Abstract: A vehicle coolant system includes a pipe configured to facilitate a flow of vehicle coolant through the pipe, a light source configured to transmit at least one wavelength of light through the vehicle coolant, and a signal detector configured to receive at least one wavelength of light transmitted through the vehicle coolant, and to generate a signal intensity value corresponding to a measured intensity of the at least one wavelength of light received at the signal detector. A controller is configured to receive the signal intensity value from the signal detector, identify a coolant contamination threshold value corresponding to the vehicle coolant, compare the signal intensity value received from the signal detector to the coolant contamination threshold value, and initiate a vehicle coolant remedial action according to a result of comparing the signal intensity value received from the signal detector to the coolant contamination threshold value.

Abstract: A method for detecting a contaminant in a vehicle coolant system during service includes contacting a chromophore impregnated strip and a heat transfer fluid sample, where the chromophore impregnated strip includes a complexing agent selected to form a complex with the contaminant that causes a color change in the chromophore impregnated strip and thereby indicates the presence of the contaminant in the heat transfer fluid sample.

Abstract: A battery with passive fire suppression capabilities includes a housing, a battery cell stack disposed within an interior of the housing, and a fire suppression material disposed within the interior of the housing. The battery cell stack includes a plurality of battery cells, with each of the plurality of battery cells including a nonaqueous electrolyte. When the fire suppression material is exposed to the nonaqueous electrolyte, the fire suppression material is configured to retain the nonaqueous electrolyte within the interior of the housing.

Abstract: A battery system includes a battery housing having an interior compartment. A battery pack, including a plurality of battery cells, is in the interior compartment of the housing. A vessel defines an interior chamber and includes an air inlet, an oxygen discharge port, and an inert gas discharge port each in communication with the interior chamber. An oxygen separation material is in the chamber and is configured to separate oxygen from air supplied through the air inlet and to direct the oxygen to the oxygen discharge port. The oxygen separation material is further configured to direct remaining oxygen deficient air to the inert gas discharge port. The inert gas discharge port in communication with the interior compartment of the battery housing.

Abstract: A method for preparing a metallic surface of a device includes executing iterations of a first cleaning regimen and executing iterations of a second cleaning regimen. The first cleaning regimen includes applying a hydrocarbon solvent, e.g., an iso-octane solution, to the metallic surface of the device, executing a first sonication event on the device, and rinsing the metallic surface of the device. The second cleaning regimen includes applying a solution of chlorinated solvent to the metallic surface of the device, executing a second sonication event on the device, and rinsing the metallic surface of the device.

Abstract: The concepts described herein provide a hybrid metal/polymer current collector for a battery cell electrode that includes a collector body joined to a tab portion and encased in an electrically conductive overlay, and an associated method of manufacture. The tab portion is fabricated from a homogeneous electrically conductive material, the collector body is fabricated from a polymer, and the collector body is joined to the tab portion at a junction.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system may comprise an evaporator core including an upstream inlet face in which humid air is received, a downstream outlet face from which dehumidified air is discharged, and a plurality of air-contacting surfaces extending between the inlet and outlet faces. In one form, an antimicrobial coating may be formed on the air-contacting surfaces of the evaporator core. The antimicrobial coating may comprise an ionic material having immobilized ionic groups of one type of charge and mobile counterions of another type of charge. The mobile counterions may be ionically associated with the immobilized ionic groups. In another form, an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) may be used to direct UV light onto the air-contacting surfaces of the evaporator core.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system may comprise an evaporator core including an upstream inlet face in which humid air is received, a downstream outlet face from which dehumidified air is discharged, and a plurality of air-contacting surfaces extending between the inlet and outlet faces. In one form, an antimicrobial coating may be formed on the air-contacting surfaces of the evaporator core. The antimicrobial coating may comprise an ionic material having immobilized ionic groups of one type of charge and mobile counterions of another type of charge. The mobile counterions may be ionically associated with the immobilized ionic groups. In another form, an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) may be used to direct UV light onto the air-contacting surfaces of the evaporator core.

Abstract: A mobile vacuum distillation unit for extracting, condensing, and collecting volatile organic compound vapor emissions from one or more polymer-containing articles includes a shell that defines an enclosed interior space and is mounted to a transportable support platform, a vacuum distillation vessel, a condenser, a condensate storage tank, and a vacuum pump system in fluid communication with a vacuum distillation chamber of the vacuum distillation vessel. The vacuum distillation chamber that includes the one or more polymer-containing articles from which the VOC vapor emissions are extracted may be heated by an exhaust gas heat exchanger if the transportable support platform is connected to and hauled by a tractor unit powered by a diesel engine. A method of using the mobile vacuum distillation unit to extract VOC vapor emissions from one or more polymer-containing article during transportation of the one or more polymer-containing articles between geographically separate destinations is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mobile vacuum distillation unit for extracting, condensing, and collecting volatile organic compound vapor emissions from one or more polymer-containing articles includes a shell that defines an enclosed interior space and is mounted to a transportable support platform, a vacuum distillation vessel, a condenser, a condensate storage tank, and a vacuum pump system in fluid communication with a vacuum distillation chamber of the vacuum distillation vessel. The vacuum distillation chamber that includes the one or more polymer-containing articles from which the VOC vapor emissions are extracted may be heated by an exhaust gas heat exchanger if the transportable support platform is connected to and hauled by a tractor unit powered by a diesel engine. A method of using the mobile vacuum distillation unit to extract VOC vapor emissions from one or more polymer-containing article during transportation of the one or more polymer-containing articles between geographically separate destinations is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing microbial contamination and growth in an HVAC system by irradiating one or more air contacting surfaces of the HVAC system with antimicrobial UV-C light.

Abstract: Volatile compound emissions from a product that comprises a polymeric material may be reduced or eliminated from the product by heating the product in a subatmospheric pressure environment. The product may be heated in the subatmospheric pressure environment at a temperature sufficient to vaporize a volatile compound contained within the polymeric material such that vapors of the volatile compound are extracted or released from the product.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing microbial contamination and growth in an automotive HVAC system by irradiating one or more air contacting surfaces of the HVAC system with antimicrobial UV-C light.

Abstract: Volatile compound emissions from a product that comprises a polymeric material may be reduced or eliminated from the product by heating the product in a subatmospheric pressure environment. The product may be heated in the subatmospheric pressure environment at a temperature sufficient to vaporize a volatile compound contained within the polymeric material such that vapors of the volatile compound are extracted or released from the product.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing microbial contamination and growth in an automotive HVAC system by irradiating one or more air contacting surfaces of the HVAC system with antimicrobial UV-C light.

Abstract: A welding assembly includes a sonotrode, cleaning station, and controller. The controller periodically commands clamping of the sonotrode onto the cleaning block, and a transmission of ultrasonic energy into the cleaning block for a calibrated duration sufficient for removing residual amounts of metal from welding pads of the sonotrode. The cleaning block may include an aluminum bar coated with a polymeric material, e.g., porous polyethylene silica or alumina composite. A thin sacrificial layer of an anti-adhesion material, e.g., colloidal silica, may be periodically applied to the welding pads, particularly after a transition from welding a first metal to welding a second metal. The sacrificial layer may be applied via a sponge, a saturated surface, or spraying.

Abstract: A welding assembly includes a sonotrode, cleaning station, and controller. The controller periodically commands clamping of the sonotrode onto the cleaning block, and a transmission of ultrasonic energy into the cleaning block for a calibrated duration sufficient for removing residual amounts of metal from welding pads of the sonotrode. The cleaning block may include an aluminum bar coated with a polymeric material, e.g., porous polyethylene silica or alumina composite. A thin sacrificial layer of an anti-adhesion material, e.g., colloidal silica, may be periodically applied to the welding pads, particularly after a transition from welding a first metal to welding a second metal. The sacrificial layer may be applied via a sponge, a saturated surface, or spraying.

Abstract: One embodiment includes methods of adding two sulfonic acid groups to molecules having at least two cyclic groups.

Abstract: One embodiment includes methods of adding two sulfonic acid groups to molecules having at least two cyclic groups.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention contemplates a proton exchange membrane for use in a variety of fuel cells. The proton exchange membrane may comprise a solid phase organic based copolymer material in which a first structural unit is derived from a polymerizable organic super acid. The organic super acid may comprise an acid group such as a sulfonic acid group or a carboxylic acid group.