ion current or spark on or between the electrodes.

Abstract: Liquefaction systems and associated processes and methods are disclosed herein. Liquefaction systems in accordance with the present technology can include a liquefier positioned to liquefy gases from an emission stream. The liquefier can include a compressor configured to compress a first gas to produce a first liquid, and to compress a second gas to produce a second liquid. The first liquid can be directed to a first collection tank and the second liquid can be directed to a second collection tank. In some embodiments, a liquefaction system can direct a portion of a compressed liquid to a liquefier to pre-cool gases in the emission stream and/or to cool gases at various stages of compression.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for converting a feedstock into a specialized carbon fuel for energy conversion includes a re actor to receive a feedstock substance and dissociate the feedstock substance to carbon constituents and hydrogen by applying one or both of heat and electric current, the carbon constituents including hot carbon having a temperature state in a range of 700° C. to 1500° C. and having an increased chemical potential energy capable of storing external energy; and a fuel cell structured to include a chamber to receive the hot carbon, the fuel cell operable to receive and use the hot carbon as a fuel and air as an oxidant to (i) produce one or more oxides of carbon and one or more nitrogenous substances, or (ii) extract electrical energy from the hot carbon.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for producing carbon and a net hydrogen liquid fuel from a carbon donor substance and a hydrogen donor substance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting, storing, and conveying aqueous thermal energy are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a floating film retains solar energy in a volume of water located under the film. A series of curtains hanging from a bottom surface of the film define a passage between a periphery of the film and a center of the film to direct the heated water at the center of the film. The heated water is circulated to deliver the heat to a dissociation reactor and/or donor substance. The donor is conveyed to the reactor and dissociated.

Abstract: Fuel injector-igniters with variable gap electrodes. A fuel injector-igniter comprises a housing, an actuator disposed in the housing, and a valve including a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator. A valve seat electrode including at least one aperture surrounds the valve head and valve seat and at least one rocker electrode is pivotably mounted to the housing to form a variable gap between the electrode and a portion of the valve seat electrode. The rocker electrode is positioned to move relative to the valve seat electrode in response to a fuel flow through the aperture, thereby varying the gap.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to injectors with integrated igniters providing efficient injection, ignition, and complete combustion of various types of fuels. These integrated injectors/igniters can include, for example, insulators with adequate mechanical and dielectric strength to enable high-energy plasma generation by components that have very small dimensions, multifunction valving that is moved to injector multiple bursts of fuel and to induce plasma projection, a fuel control valve at the interface to the combustion chamber for the purpose of eliminating fuel drip at undesired times, and one or more components at the interface of the combustion chamber for the purpose of blocking transmission of combustion sourced pressure.

Abstract: A vehicular fuel system with onboard fuel characterization including an onboard combustion modifier source capable of supplying a combustion modifier agent, such as hydrogen, and a fuel tank capable of storing a fuel. An injector-igniter is operative to direct inject the fuel and a proportionate amount of the modifier agent into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. An engine control unit is operatively connectable to the combustion modifier source and the injector. The system may further comprise a mixing valve operative to proportionately mix the fuel and modifier agent. The combustion modifier source may be a tank containing hydrogen or a thermo-chemical reactor, for example.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an acoustically actuated flow valve having temperature-sensitive reed valves thereon. The flow valve and reed valves are configured to impart acoustical energy into a fluid flowing through the flow valve and one or more fluids downstream of the valve, leading to increased mixing of the fluids. The reed valves are further configured to be temperature-sensitive, thereby allowing more fluid to flow through the flow valve as the result of a change in temperature.

Abstract: Chemical reactors with annularly positioned delivery and removal devices, and associated systems and methods. A reactor in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a reactor vessel having a light-transmissible surface proximate to a reaction zone, and a movable reactant delivery system positioned within the reactor vessel. The reactor can further include a product removal system positioned within the reactor vessel and positioned annularly inwardly or outwardly from the delivery system. A solar concentrator is positioned to direct solar radiation through the light-transmissible surface to the reaction zone.

Abstract: Techniques, systems and material are disclosed for thermochemical regeneration of biomass into renewable engineered fuel, storage of the renewable engineered fuel, respeciation of the renewable engineered fuel and transport. In one aspect, a method includes generating low density hydrogen fuel from biomass dissociation at a first location of a low elevation. The low density hydrogen fuel is self-transported in a pipeline to a second location at a higher elevation than the first location by traveling from the first location to the second location without adding energy of pressure. A high density hydrogen carrier is generated at the second location of higher elevation by reacting the low density hydrogen fuel with at least one of a carbon donor, a nitrogen donor and an oxygen donor harvested from industrial waste. The high density hydrogen carrier is delivered to a third location of a lower elevation than the second location while providing pressure or kinetic energy.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for precision fabrication of nanoscale materials and devices. In one aspect, a method to manufacture a nanoscale structure include a process to dissociate a feedstock substance including a gas or a vapor into constituents, in which the constituents include individual atoms and/or molecules. The method includes a process to deposit the constituents on a surface at a particular location. The method includes a process to grow layers layer by layer using two or more particle and/or energy beams to form a material structure, in which the energy beams include at least one of a laser beam or an atomic particle beam.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for reducing and/or harvesting drag energy from transport vehicles. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a mobile transport platform, a donor substance source carried by the platform, and a thermochemical reactor carried by the platform and coupled to the donor substance. The reactor is configured to carry out a non-combustion dissociation process that dissociates the donor substance into a first constituent and a second constituent. An energy extraction system carried by the transport platform and positioned to extract energy from an airstream passing the transport platform is coupled to the reactor to provide energy for the dissociation process.

Abstract: A fuel tank for use with hydrogen carrier fuels. The fuel tank includes a self-supporting shell having an inward facing surface and an outward facing surface. A fluid-tight inner layer is disposed adjacent the inward facing surface and a fluid-tight outer layer is disposed adjacent the outward facing surface. A vent extends through the fluid-tight inner layer, the fluid-tight outer layer, and the self-supporting shell. The fuel tank can also include a gas collection canister connected to the vent.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for chemically activating a fuel for injection and ignition in a combustion engine. In one aspect, a method to initiate combustion includes transforming an interim fuel substance into constituents including radicals, the interim fuel substance formed by a chemical conversion using a fuel, in which the interim fuel substance has a lower ignition energy than that of the fuel, injecting the constituents into a combustion chamber of an engine, and providing a gaseous fluid including oxidants in the combustion chamber to react with the constituents in a combustion reaction, in which the combustion reaction of the constituents occurs at a reduced energy than that of a combustion reaction of the fuel substance.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to fuel injectors that provide efficient injection, ignition, and combustion of various types of fuels. One example of such an injector can include a sensor that detects one or more conditions in the combustion chamber. The injector can also include an acoustical force generator or modifier that is responsive to the sensor and can be configured to (a) induce vibrations in the fuel in the injector body and/or in the combustion chamber, (b) induce vibrations in air in the combustion chamber, (c) induce vibrations in a valve driver or other injector component to actuate a flow valve, and/or (d) control patterning of fuel injected into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for injecting a fuel using Lorentz forces. In one aspect, a method to inject a fuel includes distributing a fuel between electrodes configured at a port of a chamber, generating an ion current of ionized fuel particles by applying an electric field between the electrodes to ionize at least some of the fuel, and producing a Lorentz force to accelerate the ionized fuel particles into the chamber. In some implementations of the method, the accelerated ionized fuel particles into the chamber initiate a combustion process with oxidant compounds present in the chamber. In some implementations, the method further comprises applying an electric potential on an antenna electrode interfaced at the port to induce a corona discharge into the chamber, in which the corona discharge ignites the ionized fuel particles within the chamber.

Abstract: System and method for sustainable economic development which includes hydrogen extracted from substances, for example, sea water, industrial waste water, agricultural waste water, sewage, and landfill waste water. The hydrogen extraction is accomplished by thermal dissociation, electrical dissociation, optical dissociation, and magnetic dissociation. The hydrogen extraction further includes operation in conjunction with energy addition from renewable resources, for example, solar, wind, moving water, geothermal, or biomass resources.