Abstract:
The diagnostic method for a Diesel engine for determining whether this engine, or at least one device connected thereto, is affected by one or several malfunctions negatively influencing the degree of pollution of the exhaust gases produced by this engine, comprises the steps of analyzing the level of an exhaust gas or the evolution of this level, alone or together with the level or evolution of the level of another gas, according to a predetermined state of the engine and characterizing, from said analysis, any malfunction (s) affecting the Diesel engine and/or the devices associated with it. The invention also concerns a device for implementing this method and a computer program executable on the device.
Abstract:
A storage system for an absorbing gas including a plurality briquette units situated within the storage tank is disclosed. In some embodiments each briquette unit includes a liner or open vessel, and compressed gas-absorbing particulate matter associated with the liner for external support In some embodiments, the liner or vessel maintains the form of the briquette unit. The liner or vessel do not form a pressure tight vessel, and in some embodiments, the local pressure rating of the liner or vessel is less than the gas pressure within the storage tank. Exemplary gas-absorbing materials include but are not limited to methane and hydrogen adsorbing materials such as activated carbon, zeolite, and other appropriate hydrocarbon gas and/or hydrogen adsorbing materials. Optionally, each briquette unit includes a wrapper for preventing circulation of said particulate matter within the storage tank. Optionally, the storage system includes a mechanism for supplying or removing heat to at least one briquette unit. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing any of the aforementioned gas storage systems is disclosed. Some embodiments of the present invention provide methane-powered motor vehicles including but not limited to automobiles, buses, trucks and ships including a storage system with compressed methane-adsorbing particulate matter
Abstract:
An electrochemically active hydrogen diffusion barrier which comprises an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an intermediate electrolyte layer, which is conductive to protons and substantially impermeable to hydrogen. A catalytic metal present in or adjacent to the anode layer catalyzes an electrochemical reaction that converts any hydrogen that diffuses through the electrolyte layer to protons and electrons. The protons and electrons are transported to the cathode layer and reacted to form hydrogen. The hydrogen diffusion barrier is applied to a polymeric substrate used in a storage tank to store hydrogen under high pressure. A storage tank equipped with the electrochemically active hydrogen diffusion barrier, a method of fabricating the storage tank, and a method of preventing hydrogen from diffusing out of a storage tank are also disclosed.
Abstract:
The development of polymer composite liquid oxygen (LOX) tanks is a critical step in creating the next generation of launch vehicles. A composite LOX tank will weigh significantly less than conventional metal tanks. This benefit of reduced weight is critical to enable future launch vehicles to meet required mass fractions. The high strength and low weight of a composite tank allows for a lighter weight craft and/or higher payload capacity which results in lower costs per pound to place an object in orbit. The unique, nontraditional idea described here is to use resin-based composite materials to make such a composite tank or other oxygen carrying component such as a feedline. Polymer composites have traditionally been regarded as being more flammable than metals and therefore deemed not oxygen compatible. However, several halogenated composites have been tested for their ability to withstand ignition in the presence of oxygen, and have shown to be resistant to ignition. A halogenated composite material is a fiber reinforced composite that contains an element or elements from column 7A in the Periodic Table of Elements.
Abstract:
A pressure vessel made of plastic consists of an intermediate tubular part closed at each end by an integral end wall. The vessel includes an internally centered tubular part interconnected to said intermediate part by radially extending partition walls. The walls form a plurality of interconnected fluid compartments. The internal walls receive and transmit axial forces operating on the end walls into all walls of the vessel.
Abstract:
A small tank or vessel for the containment of pressurized fluids is formed by joining the outer edges of the arms of integral upright and inverted double-Y sections arranged side by side. The arms are part cylinders terminating in the vertical centerline of a cylinder so that a septum between adjacent cylindrical lobes is formed by the vertical legs of the double-Y. A semi-cylindrical shell may be attached to the outer arms of each outside double-Y form.