It is an object to provide a photoelectric conversion device whose power consumption and a mounting area are reduced and yield is improved and further to provide a photoelectric conversion device whose number of manufacturing processes and manufacturing cost are reduced. A photoelectric conversion device includes a photoelectric conversion element for outputting photocurrent corresponding to illuminance, and a resistor changing resistance corresponding to illuminance. In the photoelectric conversion device, one terminal of the photoelectric conversion element and one terminal of the resistor are electrically connected in series; the other terminal of the photoelectric conversion element is connected to a high power supply potential; the other terminal of the resistor is connected to a low power supply potential; and a light intensity adjusting unit is provided on a light reception surface side of the photoelectric conversion element or the resistor to adjust illuminance.

Image sensors and methods of operating the same. An image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a photo sensor, the voltage-current characteristics of which vary according to energy of incident light, and that generates a sense current determined by the energy of the incident light; a reset unit that is activated to generate a reference current, according to a reset signal for resetting at least one of the plurality of pixels; and a conversion unit that converts the sense current and the reference current into a sense voltage and a reference voltage, respectively.

A system of investigating aberrations in a charged particle lens system, wherein a charged particle beam is directed from a multitude of directions through a pivot point on a sample stage. An image figure is recorded for each of multiple focus settings at each beam direction setting, creating a set of registered images. This set of images is compared to reference images to derive aberrations present in the lens system without the use of an amorphous sample present.

According to one embodiment, a solid state imaging device includes a sensor substrate having a plurality of pixels formed on an upper face, a microlens array substrate having a plurality of microlenses formed and a connection post with one end bonded to a region between the microlenses on the microlens array substrate and with the other end bonded to the upper face.

Laser light is emitted to a sheet member wound on a forming drum in a range which includes the entire width of the sheet member and distance data on a distance to a reflecting surface is obtained, using a two-dimensional laser sensor which has a detection range along a drum circumferential direction, while moving either the two-dimensional laser sensor or the forming drum in a drum width direction. Further, the positions of width-directional opposite end sections of the sheet member are calculated on the basis of the obtained distance data.

A burner has a fuel/oxidant nozzles and a pair of dynamical lances spaced on either side thereof that inject a jet of fuel and primary oxidant along a fuel injection axis, and jets of secondary oxidant, respectively. Jets of actuating fluid impinge against the jets of secondary oxidant to fluidically angle the jets of secondary oxidant away from the fuel injection axis. The action of the angling away together with staging of the oxidant between primary and secondary oxidant injections allows achievement of distributed combustion conditions.

A gasifier comprises an internal chamber, a slag collection region, a slag passageway, a slag breaker, and an actuator. The internal chamber comprises a main combustion region that is configured and adapted to gasify fuel. The slag collection region is located beneath the main combustion region. The slag passageway operatively connects the main combustion region to the slag collection region. The slag breaker comprises a face that is movable relative to the internal chamber. The face is configured and adapted to move within the slag passageway in a manner such that the face contacts and mechanically breaks solidified slag into chunks of solidified slag that then fall into the slag collection region. The actuator is connected to the slag breaker and is configured and adapted to move the face of the slag breaker.

Sorbent components containing halogen, calcium, alumina, and silica are used in combination during coal combustion to produce environmental benefits. Sorbents such as calcium bromide are added to the coal ahead of combustion and other components are added into the flame or downstream of the flame, preferably at minimum temperatures to assure complete formation of the refractory structures that result in various advantages of the methods. When used together, the components: reduce emissions of elemental and oxidized mercury; increase the level of Hg, As, Pb, and/or CI in the coal ash; decrease the levels of leachable heavy metals (such as Hg) in the ash, preferably to levels below the detectable limits; and make a highly cementitious ash product.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an induced-draft injection system comprising an injection line in fluid communication with a duct under negative pressure, a particulate storage containing particulate, and a feeder receiving the particulate from the particulate storage and feeding the particulate to the injection line. The negative pressure in the duct supports the transportation of at least a portion of the particulate through the injection line and into the duct. Inside the duct, a binding portion of the particulate is bound to a portion of mercury in a flue gas passing through the duct, thus enabling a portion of the mercury to be filtered out of the flue gas.

Apparatus for separating ash particles from a flue gas. The apparatus includes a screen that has a plurality of semi-elliptical cylinder surfaces. The semi-elliptical cylinder surfaces having holes through which said flue gas flows and through which the ash particles will not pass. The screen has a single layer for performing the separation in a manner such that the ash particles fall away from the screen and collect outside of the screen. A method of reducing velocity of a flue gas passing through screening apparatus for separating flue gas from ash particles. The method includes replacing a first screen of the screening apparatus with a second screen that has a plurality of semi-elliptical cylinder surfaces.

The invention relates to an incineration plant with a furnace, a device for feeding back incineration residues into the furnace, a device for measuring at least one parameter of the incineration, and devices for controlling the incineration. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for controlling an incineration plant.

The inventive technology includes methods and apparatus for the generation and application of segregated catalytic additives for the pre-combustion treatment of carbonaceous fuel and/or feedstocks. The application of such segregated additives results in the reduction of environmentally harmful emissions during combustion as well as gasification processes. Specifically, pre-combustion treatment of carbonaceous materials with the inventive additives results in the reduction of NOx and/or mercury emissions by least 20% and 40% respectively.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method of constructing a stationary wear-resistant stationary nozzle 200 and/or nozzle liner 230 for solid fueled furnaces. A transition section 210 is constructed from several flat pieces 211-218 several that may have identical starting shapes. This reduces manufacturing complexity and costs. All pieces 211-218 have a high-wear weld overlay on their inner surface 316, 416. Corner pieces 215-218 are folded into a corner shape at an outlet edge 412 and rolled into a curved shape at an inlet edge 411. Horizontal 211, 212 and vertical pieces 213, 214 are only rolled at an inlet edge 311. The pieces have seam tab 240 along longitudinal edges that are welded together to construct a transition section 210. The transition section 210 may be used as a liner to reduce wear in an existing stationary nozzle or may be constructed to be connected to an inlet piece 220 to form a strong, wear-resistant coal nozzle 200.

An aspect of the present invention is a method of processing a waste material that contains mercury or a mercury compound, and chlorine or a mercury chloride, the method including a step of adding a chlorine scavenger to the waste material, and stowing the waste material in a treatment vessel; and a step of subjecting the waste material to a blasting treatment by fitting an explosive to the treatment vessel and detonating the explosive inside a pressure-proof container.

This invention provides a system and method for efficiently and completely combusting oil in mixture with particulate solids. A furnace (kiln) having a feed nozzle with a lead screw drives the mixture from a feed hopper. This nozzle includes forced-air jets/ports at its tip providing makeup air and allowing atomization of the mixture. The nozzle thereby directs the mixture into a rotating combustion chamber that is tilted downwardly from the front toward a solid waste outlet port at the rear. Uncombusted fuel and air backflow to an upper, secondary chamber near the primary chamber front, and are completely combusted at a high temperature. Gasses exit a flue that can include a heat exchanger. This heat exchanger can be operatively connected to a heating device or other mechanism that converts the heat into usable energy. The nozzle can include a cone with axially tilted air ports about its perimeter.

A pulverized coal thermal power generation system that significantly reduces the amount of NOx emissions from a boiler and does not require a denitration unit is provided. When a denitration unit is not used, performance to remove mercury from a boiler waste gas is reduced. A waste gas purification system for a pulverized coal boiler, that compensates for this is provided. A pulverized coal boiler having a furnace for burning pulverized coal, burners for supplying pulverized coal and air used for combustion into the furnace so as to burn the pulverized coal in an insufficient air state and after-air ports provided on the downstream side of the burners for supplying air used for perfect combustion characterized in that, an air ratio in the furnace is 1.05 to 1.14, and the residence time of a combustion gas from the burner disposed on the uppermost stage to a main after-air port is 1.1 to 3.3 seconds. Preferably, water is mixed in advance with the air supplied from the after-air port so as to increase the specific heat. Furthermore, pulverized coal carrying air in the burner and a part of air used for combustion are mixed together in advance before they are jetted into the furnace.A waste gas purification system having a pulverized coal boiler, an air heater disposed downstream of the pulverized coal boiler for exchanging heat with a boiler waste gas to heat air used for combustion in the pulverized coal boiler, a dust removing unit, and a desulfurizing unit characterized in that, at least one of a halogen gas supply unit, a catalyst unit for oxidizing a mercury gas, and a mercury adsorbent blowing device is provided so as to oxidize mercury included in the waste gas.

Melters for glass forming apparatuses and glass forming apparatuses comprising the same are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a melter for melting glass batch materials includes a base portion and a rigid exoskeleton rigidly attached to the base portion and comprising a plurality of upright members interconnected with a plurality of cross members defining an exoskeleton interior volume. Connection nodes formed at intersections of the plurality of cross members with upper ends of the plurality of upright members are constrained from movement relative to the base portion in a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a vertical direction. A tank assembly is positioned on the base portion in the exoskeleton interior volume and coupled to the rigid exoskeleton. In some embodiments, the melter has a dynamic resistance greater than 0.3.

An ash basket can act as a sieve or strainer, allowing a user to lift out the charcoal from a kamado grill, clean out the ash, and place the ash basket back into the grill for future use. The ash basket retains larger pieces of charcoal that can be reused, while allowing the ash to pass through to a bottom plate of the grill. The bottom plate has openings to permit the ash to fall to an ash collection chamber. Without the ash basket, pieces of charcoal can block the openings in the bottom plate, making ash collection difficult. Moreover, with the openings blocked, proper air flow through the openings. Finally, the ash basket creates and additional air space that covers the entire surface of the interior walls by separating the ash from the wall, improving air flow, which is critical to the kamado grill design.

A method is illustrated and described for reducing unwanted substances by injecting a reactant into a flue gas of a steam generator. In order that the reactant can also be used in larger steam generators and/or combustion chambers, a method is proposed, in which the reactant is injected into the combustion chamber of the steam generator via a reactant opening of a multi-component nozzle, in which an enveloping medium is injected into the combustion chamber through at least one enveloping medium opening arranged outside the reactant opening, and in which the enveloping medium at least partly envelops the reactant in the combustion chamber and in this way at least partly shields the reactant from the flue gas.

A waste disposal plant includes a combustion chamber (2) inside which waste laid on a combustion grate (3) is burnt, which permits the entrance of an adequate quantity of combustion air in the chamber. The combustion grate includes at least a handling group formed by of fire bars or plates (7), which move alternatively one with respect to the other by advancing the waste on the grate. A handling group permits the alternate movement of the fire bars (7) which are divided in movable fire bars (7a) and fixed fire bars (7b), alternately disposed one with respect to the other, on transversal rows resting one upon the other according to a longitudinal placement with alternate steps.

A leading end located in a two-stage entrained-flow bed coal gasifier has a double-walled structure including an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, and cooling water for cooling the leading end is supplied through an interior of the inner cylinder to cool the leading end and is then returned to a base end through a space formed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. The space formed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder has a smaller channel area than the interior of the inner cylinder, and a swirling flow along a guide formed on an outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder and a substantially linear flow in a longitudinal direction of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are applied to the cooling water returned to the base end through the space formed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder.

Methods of combustion include metering a substantially explosible powder into an oxidizing gas using a positive displacement powder dispersion device to suspend the powder in the gas and directing the powder in the gas to form a controlled stream of a moving explosible powder dispersion. In some embodiments, the method further includes igniting the dispersion with an ignition source to produce a stationary deflagrating combustion wave and sustaining combustion by continuing to meter the powder into the gas. In other embodiments, the method further includes adjusting a nozzle velocity of the dispersion to reflect properties of the dispersion to create a sustainable flame and igniting the dispersion to produce a stationary deflagrating wave of the dispersion. In other embodiments, the method further includes igniting the dispersion in a combustion area to produce a stationary deflagrating wave such that a conductive heat transfer from combustion brings the powder to combustion temperature.

A premix burner arrangement for safely oxygen-enriching a premix air-fuel combustion system is disclosed. In the disclosed burner arrangement, a first conduit is arranged and disposed to provide a first gas stream. The first gas stream is a self-reactive or self-flammable premixture comprising air and a combustible gas. At least one second conduit is arranged and disposed to provide a second gas stream circumferentially around the first gas stream. The second gas stream includes oxygen. The premix burner arrangement is configured to combust or react the first stream at a temperature at least 1000° F. greater than the temperature of the second stream. A method and combustion system including the premix burner arrangement are also disclosed.

A method for starting a burner for combusting synthesis gases is provided. The burner includes first and second fuel passages, the first fuel passage encompasses the second fuel passage in a substantially concentric manner and the gas transferred to the burner is mixed with combusting air and is combusted. In order to start the burner, the second fuel passage is first loaded with a synthesis gas to a predefined burner power at a first starting phase and the first fuel passage is loaded with the synthesis gas at a second starting phase.

A hydrogen vacuum furnace (100) is provided with a process chamber (1) wherein a subject (10) to be heated is stored; a heating chamber (2) wherein a heater lamp (25) is stored; and a crystal board (3) for separating the subject (10) and the heater lamp (25) one from the other. In the hydrogen vacuum furnace (100), the subject (10) is heated by a radiant ray applied from the heater lamp (25). The process chamber (1) and the heating chamber (2) are provided with gas feed ports (11, 21) and exhaust ports (12, 22), respectively, for feeding and exhausting a gas. When the subject (10) is being heated, atmospheric pressure in each chamber is adjusted so that the heating chamber (2) is under positive pressure to the process chamber (1) by feeding or exhausting the gas.

A grate bar for an incinerator having a grate bar base body and a high temperature resistant cover plate covering the grate bar base body at least on a surface portion which in operation points to a combustion chamber. The cover plate is separated from the grate bar base body by a thermal insulating material. In the grate bar base body a cavity is inserted in a side pointing to the cover plate and/or in the cover plate in the side pointing to the grate bar base body, which cavity is at least partially filled with a ceramic fiber insulating material. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a grate bar.

The burner preferably exclusively burns substantially explosible solid fuels and preferably has instant ON-OFF thermostat control, wastes no energy preheating the enclosure or external air supply, achieves stable combustion the moment the powder-air mix is ignited in our burner, is used in the upward vertical mode except for oil burner retrofits, burns a solid fuel in a single-phase regime as if it were a vaporized liquid or gas, is designed to complete combustion within the burner housing itself rather than in a large, high temperature furnace enclosure which it feeds, has an ultra-short residence time requirement, is a recycle consuming burner with self-contained management of initially unburned particles, is much smaller, simpler and lower cost, has a wider dynamic range/turndown ratio, is more efficient in combustion completeness and thermal efficiency, and operates with air-fuel mix approximately at the flame speed.

A gasification reactor for processing organic waste in batches comprises a primary gasification reactor (62) that includes a primary gasification chamber (18) and a surrounding combustion chamber (19), a secondary gasification chamber (21), a synthesis gas decontamination unit (42) and a combustible gas selector (41). The waste is loaded into the primary gasification chamber through a latched opening and heated from the combustion of a fuel in the combustion chamber (19) to convert the waste to a synthesis gas. The gasification chamber (18) has an intake (20) for introducing pre-heated process air (1) therein. The combustion chamber operates either with a conventional fuel (9) or with the produced synthesis gas (6). The secondary gasification chamber (21) thermally treats the synthesis gas (2) to eliminate tars. The decontamination unit (42) scrubs the synthesis gas of contaminants including particulates and acid gases. The clean synthesis gas (6) is directed to the combustible gas selector (41) which selectively feeds either the combustible fluid (9) or the synthesis gas (6) to the burner (40).

Disclosed is a photovoltaic device. The photovoltaic device includes: a substrate; a first electrode placed on the substrate; a second electrode which is placed opposite to the first electrode and which light is incident on; a first unit cell being placed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and including an intrinsic semiconductor layer including crystalline silicon grains making the surface of the intrinsic semiconductor layer toward the second electrode textured; and a second unit cell placed between the first unit cell and the second electrode.

A method of connecting two solar cells is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises gripping an interconnect with a head of positioning device, heating the interconnect with the head of the positioning device to between two predetermined temperatures, where one is higher than the other, positioning the interconnect so as to overlay two adjacent solar cells, coupling the interconnect to each of the two adjacent solar cells, and releasing the interconnect from the head.

A photoelectric conversion element comprising a substrate, a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer comprising a semiconductor and a sensitizing dye, a hole transport layer and a second electrode, wherein the hole transport layer comprises a polymer having a repeat unit represented by Formula (1) or (2),

The present teachings relate to new semiconducting polymers. The polymers disclosed herein can exhibit high carrier mobility and/or efficient light absorption/emission characteristics, and can possess certain processing advantages such as solution-processability and/or good stability at ambient conditions.

Accordingly, a method of forming a metal chalcogenide material may comprise introducing at least one metal precursor and at least one chalcogen precursor into a chamber comprising a substrate, the at least one metal precursor comprising an amine or imine compound of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, a post-transition metal, or a metalloid, and the at least one chalcogen precursor comprising a hydride, alkyl, or aryl compound of sulfur, selenium, or tellurium. The at least one metal precursor and the at least one chalcogen precursor may be reacted to form a metal chalcogenide material over the substrate. A method of forming a metal telluride material, a method of forming a semiconductor device structure, and a semiconductor device structure are also described.

A resin composition, a multi-layered film, a backsheet for photovoltaic modules, a method thereof, and a photovoltaic module are provided. The multi-layered film including a coating layer including a fluorine-based polymer has an excellent durability and weather resistance, and also exhibits high interfacial adhesive strength to a substrate since the multi-layered film is formed by coating a cured product of the resin composition including the fluorine-based polymer, an acrylic polymer including a thermosetting functional group, and a heat-curing agent on the substrate. In addition, drying can be performed at a low temperature during the manufacture of the multi-layered film so that the manufacturing costs can be decreased, productivity can be increased, and the deterioration of the product due to heat modification, heat shock, and the like, can be prevented. The multi-layered film can be effectively used as a backsheet for various photovoltaic modules.

Disclosed are molecular and polymeric compounds having desirable properties as semiconducting materials. Such compounds can exhibit desirable electronic properties and possess processing advantages including solution-processability and/or good stability.

Novel photoactive polymers, as well as related photovoltaic cells, articles, systems, and methods, are disclosed.

An organic compound and a photoelectric conversion device containing the organic compound are disclosed. The organic compound and device realize high photoelectric conversion efficiency, low dark current and high-speed responsivity. It has been found that when this organic compound and an n-type semiconductor are used in combination, high-speed responsivity can be realized while maintaining high heat resistance, an aspect of which has not been seen when the connection part between a donor part and an acceptor part is a phenylene group.

An improved method and apparatus for thermal-to-electric conversion involving relatively hot and cold juxtaposed surfaces separated by a small vacuum gap wherein the cold surface provides an array of single charge carrier converter elements along the surface and the hot surface transfers excitation energy to the opposing cold surface across the gap through Coulomb electrostatic coupling interaction.

A layered compound-metal particle composite 3 is obtained by the addition, to an organically modified layered compound 1 formed by the intercalation of organic ions between layers of a layered compound, of both an aqueous colloidal metal solution 2 in which metal particles are dispersed as a metal colloid in water, and a nonaqueous solvent which is a poor solvent for the metal colloid and has an excellent ability to swell the organically modified layered compound 1.

A back electrode type solar cell in which a no-electrode-formed region where no electrode is placed is provided in a part of a peripheral portion of a back surface of the back electrode type solar cell such that a line connecting end portions of a plurality of electrodes to one another includes a partially inwardly recessed region and the no-electrode-formed region is located adjacent to each of an electrode for n-type and an electrode for p-type adjacent to each other, a solar cell module, a method of manufacturing a back electrode type solar cell with interconnection sheet, and a method of manufacturing a solar cell module are provided.

A separate connection device (40) intended to be inserted between a metal frame (3), of an electrical component (1), and a metal supporting structure (20) in order to connect, electrically and separately, the frame to the supporting structure. The connection device (40) comprises a metal blade manufactured from spring steel which comprises two self-connecting end areas (45, 46) arranged in separate planes and comprising a set of sharp teeth (47) arranged in order to be embedded within the metal material and formed on a folded section of the metal blade so that the sets of teeth (37, 47) extend in opposite directions and in planes intended to intersect the planes of the frame (3) and of the supporting structure (20) when the connection device is mounted.

A light guide apparatus includes a light guide layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a transversely oriented side-end surface that forms an output aperture of the light guide, characterized by an index of refraction, n1, and further characterized by a length dimension in an intended light propagation direction towards the output aperture, where the intended light propagation direction is a z-axis direction of a Cartesian coordinate system; and a plurality of light injection elements disposed in the form of at least one linear strip in at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the light guide layer, wherein some of the plurality of light injection elements are disposed on one lateral side of the strip and some other of the plurality of light injection elements are disposed on an opposing lateral side of the strip at a rotation angle Δz about the y-axis.

The present disclosure relates to gel-type polymer electrolyte for a dye-sensitized solar cell, a dye-sensitized solar cell comprising the gel-type polymer electrolyte, and a method for manufacturing the dye-sensitized solar cell.

A conductive paste may include a conductive component and an organic vehicle. The conductive component may include an amorphous metal. The amorphous metal may have a lower resistivity after a crystallization process than before the crystallization process, and at least one of a weight gain of about 4 mg/cm2 or less and a thickness increase of about 30 μm or less after being heated in a process furnace at a firing temperature.

According to example embodiments, a conductive paste includes a conductive component that contains a conductive powder and a titanium (Ti)-based metallic glass. The titanium-based metallic glass has a supercooled liquid region of about 5K or more, a resistivity after crystallization that is less than a resistivity before crystallization by about 50% or more, and a weight increase by about 0.5 mg/cm2 or less after being heated in a process furnace at a firing temperature. According to example embodiments, an electronic device and a solar cell may include at least one electrode formed using the conductive paste according to example embodiments.

A method of photoplating a metal contact onto a surface of a cathode of a photovoltaic device is provided using light induced plating technique. The method comprises: a) immersing the photovoltaic device in a solution of metal ions, where the metal ions are a species which is to be plated onto the surface of the cathode of the photovoltaic device; and b) illuminating the photovoltaic device, using a light source of time varying intensity. This results in nett plating which is faster in a direction normal to the surface of the cathode than in a direction in a plane of the surface of the cathode.

A photovoltaic cell comprises a top subcell having a first band gap; a middle subcell comprising a substrate and having a second band gap, wherein the substrate comprises a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; and a bottom subcell having a third band gap, wherein the top subcell is grown on the first side of the substrate and the bottom subcell is grown on the second side of the substrate, wherein the first band gap is larger than the second band gap and the second band gap is larger than the third band gap.

Hemispheres and spheres are formed and employed for a plurality of applications. Hemispheres are employed to form a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface includes peaks of pillars which have a base attached to the lower surface. The peaks have a density defined at the upper surface by an array of hemispherical metal structures that act as a mask during an etch to remove substrate material down to the lower surface during formation of the pillars. The pillars are dense and uniform and include a microscale average diameter. The spheres are formed as independent metal spheres or nanoparticles for other applications.

The present invention is that of a solar energy system that uses a light-guide solar panel (LGSP) to trap light inside a dielectric or other transparent panel and propagates the light to one of the panel edges for harvesting by a solar energy collector such as a photovoltaic cell. This allows for very thin modules whose thickness is comparable to the height of the solar energy collector. This eliminates eliminating the depth requirements inherent in traditional concentrated photovoltaic solar energy systems. A light guide solar panel has a deflecting layer, a light guide layer and a solar cell in optical communication with the light guide layer. The deflecting layer receives light at a first surface and inputs the light into the light guide layer. The light guide layer propagates the light to the solar cell, which is aligned generally parallel to the input surface.

A nano power cell and method of use are described wherein the nano power cell absorbs electromagnetic energy is nano particles in an optical fluid that flow in microchannels of the nano power cell.