Abstract: Lithium-based and sodium-based batteries and capacitors using metal foil current collectors, coated with porous layers of particles of active electrode materials for producing an electric current, may be adapted to produce heat for enhancing output when the cells are required to periodically operate during low ambient temperatures. A self-heating cell may be placed in heat transfer contact with a working cell that is temporarily in a cold environment. One or both of the anode current collector and cathode current collector of a heating cell may be formed with shaped extended portions, uncoated with electrode materials, through which cell current may be passed for resistance heating of the extended current collector areas. These extended current collector areas may be used to heat the working area of the cell in which they are incorporated, or to contact and heat an adjacent working cell.

Abstract: A battery system includes at least one battery including a plurality of cells and a hybrid control module configured to monitor a differential capacity of the at least one battery, determine when the monitored differential capacity of the at least one battery corresponds to a predetermined differential capacity of the at least one battery, and determine a state of charge of the battery in response to the determination that the monitored differential capacity corresponds to the predetermined differential capacity.

Abstract: An exhaust discharge system is disclosed. The exhaust discharge system comprises an exhaust stack including a first conduit and a second conduit. The first conduit defines a first flow passageway and arranged around a first longitudinal axis. The first conduit including a skirt portion and a body portion disposed downstream of the skirt portion, and the skirt portion is oriented to slope outward from the body portion. The second conduit is disposed downstream of the first conduit. The second conduit defines a second flow passageway and is arranged around a second longitudinal axis, the second conduit includes a sidewall and an exit port, the exit port having an exit-port cross-section, wherein the exit-port cross-section is oblong in shape. The second longitudinal axis is disposed at an intersection angle to the first longitudinal axis, the intersection angle in a range of 125° to 150°. The exhaust stack is configured to convey treated exhaust from the skirt portion to the exit port.

Abstract: A battery maintenance system includes an enclosure including a plurality of walls. A plurality of battery cells are located in the enclosure and surrounded by electrolyte. An electrolyte agitator such as a piezoelectric device is attached to at least one of the walls of the enclosure and is configured to selectively agitate the electrolyte.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates a temperature regulating system including an anisotropic material for use as a heating material or element (e.g., an active heater) and a cooling material or element (e.g., passive cooling) in a battery pack including one or more electrochemical cells. The temperature regulating system includes one or more temperature control elements. Each temperature control element is configured to be in a heat transfer relationship with one or more electrochemical cells so as to heat and/or cool the one or more electrochemical cells of the battery pack. Each temperature control element includes two or more structural elements and one or more anisotropic elements disposed between the two or more structural elements. The temperature control elements may be disposed between the electrochemical cells of the stack, disposed around the electrochemical cells of the stack, or both.

Abstract: An exhaust discharge system is disclosed. The exhaust discharge system comprises an exhaust stack including a first conduit and a second conduit. The first conduit defines a first flow passageway and arranged around a first longitudinal axis. The first conduit including a skirt portion and a body portion disposed downstream of the skirt portion, and the skirt portion is oriented to slope outward from the body portion. The second conduit is disposed downstream of the first conduit. The second conduit defines a second flow passageway and is arranged around a second longitudinal axis, the second conduit includes a sidewall and an exit port, the exit port having an exit-port cross-section, wherein the exit-port cross-section is oblong in shape. The second longitudinal axis is disposed at an intersection angle to the first longitudinal axis, the intersection angle in a range of 125° to 150°. The exhaust stack is configured to convey treated exhaust from the skirt portion to the exit port.

Abstract: An exhaust discharge system and method of assembling is disclosed. The exhaust discharge system may comprises an ejector tube and an exhaust stack. The ejector tube includes an outlet having an outlet cross-section. The ejector tube is configured to convey treated exhaust to the outlet. The outlet cross-section is oriented at an outlet angle to a first horizontal plane. The exhaust stack includes a first conduit and a second conduit. The second conduit includes an exit port. The exit-port cross-section is oblong in shape.

Abstract: A battery system includes at least one battery including a plurality of cells and a hybrid control module configured to monitor a differential capacity of the at least one battery, determine when the monitored differential capacity of the at least one battery corresponds to a predetermined differential capacity of the at least one battery, and determine a state of charge of the battery in response to the determination that the monitored differential capacity corresponds to the predetermined differential capacity.

Abstract: An exhaust discharge system and method of assembling is disclosed. The exhaust discharge system may comprises an ejector tube and an exhaust stack. The ejector tube includes an outlet having an outlet cross-section. The ejector tube is configured to convey treated exhaust to the outlet. The outlet cross-section is oriented at an outlet angle to a first horizontal plane. The exhaust stack includes a first conduit and a second conduit. The second conduit includes an exit port. The exit-port cross-section is oblong in shape.

Abstract: A battery system includes at least one battery including a plurality of cells and a hybrid control module configured to monitor a differential capacity of the at least one battery, determine when the monitored differential capacity of the at least one battery corresponds to a predetermined differential capacity of the at least one battery, and determine a state of charge of the battery in response to the determination that the monitored differential capacity corresponds to the predetermined differential capacity.

Abstract: Lithium-based and sodium-based batteries and capacitors using metal foil current collectors, coated with porous layers of particles of active electrode materials for producing an electric current, may adapted to produce heat for enhancing output when the cells are required to periodically operate during low ambient temperatures. A self-heating cell may be placed in heat transfer contact with a working cell that is temporarily in a cold environment. Or one or both of the anode current collector and cathode current collectors of a heating cell may be formed with shaped extended portions, uncoated with electrode materials, through which cell current may be passed for resistance heating of the extended current collector areas. These extended current collector areas may be used to heat the working area of the cell in which they are incorporated, or to contact and heat an adjacent working cell.

Abstract: An exhaust muffler for an internal combustion engine includes a housing. A plurality of partitions are disposed within the housing, defining a plurality of chambers. An inlet pipe and an outlet pipe are also disposed within the housing and both the inlet and outlet pipes include a perforated region. The perforated region permits fluid communication between the inlet pipe, outlet pipe and the plurality of chambers. To attenuate engine noise, the perforated regions of the inlet and outlet pipes are positioned at opposite ends of the housing, forcing the exhaust gas to pass through each of the plurality of partitions and chambers, thereby damping the sound waves with minimum effect on engine back pressure levels. Alternatively, the perforated regions of the inlet and outlet pipes may be aligned in a cross-flow chamber.

Abstract: Lithium-based and sodium-based batteries and capacitors using metal foil current collectors, coated with porous layers of particles of active electrode materials for producing an electric current, may adapted to produce heat for enhancing output when the cells are required to periodically operate during low ambient temperatures. A self-heating cell may be placed in heat transfer contact with a working cell that is temporarily in a cold environment. Or one or both of the anode current collector and cathode current collectors of a heating cell may be formed with shaped extended portions, uncoated with electrode materials, through which cell current may be passed for resistance heating of the extended current collector areas. These extended current collector areas may be used to heat the working area of the cell in which they are incorporated, or to contact and heat an adjacent working cell.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates a temperature regulating system including an anisotropic material for use as a heating material or element (e.g., an active heater) and a cooling material or element (e.g., passive cooling) in a battery pack including one or more electrochemical cells. The temperature regulating system includes one or more temperature control elements. Each temperature control element is configured to be in a heat transfer relationship with one or more electrochemical cells so as to heat and/or cool the one or more electrochemical cells of the battery pack. Each temperature control element includes two or more structural elements and one or more anisotropic elements disposed between the two or more structural elements. The temperature control elements may be disposed between the electrochemical cells of the stack, disposed around the electrochemical cells of the stack, or both.

Abstract: A hybrid lithium-ion battery/capacitor cell comprising at least a pair of graphite anodes assembled with a lithium compound cathode and an activated carbon capacitor electrode can provide useful power performance properties and low temperature properties required for many power utilizing applications. The graphite anodes are formed of porous layers of graphite particles bonded to at least one side of current collector foils which face opposite sides of the activated carbon capacitor. The porous graphite particles are pre-lithiated to form a solid electrolyte interface on the anode particles before the anodes are assembled in the hybrid cell. The pre-lithiation step is conducted to circumvent the irreversible reactions in the formation of a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) and preserve the lithium content of the electrolyte and lithium cathode during formation cycling of the assembled hybrid cell. The pre-lithiation step is also applicable to other anode materials that benefit from such pre-lithiation.

Abstract: A battery control system includes first and second batteries each including first and second terminals configured to output a first voltage, third and fourth terminals configured to output a second voltage, a plurality of individually housed batteries, and a plurality of switches configured to connect ones of the individually housed batteries to and from ones of the first, second, third, and fourth terminals. A control module is configured to selectively provide the first voltage from either one of the first battery and the second battery to a first set of loads and selectively provide the second voltage from either one of the first battery and the second battery to a second set of loads.

Abstract: A battery control system includes a battery comprising: first and second terminals; third and fourth terminals; a plurality of individually housed batteries; and a plurality of switches configured to connect ones of the batteries to and from ones of the first, second, third, and fourth terminals. A mode module is configured to set a mode of operation based on at least one of a plurality of present operating parameters. A switch control module is configured to control the plurality of switches based on the mode of operation.

Abstract: A battery maintenance system includes an enclosure including a plurality of walls. A plurality of battery cells are located in the enclosure and surrounded by electrolyte. An electrolyte agitator such as a piezoelectric device is attached to at least one of the walls of the enclosure and is configured to selectively agitate the electrolyte.

Abstract: A battery control system includes T contactor paths connected in parallel between a battery and a load, where T is an integer greater than one. Each of the T contactor paths includes a first contactor and a second contactor connected in series with the first contactor. Each of the T contactor paths includes at least one of a first voltage sensor configured to sense a first voltage between the first contactor and the second contactor; and a current sensor configured to sense current flowing through the first contactor and the second contactor. A second voltage sensor is configured to sense a second voltage at one end of the T contactor paths. A third voltage sensor is configured to sense a third voltage at an opposite end of the T contactor paths.

Abstract: A battery control system includes a battery including: first, second, and third terminals; a plurality of individual groups of two or more battery cells; and a plurality of switches configured to connect ones of the individual groups to and from ones of the first, second, and third terminals. A mode module is configured to set a mode to a first mode when a fault is present in a charging source of the battery. A switch control module is configured to control the plurality of switches based on a first predetermined capacity allotment when the mode is in the first mode.