ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE ION FOCUSING DEVICE EMPLOYING NONLINEAR DC VOLTAGE SEQUENCES (iEdison NIH No. 0685901-19-0002, Grant No. GM103493)
Most modern ion mobility (IMS) and mass spectrometers operate under vacuum (≤ 10 Torr) and utilize high voltage radiofrequencies (RF) to radially confine ions. RF is widely known to be ineffective for radially confining ions at atmospheric pressure (AP) and few alternatives currently exist. To address this need, an analytical approach for radially focusing ions at AP (760 Torr) was developed and successfully simulated in SIMION 8.1. AP ion focusing was accomplished by applying nonlinear sequences of DC voltages to electrodes in a conventional stacked ring ion guide, a.k.a. drift tube (DT). This approach differs from the linear voltage sequences typically applied to DT electrodes. The voltage sequences used in our invention follow power (exponential) and quadratic series functions, though theoretically other nonlinear mathematical functions can be used. For both sequences, the voltage differences between electrodes at the beginning of the device are low and then increase to large differences between electrodes at the end of the device, according to the sequence used. Simulations show that ions initially defocus as they encounter the first few electrodes and then become intensely focused the further they travel into the device. The 'power sequence' provided the greatest amount of ion focusing, though steeper gradients (higher orders) resulted in ion losses and increased peak widths compared to a linear voltage sequence. Alternatively, the 'quadratic sequence' provided modest ion focusing but minimal to no ion losses or change in peak widths at all gradients tested. Potential energy surfaces indicate that nonlinear voltage gradients produce an electric field gradient that changes as a function of distance (spatially). This constant change establishes a pseudopotential well in space, resulting in spatial ion focusing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first invention of an AP ion focusing device that focuses ions based on nonlinear DC voltages. The ability to focus ions at AP will improve the transmission of ions to the AP interfaces of current ion mobility and mass spectrometers and provides a fundamental basis which could lead to the development of a new AP instruments.
Frequency Response Tool
Frequency response tool automates the power system frequency response analysis process. The tool can help to perform the estimation of the frequency response characteristics based on the phasor measurement unit (PMU) measurements, collect and process statistical information on the frequency response characteristics. The tool can also represent this information using advanced visualization techniques.
Thermoelectric Devices and Applications for the Same (CIP of 13664-B and E-1861)
This invention describes thin film (AgSbTe2)1-x(GeTe)x (GAST) and AgxPbTe materials for improved thermoelectric proerties. The thin film GAST materials are p-type nano-structured semiconductors and the AgxPbTe films are n-type materials. The films are used in single layer, quantum well, superlattice, and segmented thermoelectric power generating structures. They are deposited on polyimide, metal, ceramic or semiconductor substrates.
SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETECTING AND ANALYZING A THREAT IN A CONFINED ENVIRONMENT
A system and method of detecting and analyzing a threat in a confined environment is disclosed. An audio board detects and analyzes audio signals. A RF board transmits the signals for emergency response. A battery provides power to the audio board and the RF board. The audio board includes a microcontroller with at least one band-pass filter for distinguishing between a threat and a non-threat event and for measuring or counting pulses if the event is a threat.
Transactive Energy Simulation Platform (TESP) - Open Source
TESP combines existing domain simulators in the electric power grid, with new transactive agents, growth models and evaluation scripts. The existing domain simulators include GridLAB-D for the distribution grid and single-family residential buildings, MATPOWER for transmission and bulk generation, and EnergyPlus for large buildings. More are planned for subsequent versions of TESP. The new elements are: TEAgents - simulate market participants and transactive systems for market clearing. Some of this functionality was extracted from GridLAB-D and implemented in Python for customization by PNNL and others. Growth Model - a means for simulating system changes over a multiyear period, including both normal load growth and specific investment decisions. Customizable in Python code. Evaluation Script - a means of evaluating different transactive systems through customizable post-processing in Python code. TESP will run on Linux, Windows and Mac OS X.
Framework for Network Co-Simulation (FNCS) 2.0 (Open Source)
FNCS 2.0 is a brand new implementation of the concepts established by FNCS 1.0 (https://github.com/GridOPTICS/FNCS). Cooperative simulation, or co-simulation, is the process in which at least two simulators solve initial-value differential equations that are coupled to each other. Data is exchanged at fixed time steps and no iteration is allowed between simulators to converge to a solution at any particular time step. In literature, this type of co-simulation is referred to as quasi-dynamic coupling, loose coupling, or Ping-Pong coupling (Hensen 1999, Zhai and Chen 2005). FNCS 1.0 extended these concepts by allowing variable time steps and speculative synchronization. FNCS 2.0 extends these concepts further by allowing simulators to reiterate during synchronization points. FNCS 2.0 also distills the concepts of FNCS 1.0 down to a simple, yet powerful, application programmer interface library.
Ken Ross
INTEGRATED SOLUTION TECHNIQUES FOR SECURITY CONSTRAINED UNIT COMMITMENT PROBLEM
HIPPO provides an optimization framework for solving security constrained unit commitment (SCUC) problem in RTO/ISO day-ahead market. The innovative features of HIPPO are: 1. Decomposition algorithms based on relaxing system couple constraints such as power balance constraints and transmission constraints. 2. Decomposition algorithms based on relaxing temporal decoupling inter-temporal constraints. 3. Concurrent optimizer executing multiple algorithms simultaneously and leveraging each algorithm's best performance
Methods for Associating or Dissociating Guest Materials with a Metal Organic Framework, Systems for Associating or Dissociating Guest Materials Within a Series of Metal Organic Frameworks and Gas Separation Assemblies
We propose to develop a new scrubber based on MOCS that capture CO2 from post and pre-combustion gas streams that are superior to existing commercial technologies. Preliminary results on pure organic solids sorbents indicate significant economic advantage over exisisting technology used in IGCC power plants. The goal of this project will be to characterize the sorbent materials at the laboratory scale to determine economic feasibility for capture of CO2 from post and pre-combustion gas streams.