Thermochemical renewable energy storage

    公开(公告)号:US12123655B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-10-22

    申请号:US18238579

    申请日:2023-08-28

    IPC分类号: F28D20/00 F28D7/02

    摘要: Systems and methods for energy storage and energy recovery are provided. An electrical-to-electrical energy storage system includes a thermochemical energy storage device, a blower, a compressor, a turbine, and an electrical generator. The TCES device includes a vessel, a porous bed, and a heater. The porous bed is disposed within an interior volume of the vessel. The porous bed comprises a reactive material. The reactive material is configured to release oxygen upon being heated to a reduction temperature, and generate heat when exposed to oxygen. The heater is in thermal contact with the reactive material. The blower is configured to remove oxygen from the interior volume. The compressor is configured to flow oxygen into the interior volume. The turbine is configured to receive a heated, oxygen-depleted gas from the interior volume. The generator is configured to be powered by the turbine to generate electricity.

    Reusable energy absorbing apparatus including gas-liquid interactions in nanopores

    公开(公告)号:US12121094B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-10-22

    申请号:US17498952

    申请日:2021-10-12

    发明人: Weiyi Lu

    IPC分类号: F16F9/00 A42B3/12

    CPC分类号: A42B3/121 F16F9/006

    摘要: An energy absorbing apparatus includes particles with nanopores in a liquid. A further aspect employs a reusable energy absorbing apparatus including gas-liquid interactions in nanopores. Another aspect of the present apparatus uses oversolubility of gas in a solution to enhance bubble nucleation in hydrophobic nanopores or nanochannels, which suppresses gas outflow while promoting liquid outflow from particles. Still another aspect includes anions within an aqueous electrolytic solution, containing nanoporous material therein.

    Lignin-Based Epoxide Prepolymers, Polymers, Related Compositions, and Related Methods

    公开(公告)号:US20240301125A1

    公开(公告)日:2024-09-12

    申请号:US18268391

    申请日:2021-12-21

    摘要: The disclosure relates to epoxidized lignin prepolymers, related methods of making the prepolymers, cured epoxy resins formed from the prepolymers, articles including a coating of the cured epoxy resins, and related curing methods and compositions. The epoxidized lignin prepolymer has an epoxide functionality in a range of 2 to 8 and a high solubility in various common organic solvents. The high solubility permits incorporation of the epoxidized lignin prepolymer into an epoxy system which cures after addition of curing agents at high enough concentrations to allow replacement of conventional epoxide prepolymers at levels up to 100% replacement. Using other biobased materials in addition to lignin, for example biobased epichlorohydrin to epoxidize the lignin and a biobased hardener to cure the prepolymer, can provide a corresponding cured epoxy resin that is formed from completely biobased materials.

    Radar reflector apparatus for a moving object

    公开(公告)号:US12057637B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-08-06

    申请号:US17480195

    申请日:2021-09-21

    发明人: Lee Harle

    IPC分类号: H01Q15/18 G01S13/75 H01Q1/32

    摘要: A reflector apparatus is provided. A further aspect employs at least one antenna or radar operably emitting signals, and a moving object-mounted reflector which operably reflects at least some of the signals back to the at least one antenna or radar, the reflector including trihedral walls with metallic reflective surfaces. In another aspect, a programmable controller in an automotive vehicle determines a moving object-characteristic based on at least reflected signals received by a horn antenna using a Doppler or micro-Doppler effect. Still another aspect includes a trihedral reflector which moves with a movable object including handlebars, a straddled user seat and being one of: a bicycle, a motorcycle, or an all-terrain vehicle. A further aspect includes multiple spaced apart trihedral reflectors attached to a user-wearable, flexible and nonconductive substrate.

    Solid thermochemical fuel apparatus

    公开(公告)号:US12037557B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-07-16

    申请号:US18107535

    申请日:2023-02-09

    IPC分类号: C10L9/06 C10L5/28 C10L9/08

    摘要: A method of charging and/or discharging energy in reusable fuel workpieces or particles includes a solar furnace with counter-flowing workpieces and gas, to exchange heat therebetween, with the exiting gas and workpieces being at about ambient temperature. A further aspect employs a production plant including a reduction reactor configured to use excess electrical energy generated by renewable power generators to charge and/or discharge solid-state thermochemical fuel. Another aspect includes a fuel flow control valve using air pulses. An oxygen-deprived and reusable fuel, such as magnesium manganese oxide, or magnesium iron oxide, is also provided. In another aspect, an apparatus for producing a solid-state fuel includes a reduction reactor including a reactor chamber configured to receive concentrated solar energy, and a reactor tube having a recuperation zone, a reduction zone, and a quenching zone, wherein the reduction zone passes through the reactor chamber. A discharged solid-state fuel is configured to be fed down the reactor tube and a low-oxygen gas is configured to flow up the reactor tube.

    LIGNIN-FORMALDEHYDE RESINS, RELATED COMPOSITIONS, AND RELATED METHODS

    公开(公告)号:US20240228849A9

    公开(公告)日:2024-07-11

    申请号:US18275060

    申请日:2022-02-04

    摘要: The disclosure relates to adhesive compositions, including non-crosslinked resins and crosslinked/cured adhesives joining substrates, as well as related methods for making the compositions and articles. Compared to a conventional phenol (P) and formaldehyde (F) resin, the disclosed methods and compositions use lignin (L), formaldehyde (F), and optionally higher aldehydes (A) as corresponding replacements to provide an analog to a conventional PF resin with biobased reactants. Due to the differing reactivity of the LF components compared to the PF components, the initial condensation reaction between ortho-reactive sites in the lignin and the aldehyde is controlled to prevent gelation of the aqueous reaction mixture while reacting substantially all of the LF reactants to provide a non-crosslinked resin reaction product. The resin reaction product can then be cured at high temperature/high pressure conditions to provide a crosslinked adhesive, for example joining two substrates.