2588 results about "Energy conversion efficiency" patented technology

An electromagnetic linear generator and regenerative electromagnetic shock absorber is disclosed which converts variable frequency, repetitive intermittent linear displacement motion to useful electrical power. The innovative device provides for superposition of radial components of the magnetic flux density from a plurality of adjacent magnets to produce a maximum average radial magnetic flux density within a coil winding array. Due to the vector superposition of the magnetic fields and magnetic flux from a plurality of magnets, a nearly four-fold increase in magnetic flux density is achieved over conventional electromagnetic generator designs with a potential sixteen-fold increase in power generating capacity. As a regenerative shock absorber, the disclosed device is capable of converting parasitic displacement motion and vibrations encountered under normal urban driving conditions to a useful electrical energy for powering vehicles and accessories or charging batteries in electric and fossil fuel powered vehicles. The disclosed device is capable of high power generation capacity and energy conversion efficiency with minimal weight penalty for improved fuel efficiency.

The present invention generally relates to organic photosensitive optoelectronic devices. More specifically, it is directed to organic photovoltaic devices, e.g., organic solar cells. Further, it is directed to an optimized organic solar cell comprising multiple stacked subcells in series. High power conversion efficiency are achieved by fabrication of a photovoltaic cell comprising multiple stacked subcells with thickness optimization and employing an electron blocking layer.

Delivery of an implantable wireless receiver-stimulator (R-S) into the heart using delivery catheter is described. R-S comprises a cathode and an anode and wirelessly receives and converts energy, such as acoustic ultrasound energy, to electrical energy to stimulate the heart. Conductive wires routed through the delivery system temporarily connect R-S electrodes to external monitor and pacing controller. R-S comprises a first temporary electrical connection from the catheter to the cathode, and a second temporary electrical connection from the catheter to the anode. Temporary electrical connections allow external monitoring of heart's electrical activity as sensed by R-S electrodes to determine tissue viability for excitation as well as to assess energy conversion efficiency.

A concentrating photovoltaic module is provided which provides a concentration in the range of about 500 to over 1,000 suns and a power range of a few kW to 50 kW. A plurality of such modules may be combined to form a power plant capable of generating over several hundred megawatts. The concentrating photovoltaic module is based on a Photovoltaic Cavity Converter (PVCC) as an enabling technology for very high solar-to-electricity conversions. The use of a cavity containing a plurality of single junction solar cells of different energy bandgaps and simultaneous spectral splitting of the solar spectrum employs a lateral geometry in the spherical cavity (where the cell strings made of the single junction cells operate next to each other without mutual interference). The purpose of the cavity with a small aperture for the pre-focused solar radiation is to confine (trap) the photons so that they can be recycled effectively and used by the proper cells. Passive or active cooling mechanisms may be employed to cool the solar cells.

The invention discloses a compressed air energy storage system, in particular to a compressed air energy storage system for an electric power system. The compressed air energy storage system disclosed by the invention has reasonable structure, flexible layout, high energy conversion efficiency, good economical efficiency and peakload regulation performance, rapid startup, safety and reliability. The compressed air energy storage system applying the invention can be used for despicking and valley filling of the electric power system, energy storage of renewable energy source and power supply when the renewable energy source is in supply intermission or in shortage in an electric network, and can be used as an emergency power station, an energy accumulator of distributed energy resource and other equipment for electric power energy storage.

An impulse-type "wave motor" employs a seabed-mounted or supported structure mounting a wave energy absorbing panel on a hinged lever arm for reciprocation motion to obtain optimal absorption of wave energy from wave motion in the sea. For deepwater wavelengths of L, the panel is optimally positioned in a region within L/2 depth from the sea surface. The panel motion is coupled by a connecting rod to a fluid pump which generates a high-pressure fluid output that may be used to drive a reverse osmosis desalination unit or to produce other useful work. Seawater or brackish water may be desalinated through reverse osmosis membranes to produce water quality for consumption, agricultural, or other uses. The submerged operating environment of the device in a region of one-half the design wavelength provides the maximum available energy flux and forced oscillations. The pump may be of the positive-displacement piston type, plunger type, or multi-staging driver type, or a variable volume pump.

The present invention provides a revolutionary photosynthetic ethanol production technology based on designer transgenic plants, algae, or plant cells. The designer plants, designer algae, and designer plant cells are created such that the endogenous photosynthesis regulation mechanism is tamed, and the reducing power (NADPH) and energy (ATP) acquired from the photosynthetic water splitting and proton gradient-coupled electron transport process are used for immediate synthesis of ethanol (CH₃CH₂OH) directly from carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O). The ethanol production methods of the present invention completely eliminate the problem of recalcitrant lignocellulosics by bypassing the bottleneck problem of the biomass technology. The photosynthetic ethanol-production technology of the present invention is expected to have a much higher solar-to-ethanol energy-conversion efficiency than the current technology and could also help protect the Earth's environment from the dangerous accumulation of CO₂ in the atmosphere.

The invention relates to a power battery-super capacitor hybrid power system for electric automobiles, belonging to the electric automobile technical field. The power battery-super capacitor hybrid power system for the electric automobiles comprises a power battery pack, a motor controller and a 24V storage battery, a boost DC /DC converter, a bi-directional DC/DC converter and a super capacitance group, wherein, the low voltage end of the boost DC /DC converter is connected with the output end of the power battery pack, the high voltage end of the boost DC /DC converter is connected with the motor controller; the super capacitance group and the high voltage end of the bi-directional DC/DC converter are directly hitched with the high voltage end of the boost DC/DC converter, and the low voltage end of the bi-directional DC/DC converter is connected with the 24V storage battery. The power battery of the power battery-super capacitor hybrid power system for the electric automobiles has smooth output current, small peak current, high discharge efficiency and long service life; when the battery pack SOC is lower, the hybrid system still ensures the normal power output capability; and the super capacitance can directly absorb the braking feedback energy and has high energy conversion efficiency.

An oxide semiconductor electrode is provided with a bonding layer with excellent temporal stability of adhesive force and excellent productivity in a transfer method including a dye-sensitized solar cell with the oxide semiconductor electrode; a method of producing an oxide semiconductor electrode that can produce an oxide semiconductor electrode excellent in the energy conversion efficiency at the high productivity is also provided. The oxide semiconductor electrode and method for making the same are disclosed noting that the oxide semiconductor electrode includes: a base material; a bonding layer formed on the base material made of a thermoplastic resin; a first electrode layer formed on the bonding layer made of a metal oxide; and a porous layer formed on the first electrode and made of the fine particle of a metal oxide semiconductor, wherein the thermoplastic resin includes a silane-modified resin.

This invention relates to the field of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) direct energy conversion. In particular, TPV systems use filters to minimize parasitic absorption of below bandgap energy. This invention constitutes a novel combination of front surface filters to increase TPV conversion efficiency by reflecting useless below bandgap energy while transmitting a very high percentage of the useful above bandgap energy. In particular, a frequency selective surface is used in combination with an interference filter. The frequency selective surface provides high transmission of above bandgap energy and high reflection of long wavelength below bandgap energy. The interference filter maintains high transmission of above bandgap energy and provides high reflection of short wavelength below bandgap energy and a sharp transition from high transmission to high reflection.

The light conversion efficiency of a solar cell (10) is enhanced by using an optical downshifting layer (30) in cooperation with a photovoltaic material (22). The optical downshifting layer converts photons (50) having wavelengths in a supplemental light absorption spectrum into photons (52) having a wavelength in the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic material. The cost effectiveness and efficiency of solar cells platforms (20) can be increased by relaxing the range of the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic material. The optical downshifting layer can be applied as a low cost solution processed film composed of highly absorbing and emissive quantum dot heterostructure nanomaterial embedded in an inert matrix to improve the short wavelength response of the photovoltaic material. The enhanced efficiency provided by the optical downshifting layer permits advantageous modifications to the solar cell platform that enhances its efficiency as well.

A photovoltaic tile with photovoltaic cell and a heat sink. The heat sink is attached on a side of the cell opposite to the light-receiving side of the photovoltaic cell and can remove heat caused by light absorbed by the photovoltaic cell but not converted to electricity as well as heat generated by electrical resistance. A photovoltaic tile formed of such cells can exhibit greater energy conversion efficiency as a result of the ability to dissipate the heat. The tiles can be arranged on a roof to protect the roof structure and generate electricity. Photovoltaic tiles comprising interlocking mechanical and electrical connections for ease of installation are described. Methods of making photovoltaic tiles involve e.g. laminating a heat sink to a photovoltaic cell and/or injection molding.

The invention provides method and compositions to minimize the chlorophyll antenna size of photosynthesis by decreasing TLA1 gene expression, thereby improving solar conversion efficiencies and photosynthetic productivity in plants, e.g., green microalgae, under bright sunlight conditions.

The invention discloses a longitudinal torsion composite supersonic vibration machining device. The longitudinal torsion composite supersonic vibration machining device comprises a longitudinal supersonic vibration energy converter and an ultrasonic amplitude transformer arranged at the front end of the longitudinal supersonic vibration energy converter and integrally connected with the longitudinal supersonic vibration energy converter. The longitudinal supersonic vibration energy converter comprises a back cover plate, a piezoelectric ceramic piece, an electrode plate, a front cover plate, an insulating sleeve and a pre-tightening bolt for connecting the back cover plate, the piezoelectric ceramic piece, the electrode plate, the front cover plate and the insulating sleeve. The ultrasonic amplitude transformer comprises an amplitude transformer index section and an amplitude transformer cylindrical section, the amplitude transformer index section and the front cover plate are designed into a whole, the amplitude transformer cylindrical section is used for being connected with a machining tool, the surface of the amplitude transformer index section is provided with four same spiral grooves, part of longitudinal vibration generated by the longitudinal supersonic vibration energy converter can be converted into torsion vibration through the spiral grooves, and therefore the longitudinal torsion composite supersonic vibration can be generated one the end face of the amplitude transformer cylindrical section. The longitudinal torsion composite supersonic vibration machining device has the advantages of being simple in structure, large in torsion component, high in converting efficiency and the like.

In an ejector cycle system using carbon dioxide as refrigerant, an ejector decompresses and expands refrigerant from a radiator to suck gas refrigerant evaporated in an evaporator, and converts an expansion energy to a pressure energy to increase a refrigerant pressure to be sucked into a compressor. Because refrigerant is decompressed and expanded in a super-critical area, a pressure difference during the decompression operation becomes larger, and a specific enthalpy difference becomes larger. Accordingly, energy converting efficiency in the ejector becomes higher, and efficiency of the ejector cycle system is improved.

A polymer gel hybrid solar cell which reach a light to energy conversion efficiency as high as 9.2% with 100 mW/cm², and as high as 14.1% with reduced light intensity of 33 mW/cm².

The invention provides a sandwich structure, comprising a first interlayer, a second interlayer and a core located between the first interlayer and the second interlayer. The core is in a multilevel honeycomb structure. In the multilevel honeycomb structure, intersections of every two or three sides of a current-level honeycomb structure having cell-element side length L<0> are replaced with polygons with side length L<1> to form a next-level honeycomb structure, wherein L<1> is less than L<0>. The sandwich structure is light in weight, high in specific strength, high in energy absorption efficiency, good in thermal insulation and acoustic insulation, and high in multifunctional comprehensive performance; compared with the traditional honeycomb structures in in-plane (X-Y) and out-plane (Z) directions, the sandwich structure is evidently higher in various performances such as mechanical properties, mechanical strength, energy absorption efficiency and impact resistance; the higher the honeycomb level, the better the performances; thus, the honeycomb structure is of greater advantages in the engineering field than the traditional honeycomb structures.

A power supply in which power conversion efficiency is enhanced in all operation modes by supplying power to a load (60) from any one or both of first power supply circuit (20) and second power supply circuit (40), detecting the operation mode of the load (60) through an operation mode detecting means (65), and controlling switches (11,12) depending on the operation mode of the load (60) to select a power supply circuit for supplying power to the load (60).

The invention discloses a differential energy recovery device and a method for a seawater desalination system. The differential energy recovery device comprises two hydraulic cylinders connected in parallel. A piston divides each hydraulic cylinder into two cavities. The piston is fixedly connected with a piston rod. A low-pressure raw water inlet is connected with two left cavities through liquid inlet valves. The left cavities are connected with a high-pressure raw water outlet through liquid drain valves. Two right cavities are connected with reversing valves. The reversing valves are connected with a high-pressure concentrated water inlet and are connected with a low-pressure concentrated drain outlet. The method is that high-pressure concentrated water coming from a reverse osmosis device is enabled to enter the right cavities of the two hydraulic cylinders through the reversing valves, and low-pressure raw water in the left cavities is pushed and pressurized to enter the reverse osmosis device. Since the direct pressurization principle of the hydraulic cylinders is used for the special design, one-time energy conversion is adopted and the pressure of high-pressure seawater after pressure exchange is larger than the pressure of concentrated saline water, the invention has the advantages that the pressurizing pumps are not required for pressurization once more, the energy conversion efficiency is high, the operating cost is saved and the energy consumption of the reverse osmosis system is further reduced.

Photocatalytic water splitting is employed as a method to directly obtain clean hydrogen from solar radiation by using hybrid nanoparticles with metallic cores and semiconductor photocatalytic shells. Efficient unassisted overall photocatalytic splitting of water is based on resonant absorption from surface plasmon in metal core/semiconductor shell hybrid nanoparticles, which can extend the absorption spectra further towards the visible-near infrared range, thus dramatically increasing the solar energy conversion efficiency. When used in combination with scintillator nanoparticles, the hybrid photocatalytic nanoparticles can be used for conversion of nuclear energy into hydrogen.

In devices used for the direct conversion of heat into electricity, or vice versa, known in the art as thermoelectric power generators, thermoelectric refrigerators and thermoelectric heat pumps, the efficiency of energy conversion and/or coefficient of performance have been considerably lower than those of conventional reciprocating or rotary, heat engines and/or vapor-compression systems, employing certain refrigerants. The energy conversion efficiency of power generating devices, for example, aside from the hot and cold junction temperatures, also depends on a parameter known in the art as the thermoelectric figure of merit Z=S2sigma/k, where S is the thermoelectric power, sigma is the electrical conductivity and k is the thermal conductivity, of the material that constitutes the p-type, and/or n-type, thermoelements, or branches, of the said devices. In order to achieve a considerable increase in the energy conversion efficiency, a thermoelectric figure of merit of the order of 10-2 K-1, or more, is needed. It is reasonably expected that such an order of magnitude, for the figure of merit, can be realized with a composition of matter, comprising magnesium, silicon, lead and barium, and optionally comprising one, or more, additional doping materials.

A system and apparatus is provided that maximizes mass and energy conversion efficiencies in an integrated thermochemical process for the conversion of fossil fuel or renewable biomass to synthesis gas. The system combines gasification, catalytic conversion of gas to liquid, electricity generation, steam and chilled water generation with a system controller to maximize the conversion efficiency from syngas to merchantable products over the efficiency of syngas alone burned as a fuel. A clean synthesis gas stream is introduced into a catalytic reactor that utilizes specially formulated catalysts to generate liquid fuel from CO and H₂ while concentrating CH₄ and other combustible, but non-reactive gases in the syngas product stream. The methane rich stream is introduced into an engine for the production of electricity and heat while the unreacted CO and H₂ can be recycled to produce additional liquid fuel. Excess heat can be used for other co-located processes and facilities.

The invention discloses a data priority-based channel contention access method for a wireless sensor network. The method of the invention ensures different performance index requirements by adopting different channel access mechanisms according to the priority levels (high and low levels) of data packets. In addition, aggregation factors are introduced into the transmission of the data packets, and the data packets are aggregated by using the local calculation and storage capacity of a node on the premise of meeting the specific network performance requirement, so the framing efficiency is improved and the energy consumption efficiency is further improved. Through the parameter aggregation factors, the network can be flexibly selected between the energy consumption efficiency and the data average packet delay.

A power-transmission-unit-side resonant circuit includes a resonant capacitor connected in series with a power transmission coil and a power-reception-unit-side resonant circuit including a resonant capacitor connected in series with a power reception coil resonate with each other to cause sympathetic vibration. This allows power to be transferred using two kinds of coupling via the magnetic field and the electric field between the power transmission coil and the power reception coil. Also, operation is performed at a switching frequency that is higher than a specific resonant frequency of the entire multi-resonant circuit, such that a ZVS operation is performed. As a result, a switching loss is reduced by a large amount and a highly efficient operation is performed thus enabling a power transfer system with a reduced size and an increased power conversion efficiency to be provided.

A controller is configured to exchange information with a building automation system and includes various executable programs for determining a real time operating efficiency, simulating a predicted or theoretical operating efficiency, comparing the same, and then adjusting one or more operating parameters on equipment utilized by a building's HVAC system. The controller operates to adjust an operating efficiency of the HVAC system. An adjustment module utilized by the controller may modify the HVAC equipment parameters based on the likelihood that various HVAC equipment operates in parallel and on-line near its natural operating curve. In addition, the adjustment module may include a self-learning aspect that permits the controller to more efficiently make similar, future adjustments as needed.

An electromagnetic wave absorber comprising (a) soft ferrite having its surface treated with a silane compound having no functional group, (c) magnetite and (d) silicone, or comprising (a) soft ferrite having its surface treated with a silane compound having no functional group, (b) flat, soft magnetic metal powder, (c) magnetite and (d) silicone, which electromagnetic wave absorber excels in electromagnetic wave absorption, heat conduction and flame resistance, exhibiting less temperature dependence, and which electromagnetic wave absorber is soft, excelling in adhesion strength and further excelling in high resistance high insulation properties and in energy conversion efficiency being stable in MHz to 10 GHz broadband frequency. There is further provided a laminated electromagnetic wave absorber comprising the above electromagnetic wave absorber overlaid with a reflection layer of conductor, which laminated electromagnetic wave absorber can be closely stuck onto an unwanted electromagnetic wave emission source such as a high-speed operating device, having such an adhesive strength that even when stuck to a horizontal glassy-surface ceiling face of resin-made cage, would not fall.

An energy converter for converting multi-frequency radiant energy into electrical energy is disclosed, comprising a plurality of superposed lateral waveguides having photovoltaic energy transducers disposed within. The waveguide include charge collectors, which may be the cladding. A plurality of spectral refractors termed Continuous Resonant Trap Refractors (CRTR) are disposed within the lateral waveguides the refractors comprising a tapered core waveguide, the wider end of which defining an aperture, and the tapered core width decreasing in magnitude as a function of the depth. A cladding is disposed about the tapered core. The aperture of the tapered core is dimensioned to allow passage of radiant energy comprising at least two frequencies. The varying width of the tapered core will cause different frequencies to reach a state at which they will penetrate the cladding and be emitted from the spectral refractor sorted by depth, and be coupled to respective lateral waveguides and/or transducers.

The invention discloses Li3YCl6 glass ceramics doped with rare earth ions. The Li3YCl6 glass ceramics is prepared from 87.8-94 mol% of SiO2, 5.5-10 mol% of Li3YCl6 and 0.5-3 mol% of LnCl3, wherein LnCl3 is at least one of YbCl3, ErCl3, TmCl3 and HoCl3. The Li3YCl6 glass ceramics has the advantages of being transparent, resistant to air slake, good in mechanical performance, high in blue and purple light transmittance, low in phonon energy, high in up-conversion efficiency, capable of greatly improving efficiency of an up-conversion laser device, simple in preparation method and low in production cost.

The invention discloses a laminated organic thin-film solar cell comprising a substrate, a transparent anode layer, an anode buffering layer, an organic photoelectric conversion layer 1, a connecting layer, an organic photoelectric conversion layer 2, a cathode buffering layer and a cathode layer, wherein the connecting layer can be formed by the following two methods: (1) an enhancement reflection film and a hole transporting layer are combined into the connecting layer; and (2) an enhancement reflection film, a metal thin layer and a hole transporting layer are combined into the connecting layer. The enhancement reflection film can improve the reflectivity of the connecting layer according to the specified range of wavelength. Simultaneously, the enhancement reflection film has better electronic transmission performance, guarantees electrons and holes to be effectively compounded on the connecting layer. The laminated organic thin-film solar cell prepared by the method is characterized by high energy conversion efficiency and good stability.

The invention relates to a light source structure based on fluorescent powder improving light conversion efficiency. The light source structure comprises a trigger light source (1), a triggered material (3) and a heat conducting substrate (4); the triggered material (3) is tightly attached to the heat conducting substrate (4); the light source structure further comprises a light split filter (2), particularly, the trigger light source (1) faces the light split filter (2), so that trigger rays obliquely radiate onto the light splitting filter (2); the triggered material (3) approximately faces the trigger rays guided by the light splitting filter (2); a heat conducting reflector is additionally arranged between the triggered material (3) and the heat conducting substrate (4) to improve the utilization rate of stimulated luminescence; and the heat conducting substrate (4) further can be fixed on a rotating disk (5) for optical mixing treatment. The invention can improve the light source efficiency and has the advantages of simple structure and low cost.