110results about How to "Efficient energy conversion" patented technology

A high efficiency triple-junction solar cell and method of manufacture therefor is provided wherein junctions are formed between different types of III-V semiconductor alloy materials, one alloy of which contains a combination of an effective amount of antimony (Sb) with gallium (Ga), indium (In), nitrogen (N, the nitride component) and arsenic (As) to form the dilute nitride semiconductor layer GaInNAsSb which has particularly favorable characteristics in a solar cell. In particular, the bandgap and lattice matching promote efficient solar energy conversion.

A system for providing regenerative power for an aircraft to sustain flight includes multiple energy cells disposed within the aircraft, the energy cells being configured to supply power to a propulsion motor and electronics of the aircraft, a fan generator harnessing propeller blast created by an aircraft propeller and converting kinetic energy of the propeller blast into electrical energy, a charger receiving the electrical energy generated by the fan generator and using the electrical energy to recharge one or more of the energy cells, and a power transfer switch selectively connecting one of the energy cells to the propulsion motor and electronics of the aircraft, such that the energy cells are rotated one at a time to power the propulsion motor and electronics. During recharging, the one or more of the energy cells are disconnected by the power transfer switch.

An apparatus for improving the efficiency and usability of a solar energy collection panel is provided. In one embodiment, the collection panel comprises a plurality of layers. The first layer is a photovoltaic layer that converts the solar energy into electricity. That layer is coupled to a thermoelectric conversion layer that sinks heat from the photovoltaic layer and generates electricity based on the temperature difference between the top and bottom of the layer. A fluid heating layer is then coupled to and sinks heat from the thermoelectric layer to heat up a fluid, e.g. air or water. Each of these layers is stacked together and placed above an insulation layer that supports the layers and thermally isolates them from the surrounding environment. In another embodiment, a flexible coiled solar energy collection panel is provided. In still another embodiment, a modular rail system is provided for simple and customizable installation.

Recombinant oleaginous alga that include one or more heterologous genes that increase the ability of the alga to use one or more natural saccharides such as cellulosic or hemicellulosic sugars for algal growth are described. The recombinant oleaginous algae are transformed to include one or more genes expressing sugar metabolizing enzymes or sugar transporting proteins, along with suitable control elements. Use of natural saccharides as a carbon source can allow the algae to produce biofuel precursors in a relatively efficient manner. Processes for preparing the alga, growing the alga, and extracting the biofuel precursors from the alga are also described.

Actuators and corresponding methods and systems for controlling such actuators offer efficient, fast, flexible control with large forces. In an exemplary embodiment, an fluid actuator includes a housing having first and second fluid ports, an actuation cylinder in the housing defining a longitudinal axis and having first and second ends in first and second directions, an actuation piston in the cylinder with first and second surfaces moveable along the longitudinal axis, a spring subsystem biasing the actuation piston to a neutral position, a first fluid space defined by the first end of the actuation cylinder and the first surface of the actuation piston, and a second fluid space defined by the second end of the actuation cylinder and the second surface of the actuation piston. A first flow mechanism controls fluid communication between the first fluid space and the first port, whereas a second flow mechanism controls fluid communication between the second fluid space and the second port. The first and second flow mechanisms are substantially restricted through two integrated snubbing mechanisms when the actuation piston approaches the first and second direction ends of its travel, respectively. In addition to a differential fluid force on the actuation piston, there is a centering or returning spring force available to help open the engine valve against the high cross-over passage pressure, without the need for the fluid actuation system to be bulky and consume too much energy.

A steam engine increases efficiency and prevents corrosion, abrasion, and the like in a part receiving steam pressure. A heater and a cooler are provided on one side of a U-shaped fluid container, and a piston for output is provided on its other side. The heater heats working fluid to vaporize the fluid. The expansion pressure of steam of the working fluid depresses a fluid level in a first vertical pipe. The liquid component of the working fluid flows from the first vertical pipe into a second vertical pipe, thereby applying pressure to the piston in an upward direction. Then, the liquid component of the working fluid functions as a liquid piston directly receiving the expansion pressure of the steam, so that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of corrosion, abrasion and the like in the part receiving steam pressure.

A thin film type solar cell with a plurality of unit cells connected in series is disclosed, wherein uniform energy conversion efficiency is maintained in all of the unit cells by improving the energy conversion efficiency in the unit cell with the relatively-low energy conversion efficiency, to thereby realize the improved energy conversion efficiency, the thin film type solar cell comprising the plurality of unit cells, each unit cell including a front electrode, a semiconductor layer, and a rear electrode sequentially deposited on a substrate, wherein the thin film type solar cell includes a first unit cell set including at least one first unit cell with a first cell width, and a second unit cell set including at least one second unit cell with a second cell width which is different from the first cell width, wherein the first unit cell set occupies 80 to 95% of an entire area of the unit cells, and the second unit cell set occupies 5 to 20% of the entire area of the unit cells.

A self-contained intelligent cascaded synchronous electric motor-generator tandem of cumulative compound excitation comprises at least a synchronous electric motor-generator tandem (namely MG tandem), a storage battery cluster and an autotransformer. Each MG tandem comprises at least a pair of motor and generator having a common stator and a common rotor shaft. The storage battery cluster, which provides a DC power to general loads and motor, serves as a DC power reservoir to be recharged by generator. The autotransformer serves to regulate the AC voltage output from generator via multiple output taps thereon for supplying various AC voltages to different external loads. By integrating all components aforesaid with common magnetic flux interacted mutually, upon being energized by DC power from storage battery cluster, the motor will transfer rotational torque to drive the generator in enhanced synergistic manner.

A conductive (electrical, ionic, and photoelectric) polymer membrane article, comprising a non-woven membrane of polymer fibers, wherein at least some of the fibers have diameters of less than one micron; and wherein the membrane has an electrical conductivity of at least about 10⁻⁶ S/cm. Also disclosed is the method of making such an article, comprising electrostatically spinning a spin dope comprising a polymer carrier and/or a conductive polymer or conductive nanoparticles, to provide inherent conductivity in the article.

Land vehicle with electric brushless DC motors attached to planetary gear final drives of modular design controlled by an ECU “electronic control unit. Electrical power is supplied by removable modular battery packs on a roll out tray and/or an Enginator an ICE “Internal Combustion Engine” with a Generator in one integrated unit running on combustible fuel. The body of the vehicle having a universal electrical connector that connect the drive-by wire chassis components to control the vehicle.

Provided are a dye-sensitized solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same, which includes: a lower electrode formed of a titanium metal or a titanium alloy; a titanium oxide electrode having a nanotube structure formed on the lower electrode; a metal oxide layer formed on the titanium oxide electrode along a step difference of the nanotube, having a larger band gap than titanium oxide, and having a dye adsorbed on a surface thereof; a counter electrode spaced a predetermined distance apart from the metal oxide layer; and an electrolyte filled between the metal oxide layer and the counter electrode. The titanium oxide electrode having a nanotube structure, which has a large specific surface area, may increase absorption of solar light and allow easy adsorption of a dye due to the metal oxide layer, thereby improving photo current and voltage characteristics of the solar cell.

An electromechanical generator comprising an electromechanical device for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical device being a velocity damped resonator having a damping coefficient and a resonant frequency, a power detector for detecting the output electrical power from the electromechanical device, a controller, and a damping coefficient adjuster for adjusting the damping coefficient of the electromechanical device, the controller being arranged to control the damping coefficient adjuster in response to the output electrical power detected by the power detector.

The invention discloses an environment mechanical energy composite collection and conversion device, which comprises a friction power generation module for generating electric charges through frictionand being able to output current, and an electromagnetic power generation module for generating induced current due to change of magnetic flux and being able to output current. The device also comprises a package housing arranged outside the friction power generation module and the electromagnetic power generation module, used for driving the friction power generation module and the electromagnetic power generation module to operate and capable of protecting the friction power generation module and the electromagnetic power generation module. The environment mechanical energy composite collection and conversion device adopts an electromagnetic and friction combined power generation design, can efficiently convert the mechanical energy into electric energy and output the energy, so that high power density output and efficient energy conversion of the environment mechanical energy can be achieved.

Method of processing a substrate containing at least one semiconductor of the Si_XA_Y type and comprising at least four separate types of light elements, comprising at least the following steps:

• • carrying out a first anneal of the substrate at a temperature T1 corresponding to a thermal activation temperature for a first one of the four types of light elements,
  • carrying out a second anneal of the substrate at a temperature T2 corresponding to a thermal activation temperature for a second one of the four types of light elements,
  • carrying out a third anneal of the substrate at a temperature T3 corresponding to a thermal activation temperature for a third one of the four types of light elements,
  • carrying out a fourth anneal of the substrate at a temperature T4 corresponding to a thermal activation temperature for a fourth one of the four types of light elements,
  • each anneal comprising a holding at the temperature T1, T2, T3 or T4 and the temperatures T1, T2, T3 and T4 being such that T1>T2>T3>T4.

An apparatus for capturing a water content from a water containing gas, the apparatus comprising: a housing having an inlet into which the water containing gas can flow; a water adsorbent enclosed within the housing, the water adsorbent comprising at least one water adsorbent metal organic framework composite capable of adsorbing a water content from the water containing gas, the metal organic framework composite comprising: at least 50 wt % water adsorbent metal organic framework; from 0.2 to 10 wt % magnetic particles having a mean particle diameter of less than 200 nm; and at least 0.1 wt % hydrophilic binder comprising a hydrophilic cellulose derivative; and a water desorption arrangement in contact with and/or surrounding the water adsorbent, the water desorption arrangement being selectively operable between (i) a deactivated state, and (ii) an activated state in which the arrangement is configured to apply heat to the water adsorbent to desorb a water content from the water adsorbent, wherein the water desorption arrangement comprises an alternating current (AC) magnetic field generator located within and/or around the water adsorbent configured to apply an AC magnetic field to the water adsorbent.

The invention discloses a high-flow low-temperature plasma industrial waste gas treatment device. The device comprises a treatment device tank body arranged on a base and a gas inlet and a gas outlet which are formed on two sides of the treatment device tank body, the treatment device tank body comprises a treatment device circuit control part and a treatment device gas treatment part, wherein the treatment device circuit control part comprises a high voltage through-wall wiring china bottle, a high voltage pulse power supply, a boosting transformer and a matching inductor which are mutually connected with each other, a modulating pulse power supply and a power supply switch control panel; to-be-treated industrial waste gas enters from the gas inlet at the treatment device gas treatment part, and then is discharged from the gas outlet after orderly passing through a gas inlet flow-evening plate and a DBD electrode group. Multi-group co-axial type DBD electrodes can be driven through a single power supply, the driving number can be dozens to hundreds groups of co-axial DBD electrodes, and each electrode can produce uniform discharging, and can produce uniform discharging under small driving power.

The invention relates to a wave-power unit for the production of electric power. It comprises a floating body (1) arranged for floating on the sea and an electric linear generator (2) having a stator (5) and a translator (8) reciprocating along a center axis. The stator (5) is arranged to be anchored in the bed of the sea and the translator (8) is connected to the floating body (1) by connection means (3, 7). According to the invention the generator (2) is enclosed in a water-tight encapsulation (4) having an upper end wall with an opening through which the connection means (7) extends. The opening has a seal (12) that seals against the connection means (7). The seal (12) is flexibly mounted. The invention also relates to the use of the wave-power unit and to a method for producing electric power.

A modular heat exchanger that can be submerged to great depths and then easily recovered in order to reduce the costs and disadvantages of the prior art. Because the heat exchanger is submergible and recoverable, it can be more easily maintained. This ease of maintenance allows the heat exchangers to be deployed at greater depths. This, in turn, allows for greater differences in temperatures, greater efficiency for the heat engine, and a more effective ocean thermal energy conversion system.

Described is a propulsion system (1) for hypersonic aircraft, having an air inlet (10) of a fluid (110), a containment duct (20) and an exhaust nozzle (30). The propulsion system (1) comprises a bypass duct (40) for a flow (100) of fluid (110), an air-breathing engine (22) and a rocket (23) configured for processing respective flows (22a, 23a) of fluid (110). The bypass duct (40), the air-breathing engine (22) and the rocket (23) are operatively associated with each other in such a way as to generate a thermodynamic-fluid interaction in a same portion of space (33) between the respective flows (40a, 22a, 23a) processed in an operating configuration of the propulsion system (1) and wherein the portion of space (33) is inside the containment duct (20).

A titanium oxide nano tube material is configured so that crystal grains of a nano tube has a crystal structure oriented with the [001] direction of a tetragonal crystal system as a preferred direction. FWHM (Full Width at Half Maximum) of a rocking curve with respect to the (004) plane peak is 11.1 degrees to 20.3 degrees. The titanium oxide nano tube material has excellent photoelectric characteristics since the crystal grains of the nano tube are oriented with the (004) plane or the [001] direction of a tetragonal crystal system as a preferred direction.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a significantly high efficient solar cell having a novel structure and superior stability, and which can be mass-produced from an inexpensive material from an inexpensive material for enabling the easy commercial availability thereof. More particularly, the method of the present invention comprises the following step: (a) depositing slurry containing metal oxide particles and heat-treating the slurry to form a porous electron transporting layer; (b) forming inorganic semiconductors on surfaces of the metal oxide particles for the porous electron-transporting layer; and (c) impregnating the porous electron-transporting layer having the inorganic semiconductor formed thereon with a solution containing an organic photovoltaic material so as to form a hole transporting layer.