Abstract:
Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for improved piezoelectric actuators in applications such as fuel injectors. An assembly of thin sheets may be tape cast and co-fired in piezoelectric (PZT) layers and spaced between thin sheets or one or more plated layers of electrical conductors or electrodes. The electrical conductors or electrodes may be isolated in at least two circuits by insulators and provided in integrated stacks along with instrumentation components and data transfer filaments. An assembly of stacked layers may produce motion upon actuation by application of a suitable electrical potential is adaptively operated to overcome infidelity due to vibration, thermal expansion or contraction and to produce controlled actuation motion proportional to the applied electrical potential.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for delivery a fluidic substance using Lorentz forces. In one aspect, a method to accelerate particles into a chamber includes distributing a fluidic substance between electrodes configured at a location proximate a chamber, in which electrodes include a low work function material, generating a current of ionized particles by applying an electric field between the electrodes to ionize at least some of the fluidic substance, and producing a Lorentz force to accelerate the ionized particles into the chamber. In some implementations, the method further includes applying an electric potential on an antenna electrode interfaced at the port to induce a corona discharge into the chamber, in which the corona discharge ignites the ionized particles within the chamber.
Abstract:
The invention is a class of self-healing cables and cable sheaths. In high-voltage applications, the inventive self-healing cables reduce sudden voltage surges caused by current flow through an insulative layer system. The self-healing cables of the invention comprise at least one conductor, at least one self-healing sheath surrounding said conductor, and at least one dielectric sheath surrounding the self-healing sheath and conductor. The cable may comprise a carbon-based conductor made of graphene or graphite for improved flexibility and elongation properties, reduced weight, and greater of long term service compared with conventional cable products.
Abstract:
The present technology is generally related to hydraulic displacement amplifiers in fuel injectors. In some embodiments, a gaseous fuel injector includes a piezoelectric actuator, a working volume reservoir adjustable between a first volume and a second volume smaller than the first volume, and a combustion chamber valve in communication with the working volume reservoir and movable between a closed configuration when the working volume reservoir comprises the first volume and an open configuration when the working volume reservoir comprises the second volume. The gaseous fuel injector further includes a hydraulic displacement amplifier in operable connection with the actuator. The hydraulic displacement amplifier can have a plurality of pistons in communication with the working volume reservoir and configured to adjust the working volume reservoir from the first volume to the second volume.
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides methods for producing carbon and a net hydrogen liquid fuel from a carbon donor substance and a hydrogen donor substance.
Abstract:
in one aspect, a system for converting a feedstock into a specialized carbon fuel for energy conversion includes a reactor to receive a feedstock substance and dissociate the feedstock substance to carbon constituents and hydrogen by applying one or both of heat and electric current, the carbon constituents including hot carbon having a temperature state in a range of 700 °C to 1500 °C and having an increased chemical potential energy capable of storing external energy; and a fuel cell structured to include a chamber to receive the hot carbon, the fuel cell operable to receive and use the hot carbon as a fuel and air as an oxidant to (i) produce one or more oxides of carbon and one or more nitrogenous substances, or (ii) extract electrical energy from the hot carbon.
Abstract:
The invention relates to systems and methods for preventing, inhibiting, reducing, and removing harmful deposits generated by fuel combustion in combustion engines. The invention relates to novel fuel injectors and head gasket assemblies designed to minimize, avoid, or eliminate harmful engine deposits. The invention further relates to novel electrodes, electrode configurations, and ion currents useful to minimize, avoid, or eliminate harmful engine deposits. The inventions described permit use of alternative fuel sources that would otherwise be deposit-generating fuels in conventional engines. Utilization of multiple fuel sources increases flexibility of engine operation, and prevention/elimination of harmful deposits increases useful lifespan of engine components.