Abstract: The direct air capture (DAC) systems and methods efficiently and economically regenerate a desiccant bed without adding any thermal energy and without requiring any pressurization or depressurization of the desiccant reactors. The methods leverage water concentration differences in stream flows, the water concentration profile across a desiccant bed, and, optionally, exothermic water adsorption. These three elements, working in combination, are referred to as “reverse dry flow regeneration” or a “reverse dry air swing” regeneration process. Systems and methods for reverse flow regeneration include those for CO2 DAC applications, but they are also applicable to point source carbon capture and other similar technologies that require initial gas dehydration before exposure to a hydrophilic material.

Abstract: Solid sorbents, and especially zeolites, are attractive candidates for CO2 direct air capture (DAC) and point source capture applications because of their potential for high selectivity, fast kinetics, and low energy CO2 capture cycles. A common issue with solid sorbents, including zeolites, is their low thermal conductivity, which makes them difficult to heat for regeneration without using complex and expensive heat transfer systems. This invention utilizes a modified TVSA process which utilizes the product CO2 gas itself as the heating medium for the adsorbent bed, alone or in conjunction with internal or external heaters. The use of CO2 as a heating medium allows efficient heating of the sorbent bed and enables high purity CO2 product.

Abstract: Solid sorbents, and especially zeolites, are attractive candidates for CO2 direct air capture (DAC) and point source capture applications because of their potential for high selectivity, fast kinetics, and low energy CO2 capture cycles. A common issue with solid sorbents, including zeolites, is their low thermal conductivity, which makes them difficult to heat for regeneration without using complex and expensive heat transfer systems. This invention utilizes a modified TVSA process which utilizes the product CO2 gas itself as the heating medium for the adsorbent bed, alone or in conjunction with internal or external heaters. The use of CO2 as a heating medium allows efficient heating of the sorbent bed and enables high purity CO2 product.

Abstract: The direct air capture (DAC) systems and methods efficiently and economically regenerate a desiccant bed without adding any thermal energy and without requiring any pressurization or depressurization of the desiccant reactors. The methods leverage water concentration differences in stream flows, the water concentration profile across a desiccant bed, and, optionally, exothermic water adsorption. These three elements, working in combination, are referred to as “reverse dry flow regeneration” or a “reverse dry air swing” regeneration process. Systems and methods for reverse flow regeneration include those for CO2 DAC applications, but they are also applicable to point source carbon capture and other similar technologies that require initial gas dehydration before exposure to a hydrophilic material.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an energy storage and generation system, comprising a cable system having a first end portion located at a first elevation and a second end portion located at a second elevation, a plurality of mass carriers supported by the cable system, one or more motor generators coupled with the cable system and with an energy grid, a control system in communication with at least the one or more motor generators, a first mass pile area configured to store mass medium positioned at the first elevation, and a second mass pile area configured to store mass medium positioned at the second elevation that can be higher than the first elevation. The one or more motor generators can move the cable system in an energy storing state and be moved by the cable in an energy generating state.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an energy storage and generation system, comprising a cable system having a first end portion located at a first elevation and a second end portion located at a second elevation, a plurality of mass carriers supported by the cable system, one or more motor generators coupled with the cable system and with an energy grid, a control system in communication with at least the one or more motor generators, a first mass pile area configured to store mass medium positioned at the first elevation, and a second mass pile area configured to store mass medium positioned at the second elevation that can be higher than the first elevation. The one or more motor generators can move the cable system in an energy storing state and be moved by the cable in an energy generating state.

Abstract: A Stirling cycle engine comprises a substantially sealed engine block that defines a working fluid space, a hot path and a cold path. A heat source and a heat sink are configured to keep the hot path and the cold path at different temperatures. The engine includes a valve chamber that is communication with the working fluid space, the hot path and the cold path. A valve is moveably positioned within the valve chamber between at least a first position and a second position. The valve defines a passage that, in the first position, places the working fluid space in communication with the hot path and, in the second position, places the working fluid space in communication with the cold path. A regenerator positioned within the passage.

Abstract: A Stirling cycle engine comprises a substantially sealed engine block that defines a working fluid space, a hot path and a cold path. A heat source and a heat sink are configured to keep the hot path and the cold path at different temperatures. The engine includes a valve chamber that is communication with the working fluid space, the hot path and the cold path. A valve is moveably positioned within the valve chamber between at least a first position and a second position. The valve defines a passage that, in the first position, places the working fluid space in communication with the hot path and, in the second position, places the working fluid space in communication with the cold path. A regenerator positioned within the passage.

Abstract: A text search and retrieval system which builds an index representing every word in stored files created by a variety of applications, searches for requested words using the index and ranks the files based on the relative strength of match with the search request. From a display of the ranked filenames, the user can select a file, whereupon the file is tested to determine which one of a plurality of file viewers to deploy. The corresponding viewer is automatically loaded and used to display consecutive screens of information from the selected file. Further searching within the file is accomplished within the context of the viewer by matching character strings of a new search request with words in the items of the file produced by the viewer. To work on a file in view, the user can invoke the software application which created the file by loading the application corresponding to the viewer along with the desired file, without abandoning the search system.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for determining the boundaries of arbitrarily shaped regions on a computer display system having a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU is coupled to a display having a plurality of selectively enabled and disabled display elements arranged in a matrix, whereby each display element is identified by a unique X,Y address. A memory coupled to the CPU includes a plurality of memory cells, wherein the cells correspond to a display element on the display. An initial X,Y address is selected on the display by a user employing a cursor control to identify an area on the display where the boundaries of a region are to be determined. The initial X,Y address selected by the user is defined as a seed cell.