Abstract:
Absorbent structures for CO 2 capture include a honeycomb substrate having partition walls that extend through the honeycomb substrate. The partition walls have channel surfaces that define a plurality of individual channels including a plurality of reaction channels and a plurality of heat-exchange channels. The reaction channels and the heat-exchange channels are arranged such that individual reaction channels are in thermal communication with individual heat-exchange channels. Surfaces of the reaction channels surfaces include a sorbent material, and surfaces of the heat-exchange channels include a coating layer. The coating layer includes a water-impermeable layer formed from a polymer material. The polymer material of the water-impermeable layer does not substantially penetrate into the sorbent material of the partition walls or of the reaction-channel surfaces. Methods for forming the absorbent structures include coating the surfaces of the heat-exchange channels with the polymer material using a liquid composition such as an aqueous polymer emulsion.
Abstract:
A method of controlling energy consumption in a building includes receiving occupancy data (103) including at least one of occupant request data (307) and occupant schedule data (306), receiving weather data (102) including at least one of current weather measurement data (305) and weather forecast data (304), generating an output control signal based on the occupancy data (103) and the weather data (102), and transmitting the output control signal to a building automation system (BAS) of the building. The occupant request data (307) includes a current request, and the occupant schedule data (306) includes a predicted occupant schedule. The output control signal adjusts a building control device in a zone in the building.
Abstract:
An article comprising a plurality of intersecting walls having outer surfaces that define a plurality of cells extending from one end to a second end, wherein the walls forming each cell in a first subset of cells are covered by a barrier layer to form a plurality of heat exchange flow channels, and wherein the walls forming each cell in a second subset of cells different from the first subset of cells, comprise a CO2 sorbent and form reaction flow channels. Heat exchange flow channels allow quick and uniform heating and cooling of the sorbent body. The article may be useful, for example, for removing CO2 from a gas stream.
Abstract:
A method and system for enabling facility managers and occupants of commercial buildings to collaboratively define energy policy for building energy control is disclosed.
Abstract:
A building has climate control equipment which controls a temperature at different locations. Different locations may be in different control zones controlled by different control devices. An occupant of a location submits a desired location temperature through a user interface on a computing device to a networked server. Setting of a desired temperature is constrained by energy saving policies and by conditions of surrounding locations. An arbitrator device determines based on constraints a new temperature setting. The new temperature setting is accompanied by an energy saving feedback. The occupants confirms the new setting. A climate control device is instructed to apply a device setting to achieve the new temperature. A climate profile of the occupant is learned from previous temperature settings by the occupant.
Abstract:
A method of forming a solid, dense, hermetic lithium-ion electrolyte membrane comprises combing an amorphous, glassy, or low melting temperature solid reactant with a refractory oxide reactant to form a mixture, casting the mixture to form a green body, and sintering the green body to form a solid membrane. The resulting electrolyte membranes can be incorporated into lithium-ion batteries.
Abstract:
The present disclosure introduces a method and an apparatus of shrinking virtual hard disk image file. The present techniques search a garbage data block in a file and revise a record of the garbage data block in a block allocation table (BAT). The file includes one or more data blocks and a BAT that records information of each data block. The garbage data block is a data block that does not store effective data. The present techniques move an effective data block subsequent to the garbage data block, revise a record of the effective data block in the BAT after the moving, and shrink a size of the file after the movement.
Abstract:
Dye sensitized solar cells having conductive metal oxide layers with nano-whiskers and methods of making the dye sensitized solar cells having conductive metal oxide layers with nano-whiskers are described. The method for making a dye sensitized solar cell comprises providing a conductive metal oxide layer comprising nano-whiskers, applying a porous semi-conducting layer on the conductive metal oxide layer, applying a dye to at least a portion of the porous semi-conducting layer, and applying an electrolyte adjacent to at least a portion of the dye.
Abstract:
Article comprising a substrate; and a conductive metal oxide film adjacent to a surface of the substrate, wherein the conductive metal oxide film has an electron mobility (cm2/V-s) of 35 or greater are described. Photovoltaic devices comprising conductive metal oxide films are also described.
Abstract:
A porous monolithic structure sealed at both ends for use in a gas separation module comprising through channels, the end of the porous structure (20) being sealed hermetically with a coating (16a, 16b) which leaves the channels open; and a method for separating components of a gas stream.