110results about How to "Efficient energy conversion" patented technology

The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for the plasma-based generation of intensive short-wavelength radiation, particularly EUV radiation. The object of the invention, to find a novel possibility for plasma-based generation of intensive soft x-radiation, particularly EUV radiation, which permits efficient energy conversion in the desired spectral band with high repetition frequency (several kHz) of the plasma excitation, minimized emission of debris and low erosion of the nozzle of the target generator, is met according to the invention in that an additional energy beam is directed on the target flow spatially in advance of its interaction with the high-energy beam, the target flow being acted upon by this additional energy beam with substantially weaker energy pulses compared to the high-energy beam in order to divide the target flow into a first portion and at least one second portion, wherein the target flow is excited at an interaction point within the second portion by the high-energy beam for generating a hot, radiating plasma, and the second portion is decoupled from the first portion and therefore from the target generator in such a way that a hydrodynamic disturbance generated in the second portion by the pulse of the high-energy beam is transmitted into the first portion only negligibly.

Actuators and corresponding methods and systems for controlling such actuators offer efficient, fast, flexible control with large forces. In an exemplary embodiment, an fluid actuator includes a housing having first and second fluid ports, an actuation cylinder in the housing defining a longitudinal axis and having first and second ends in first and second directions, an actuation piston in the cylinder with first and second surfaces moveable along the longitudinal axis, a spring subsystem biasing the actuation piston to a neutral position, a first fluid space defined by the first end of the actuation cylinder and the first surface of the actuation piston, a second fluid space defined by the second end of the actuation cylinder and the second surface of the actuation piston; and a flow bypass that short-circuits the first and second fluid spaces when the actuation piston is not proximate to the second end of the actuation cylinder. A first flow mechanism controls fluid communication between the first fluid space and the first port, whereas a second flow mechanism controls fluid communication between the second fluid space and the second port. The first flow mechanism is always wide-open, whereas the second flow mechanism is open and closed when the flow bypass is closed and open, respectively. The system is able to latch the actuation piston at its second direction end position while making it possible for the actuation piston not to dwell at its first direction end position, thus reducing the overall actuation time.

The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for the plasma-based generation of intensive short-wavelength radiation, particularly EUV radiation. The object of the invention, to find a novel possibility for plasma-based generation of intensive soft x-radiation, particularly EUV radiation, which permits efficient energy conversion in the desired spectral band with high repetition frequency (several kHz) of the plasma excitation, minimized emission of debris and low erosion of the nozzle of the target generator, is met according to the invention in that an additional energy beam is directed on the target flow spatially in advance of its interaction with the high-energy beam, the target flow being acted upon by this additional energy beam with substantially weaker energy pulses compared to the high-energy beam in order to divide the target flow into a first portion and at least one second portion, wherein the target flow is excited at an interaction point within the second portion by the high-energy beam for generating a hot, radiating plasma, and the second portion is decoupled from the first portion and therefore from the target generator in such a way that a hydrodynamic disturbance generated in the second portion by the pulse of the high-energy beam is transmitted into the first portion only negligibly.

A method for liquid phase deposition of crystalline silicon thin films, and a high efficiency solar cell that is fabricated using crystalline silicon thin film technology, has the performance of a crystal silicon solar cell, but at the cost level per unit area of a solar cell fabricated using an amorphous silicon thin film. The crystal thin film uses only 10% or less of the amount of silicon used in a wafer-based solar cell. Because of the maturity of silicon technology in semiconductor industry, this approach not only enables high volume, automated production of solar cells on a very large, low-cost substrate, but also increases the area throughput up to 10000 cm2 / min from 942 cm2 / min in case of CZ crystal growth.

An air-blower tidal power generation device includes a rack, an air-blower mechanism, and a power generation mechanism. The air-blower mechanism includes a pumping device, a buoy, and an air conduit. The pumping device includes a cylinder and a stationary barrel movably coupled together. The power generation mechanism includes a constant-pressure and pressure-regulation device and a power generator having an air-driven turbine. Thus, tides move the buoy up and down to drive the pumping device for cyclically drawing and pumping air, and the air is preserved in the constant-pressure and pressure-regulation device to provide a constant pressure for subsequent and stable supply of airflow to the turbine for driving the power generator to generate power.

Actuators and corresponding methods and systems for controlling such actuators offer efficient, fast, flexible control with large forces. In an exemplary embodiment, an fluid actuator includes a housing having first and second fluid ports, an actuation cylinder in the housing defining a longitudinal axis and having first and second ends in first and second directions, an actuation piston in the cylinder with first and second surfaces moveable along the longitudinal axis, a spring subsystem biasing the actuation piston to a neutral position, a first fluid space defined by the first end of the actuation cylinder and the first surface of the actuation piston, a second fluid space defined by the second end of the actuation cylinder and the second surface of the actuation piston; and a flow bypass that short-circuits the first and second fluid spaces when the actuation piston is not proximate to the second end of the actuation cylinder. A first flow mechanism controls fluid communication between the first fluid space and the first port, whereas a second flow mechanism controls fluid communication between the second fluid space and the second port. The first flow mechanism is always wide-open, whereas the second flow mechanism is open and closed when the flow bypass is closed and open, respectively. The system is able to latch the actuation piston at its second direction end position while making it possible for the actuation piston not to dwell at its first direction end position, thus reducing the overall actuation time.

The invention relates to methods and facility systems (100) for providing storable and transportable carbon-based energy carriers (108) by application of carbon dioxide (101) as a carbon supplier and by application of electric energy (E1, E2). The facility system (100) comprises a plant (300, 301; 400) for providing a first portion of energy in the form of direct current energy (E1) from renewable energy sources. In addition, a power supplies facility (501) is provided for tying the facility system (100) to a mixed network (500), wherein the power supplies facility (501) produces a second portion of energy in the form of direct current energy (E2) from an alternating current voltage of the mixed network (500). A device (102, 105) is adapted to provide hydrogen (103), wherein a part of the energy requirement of this device (102, 105) is covered by said first portion of energy and another part is covered by said second portion of energy. A carbon dioxide supply serves for introducing carbon dioxide (101) and a reaction area (106) is provided for producing a hydrocarbon, preferably methanol (108).

A modular heat exchanger that can be submerged to great depths and then easily recovered in order to reduce the costs and disadvantages of the prior art. Because the heat exchanger is submergible and recoverable, it can be more easily maintained. This ease of maintenance allows the heat exchangers to be deployed at greater depths. This, in turn, allows for greater differences in temperatures, greater efficiency for the heat engine, and a more effective ocean thermal energy conversion system.

A pressurized fluid flow system for a down the hole drill hammer has a plurality of chambers that exert work, namely one or more auxiliary drive and lifting chambers besides two main chambers located at opposite ends of the piston, the auxiliary chambers each formed around respective waists on the piston and externally delimited by respective cylinders which are arranged longitudinally in series. Two or more internal chambers filled with the pressurized fluid are defined by recesses in the inner surfaces of the piston for supplying said fluid to the work chambers, controlled in a cooperative way by the piston and a control tube coaxially arranged within a central bore of the piston. One or more discharge chambers are formed in between the outer casing and the cylinders for emptying the work chambers through discharge ports in the cylinders. Reverse and normal circulation drill hammers are provided having this system.