Abstract:
The present invention provides a system and method of piezoelectric fault recovery comprising: monitoring a set of operational piezoelectric elements of a piezoelectric actuator, detecting a failure of an element of the set, removing the failed element from the set, and rerouting the drive signal sent to the element according to a predetermined behavior preference.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a fuel injector, comprising a housing having a sealable injector seat; a fuel injector pin disposed within the housing proximate to the injector seat such that the injector seat may be sealed and unsealed by displacing the fuel injector pin; a resilient element biasing the fuel injector pin in an unsealed direction; a piezoelectric actuator disposed within the housing proximal to the fuel injector pin configured to actuate to force the injector pin towards the injector seat to seal the injector seat; and a thermal compensating unit disposed within the housing proximal to the actuator and configured to compensate for thermal expansion or contraction of a component of the fuel injector.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an injector-ignition fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine, comprising an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a next fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses a one firing cycle look-ahead algorithm for controlling fuel injection. The ECU may further incorporate a look-up table, auto-tuning functions and heuristics to compensate for the rapid rotational de-acceleration that occurs near top dead center in lightweight small ultra-high compression engines as may be used with this invention. The ECU may further ramp heat input to the injector in response to engine acceleration requests and, under such circumstances, may extend its look-ahead for up to four firing cycles.
Abstract:
A zinc anode plate is completely wrapped in a cloth anode separator containing liquid electrolyte. A hydro-gel material packed in an inert mesh separator is sandwiched between the wrapped anode and an air cathode which is in the form of a carbon membrane. The gel material is sufficiently permeable to oxygen to allow oxygen flow therethrough during charging and discharging cycles of the battery, and provides chemical reactive communication between the air cathode and the electrolyte in the anode separator without allowing electrolyte to pass therethrough. The permeability of the gel material is selected such that during charging of the battery, oxygen generated by the anode exerts sufficient pressure at the interface of the anode separator and gel material to cause electrolyte to be recirculated through the edges of the cloth anode separator to the opposite layer thereof, thereby preventing depletion of electrolyte to the anode.
Abstract:
A consumable anode of a reactive metal such as lithium is provided as a layer on a flexible, conductive substrate. The anode is preferably in the form of an elongated tape wound on a reel. The anode tape is fed from the reel into and through an elongated electrolyte reaction chamber formed between the surface of the anode tape and an opposed cathode. The ends of the compartment contain seals for retaining electrolyte between the electrodes. The tape is rewound on a driven take up reel.
Abstract:
A metal-air battery has a base for containing the active battery materials and a lid located on top of and fitted with the base. The flexible bottom surface of the base is curved to permit an expansion of the battery container during battery discharge. The air cathode is retained by a ledge in the base as well as by channels in the lid to prevent separation between the electrolyte and the air cathode membrane during battery discharge. An air chamber housing having inlet and outlet air ducts is located above the air cathode membrane for continuous air flow and optimal battery operation. The air ducts are sealed during storage to extend the shelf life of the battery.
Abstract:
Renewable electricity, such as from solar or wind, powers a topping cycle utilizing combustion energy electricity generation, such that the electricity output of the system exceeds the combined standalone outputs. Renewable carbon, such as from biomass, can also power a similar topping cycle, having the same effect.
Abstract:
A biomass fractionator and method are described for inputting ground biomass and outputting several vapor streams of bio-intermediate compounds along with syngas and biochar. In one embodiment, a method for biomass fractioning, comprises dispensing biomass into thin sheets of ground biomass; subjecting the thin sheets to ramps of temperature; and selectively collecting various groups of compounds as they are released from the thin sheets.
Abstract:
A piezoelectric actuator driving is presented that serially actuates individual piezoelectric elements of a multi-element piezoelectric actuator. One embodiment of the invention features a system comprising (1) a piezoelectric actuator having a plurality of piezoelectric elements; and (2) a current source configured to transmit a plurality of electrical currents to the piezoelectric actuator to actuate a corresponding plurality of the piezoelectric elements; (3) wherein the plurality of electrical currents are configured such that one piezoelectric element reaches a maximum actuation before another piezoelectric element begins actuating.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a heated catalyzed fuel injector that dispenses fuel substantially exclusively during the power stroke of an internal combustion engine, wherein ignition occurs in a fast burn zone at high fuel density such that a leading surface of the fuel is completely burned within several microseconds. In operation, the fuel injector precisely meters instantly igniting fuel at a predetermined crank angle for optimal power stroke production. Specifically, the fuel is metered into the fuel injector, such that the fuel injector heats, vaporizes, compresses and mildly oxidizes the fuel, and then dispenses the fuel as a relatively low pressure gas column into a combustion chamber of the engine.