Abstract: Fuel cells for selectively reacting a feedstock material with or without generating electricity, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A fuel cell system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first electrode positioned in a first region, a second electrode positioned in a second region, an ion-transport medium between the first and second regions, and an electrical circuit connected between the first and second electrodes. The system is operable in a first mode to react the feedstock material by a non-electricity-generating reaction to produce a product and in a second mode to react the feedstock material by an electricity-generating reaction to produce electricity. A controller receives an input (e.g., corresponding to a change in demand for electricity) and causes the system to switch between operating in the first mode and operating in the second mode in response to the input.

Abstract: Injectors and solenoid valves incorporating actuators with kinetic energy transfer armatures. A fuel injector includes a longitudinally extending injector body and a valve supported in the injector body. The valve is configured for longitudinal movement within the injector body. An armature is connected to the valve and an impact member is disposed between the armature and a solenoid, and moveably connected to the armature. The solenoid is operative when energized to sequentially move the impact member and armature toward the solenoid, thereby actuating the valve. The fuel injector further includes a return magnet located adjacent the armature and opposite the solenoid, wherein the return magnet is operative to maintain the valve in a closed position when the solenoid is not energized.

Abstract: Embodiments of injectors suitable for injection ports having relatively small diameters are disclosed herein. An injector according to one embodiment includes a body having a first end portion opposite a second end portion. The second end portion is configured to be positioned adjacent to a combustion chamber and the first end portion is configured to be spaced apart from the combustion chamber. The injector also includes an ignition conductor extending through the body from the first end portion to the second end portion, and an insulator extending longitudinally along the ignition conductor and surrounding at least a portion of the ignition conductor. The injector further includes a valve extending longitudinally along the insulator from the first end portion to the second end portion. The valve includes a sealing end portion, and the valve is movable along the insulator between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A fuel injector-igniter incorporating adaptive swirl injection and ignition. The fuel injector-igniter comprises a housing, an actuator, and a valve. The valve includes a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator. The valve seat includes an electrode portion extending beyond the valve head and within the housing to form at least one gap, such as an annular gap. A current discharge between the housing and electrode portion establishes a plasma and electromagnetic forces driving the plasma from the gap. The injector-igniter may further comprise a power supply connected to the housing and valve seat that is operative to provide the current discharge. The electrode portion includes a plurality of flow shaping features, such as a plurality of twisted fins disposed around the electrode portion and thereby operative to impart a rotation to the plasma.

Abstract: Systems and methods for heating a non-combustion chemical reactor with thermal energy from a geothermal heat source are described. A working fluid is directed from the geothermal heat source to the chemical reactor to transfer heat. The working fluid can be circulated in a closed system so that it does not contact material at the geothermal heat source, or in an open system that allows the working fluid to intermix with material at the geothermal heat source. When intermixing with material at the geothermal heat source, the working fluid can transport donor substances at the geothermal heat source to the chemical reactor.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, apparatus, and materials are disclosed for generating multi-purpose liquid fuel for isolating contaminants and storing energy. In one aspect, a method of producing a liquid fuel includes forming a gaseous fuel (e.g., by dissociating biomass waste using waste heat recovered from an external heat source). Carbon dioxide emitted from an industrial process can be harvested and reacted with the gaseous fuel to generate the liquid fuel. A hazardous contaminant can be dissolved in the liquid fuel, with the liquid fuel operating as a solvent or continuous phase for a solution or colloid that isolates the hazardous contaminant from the environment. The hazardous contaminant can include at least one of a carbon donor and a hydrogen donor.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, apparatus and material are disclosed for generating oxygenated fuel. In one aspect, a method of producing an oxygenated fuel from biomass waste for use in a combustion system includes dissociating the biomass waste to produce one or more carbon donors. The biomass waste produced carbon donors are reacted with an oxygen donor to produce the oxygenated fuel comprising oxygenated carbon. Reacting the carbon donors with the oxygen donors includes applying waste heat recovered from an external heat source to the reaction of carbon donors and oxygen donor. The oxygenated fuel is combusted in the combustion system.

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: Chemical processes and reactors for efficiently producing hydrogen fuels and structural materials and associated systems and methods. A representative process includes dissociating a hydrogen donor into dissociation products by adding energy to the hydrogen donor, wherein the energy includes waste heat generated by a process other than dissociating the hydrogen donor. The process can further include providing, from the dissociation products, a structural building block and/or a hydrogen-based fuel, with the structural building block based on carbon, nitrogen, boron, silicon, sulfur, and/or a transition metal.

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: Techniques, methods and systems for preparation liquid fuels from hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide are disclosed. The present invention can transform hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide generated from organic feed stocks or other industrial emissions into renewable engineered liquid fuels and store them in a cost-efficient way. The method of the present invention includes: supplying hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide to a heated area of a reaction chamber in controlled volumes; forming carbon monoxide by the energy provided by the heated area; transporting carbon monoxide and hydrogen to a reactor in controlled volumes; supplying additional hydrogen to the reactor; regulating the pressure in the reactor by adjusting the controlled volumes in order to achieve a predetermined object; forming the liquid fuel in the reactor according to the predetermined object; and, storing the liquid fuel in a storage device.

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: Systems and methods for heating a non-combustion chemical reactor with thermal energy from a geothermal heat source are described. A working fluid is directed from the geothermal heat source to the chemical reactor to transfer heat. The working fluid can be circulated in a closed system so that it does not contact material at the geothermal heat source, or in an open system that allows the working fluid to intermix with material at the geothermal heat source. When intermixing with material at the geothermal heat source, the working fluid can transport donor substances at the geothermal heat source to the chemical reactor.

Abstract: A fuel injector-igniter incorporating adaptive swirl injection and ignition. The fuel injector-igniter comprises a housing, an actuator, and a valve. The valve includes a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator. The valve seat includes an electrode portion extending beyond the valve head and within the housing to form at least one gap, such as an annular gap. A current discharge between the housing and electrode portion establishes a plasma and electromagnetic forces driving the plasma from the gap. The injector-igniter may further comprise a power supply connected to the housing and valve seat that is operative to provide the current discharge. The electrode portion includes a plurality of flow shaping features, such as a plurality of twisted fins disposed around the electrode portion and thereby operative to impart a rotation to the plasma.

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 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 technology is generally related to hydraulic displacement amplifiers in fuel injectors. In some embodiments, a gaseous fuel injector includes a piezoelectric actuator, a working volume reservoir adjustable between a first volume and a second volume smaller than the first volume, and a combustion chamber valve in communication with the working volume reservoir and movable between a closed configuration when the working volume reservoir comprises the first volume and an open configuration when the working volume reservoir comprises the second volume. The gaseous fuel injector further includes a hydraulic displacement amplifier in operable connection with the actuator. The hydraulic displacement amplifier can have a plurality of pistons in communication with the working volume reservoir and configured to adjust the working volume reservoir from the first volume to the second volume.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for producing, storing and using alcohol fuels. In one aspect of the disclosed technology, a method to provide a fuel for an engine includes mixing an alcohol with water to produce a wet alcohol, adding a fuel constituent in the wet alcohol to form a liquid fuel, the fuel constituent being soluble in the wet alcohol, and converting, in a container having an interior formed of an armored material, the liquid fuel into a gaseous fuel substance using at least one of heat energy or electrical energy to pressurize the liquid fuel, the gaseous fuel substance exhibiting a higher pressure and lower density than that of the liquid fuel.

Abstract: The present technology relates generally systems and methods for providing motion amplification and compensation by fluid displacement in fuel injector systems. For example, some embodiments of gaseous fuel injectors include a piezoelectric actuator and a motion transfer system coupled to the piezoelectric actuator. The motion transfer system includes a housing, a first piston having a first effective area disposed in the housing, and a second piston having a second effective area disposed in the housing. The second effective area is less than the first effective area and the first and second pistons define a fluid chamber therebetween. The motion transfer system can amplify actuation of a fuel injector valve.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and/or detecting the flow of one or more fluids in a fluid system including leak detection system integral to the fluid system (e.g., at any point along a conduit, at a connection between conduits such as at a fitting assembly, etc.) configured to detect incipient, early stage levels of the leak. Based on one or more factors related to the fluid and/or the leak, the methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can provide an indication of a suitable action or process in response to the fluid or the leak including performing preventative maintenance or providing an indication of the need of maintenance in response to the leak.