Abstract: Techniques, systems, apparatus and material are disclosed for generating renewable energy from biomass waste while sequestering carbon. In one aspect, a method performed by a reactor to dissociate raw biomass waste into a renewable source energy or a carbon byproduct or both includes receiving the raw biomass waste that includes carbon, hydrogen and oxygen to be dissociated under an anaerobic reaction. Waste heat is recovered from an external heat source to heat the received raw biomass waste. The heated raw biomass waste is dissociated to produce the renewable fuel, carbon byproduct or both. The dissociating includes compacting the heated raw biomass waste, generating heat from an internal heat source, and applying the generated heat to the compacted biomass waste under pressure.

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: 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: 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: A method for operating an internal combustion engine including a combustion chamber and configured to perform at least a compression stroke and a power stroke. The method comprises direct injecting a first substance having a positive Joule-Thompson coefficient into the combustion chamber during a compression stroke, thereby reducing an amount of work otherwise may be used to perform the compression stroke and direct injecting a second substance having a negative Joule-Thompson coefficient into the combustion chamber during a power stroke, thereby increasing an amount of work otherwise produced from the power stroke.

Abstract: An architectural construct is a synthetic material that includes a matrix characterization of different crystals engineered to exhibit certain properties. An architectural construct can be fabricated by a process involving layer deposition, formation, exfoliation and spacing. In one aspect, purified methane can be dehydrogenated onto a substrate by applying heat through the substrate. Deposited carbon can form a plurality of layers of a matrix characterization of crystallized carbon through self-organization. The layers can be exfoliated and spaced to configure parallel orientation at a desired spacing and thickness using selected precursors and applying heat, pressure, or both. The desired architectural construct can further be stabilized and doped to exhibit desired properties.

Abstract: Methods for removing and preventing the buildup of unwanted deposits and varnishes on combustion chamber surfaces, particularly injector-igniter components that are exposed to combustion events. A method of removing deposits from an injector-igniter comprises monitoring the current across a pair of electrodes in the injector-igniter, comparing the current with a predetermined threshold level, and performing a cleaning cycle if the current exceeds the threshold level. The cleaning cycle may comprise injecting oxidant through the injector-igniter and into the combustion chamber. The cleaning cycle may further comprise ionizing the oxidant with an electrical discharge having a first polarity and ionizing the oxidant a second time with an electrical discharge having a second polarity. In other cases the cleaning cycle comprises injecting hydrogen through the injector-igniter and into the combustion chamber. In still other cases the cleaning cycle may comprise injecting coolant onto the electrodes.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for delivery a fluidic substance using Lorentz forces. In one aspect, a method to accelerate particles into a chamber includes distributing a fluidic substance between electrodes configured at a location proximate a chamber, in which electrodes include a low work function material, generating a current of ionized particles by applying an electric field between the electrodes to ionize at least some of the fluidic substance, and producing a Lorentz force to accelerate the ionized particles into the chamber. In some implementations, the method further includes 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 particles within the chamber.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for delivery a fluidic substance using Lorentz forces. In one aspect, a method to accelerate particles into a chamber includes distributing a fluidic substance between electrodes configured at a location proximate a chamber, in which electrodes include a low work function material, generating a current of ionized particles by applying an electric field between the electrodes to ionize at least some of the fluidic substance, and producing a Lorentz force to accelerate the ionized particles into the chamber. In some implementations, the method further includes 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 particles within the chamber.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for loading and/or unloading a substance into or from a sorption media. A substance is presented at an edge of the sorption media, which comprises parallel layers of a sorption material. To load (i.e., via absorption and/or adsorption) the substance into the sorption media, heat is transferred away from the sorption media, a loading voltage is applied to the sorption media, and/or a pressure is increased relative to the sorption media. To unload the substance from the sorption media, heat is transferred into the sorption media, a voltage of an opposite polarity from the loading voltage is applied to the sorption media, and/or a pressure is decreased relative to the sorption media. In some embodiments, the sorption media includes surface structures that may load molecules of the substance.

Abstract: Reactor vessels with pressure and heat transfer features for producing hydrogen-based fuels and structural elements, and associated systems and methods. A representative reactor system includes a first reaction zone and a heat path, a reactant source coupled to the first reaction zone, and a first actuator coupled to cyclically pressurize the first reaction zone. A second reaction zone is in fluid communication with the first, a valve is coupled between the first and second reaction zones to control a flow rate therebetween, and a second actuator is coupled in fluid communication with the second reaction zone to cyclically pressurize the second reaction zone. First and second heat exchangers direct heat from products to reactants in the reaction zones. A controller controls the first and second actuators in a coordinated manner based at least in part on a flow rate of the second product from the second reaction zone.

Abstract: A hydrogen generator including a reactor chamber having a feedstock inlet and an inlet seal positioned at the feedstock inlet. At least one pair of feed rollers is positioned to draw a feedstock through the inlet seal and into the reactor chamber. At least one pair of distressing rollers is positioned in line with the feed rollers to produce stress in the feedstock. Steam is provided to the reactor chamber through a steam inlet and hydrogen is collected from a hydrogen outlet.

Abstract: Advanced gas turbines and associated components, systems and methods are disclosed herein. A gas turbine configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a rotor operably coupled to a shaft and a stator positioned adjacent to the rotor. A coolant line extends at least partially through the stator to transfer heat out of an air flow within a compressor section of the gas turbine.

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: Techniques, systems, apparatus and material are described for generating renewable energy from biomass waste while sequestering carbon. In one aspect, a method performed by a reactor to dissociate raw biomass waste into a renewable source energy or a carbon byproduct or both includes receiving the raw biomass waste that includes carbon, hydrogen and oxygen to be dissociated under an anaerobic reaction. Waste heat is recovered from an external heat source to heat the received raw biomass waste. The heated raw biomass waste is dissociated to produce the renewable fuel, carbon byproduct or both. The dissociating includes compacting the heated raw biomass waste, generating heat from an internal heat source, and applying the generated heat to the compacted biomass waste under pressure.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, apparatus and material are disclosed for regeneration or recycling of carbon dioxide into renewable liquid fuel. In one aspect, a method of recycling carbon to produce a renewable fuel can include harvesting carbon dioxide emitted from an industrial process. Biomass waste is dissociated under an anaerobic reaction to produce hydrogen. The harvested carbon dioxide is reacted with the biomass waste produced hydrogen under pressure and heat to generate a renewable fuel.

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: The present disclosure is directed to various embodiments of systems and methods for cooling a combustion chamber of an engine. One method includes introducing fuel into the combustion chamber of an engine having an energy transfer device that moves through an intake stroke, a compression stroke, a power stroke, and an exhaust stroke. The method further includes monitoring a temperature of the combustion chamber. When the temperature reaches a predetermined value, the method also includes introducing coolant into the combustion chamber only during at least one of the power stroke and the exhaust stroke of the energy transfer device.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method to convert a fuel into energy and specialized fuel includes, in a reactor, dissociating a fuel to produce hot carbon and hydrogen, the hot carbon having a temperature state in a range of 700 to 1500° C., in which the dissociating includes providing heat and/or electric energy to produce the hot carbon and the hydrogen; and removing the hot carbon and the hydrogen from the reactor, the removing including depositing the hot carbon to a chamber, in which the hot carbon includes an increased chemical potential energy and is capable of storing energy from an external source. In some implementations, the method can further include supplying an oxygen- and hydrogen-containing reactant to contact the hot carbon to produce carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2); and obtaining the produced CO and H2, which, after the supplying, remaining deposited carbon forms a durable carbon-based good or product.

Abstract: Dynamic filtration systems and associated methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, a filtration system can include a filter device having a body portion positioned between first and second end portions and a filter media in a cavity defined by the body portion. The filter media can be configured to filter a predetermined substance from a ferrofluid. The filter device can further include a coil at the body portion, a first magnetic plate proximate the first end portion and a second magnetic plate proximate the second end portion. The coil can generate a first magnetic field across the body portion, and the first and second magnetic plates interact to form a second magnetic field across the body portion. The first and second magnetic fields can be configured to drive filtration of the ferrofluid.