A system and method are disclosed for internally heated concentrated solar power (CSP) thermal absorbers. The system and method involve an energy-generating device having at least one heating unit. At least one heating unit preheats the energy-generating device in order to expedite the startup time of the energy-generating device, thereby allowing for an increase in efficiency for the production of energy. In some embodiments, the energy-generating device is a CSP thermal absorber. The CSP thermal absorber comprises a housing, a thermal barrier, a light-transparent reservoir containing a liquid alkali metal, at least one alkali metal thermal-to-electric converter (AMTEC) cell, an artery return channel, and at least one heating unit. Each heating unit comprises a heating device and a metal fin. The metal fin is submerged into the liquid alkali metal, thereby allowing the heating device to heat the liquid alkali metal via the fin.

An integrated circuit on a chip may include a plurality of capacitors that are connected in series and generate an AC noise signal. A selected bandwidth of the AC noise signal transmits through the series of capacitors as a first AC power signal. Respective rectifiers are positioned for receiving a positive cycle of the first AC power signal and a negative cycle of the first AC power signal. Output terminals are connected to the respective rectifiers and configured for connection to an off chip circuit. The capacitors may be fixed or variable gap capacitors.

An integrated circuit on a chip may include a plurality of capacitors that are connected in series and generate an AC noise signal. A selected bandwidth of the AC noise signal transmits through the series of capacitors as a first AC power signal. Respective rectifiers are positioned for receiving a positive cycle of the first AC power signal and a negative cycle of the first AC power signal. Output terminals are connected to the respective rectifiers and configured for connection to an off chip circuit. The capacitors may be fixed or variable gap capacitors.

An electrical energy generating device includes an electrical energy generating element, a first container, a second container, and a liquid having positive and negative ions. The electrical energy generating element includes a first porous electrode, an eggshell membrane, and a second porous electrode stacked on each other in that order. The first container is located on a side of the first porous electrode away from the eggshell membrane. The second container is located on a side of the second porous electrode away from the eggshell membrane. The liquid is located in at least one of the first container and the second container, and the liquid is configured to penetrate from one of the first container and the second container to another through the electrical energy generating element.

An electrical energy generating device includes an electrical energy generating element, a first container, a second container, and a liquid having positive and negative ions. The electrical energy generating element includes a first porous electrode, an eggshell membrane, and a second porous electrode stacked on each other in that order. The first container is located on a side of the first porous electrode away from the eggshell membrane. The second container is located on a side of the second porous electrode away from the eggshell membrane. The liquid is located in at least one of the first container and the second container, and the liquid is configured to penetrate from one of the first container and the second container to another through the electrical energy generating element.

An ionic hydrogel moisture-electric generator including a thin film comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a first electrode electrically connected to the first surface of the thin film; a second electrode electrically connected to the second surface of the thin film; and a moisture impermeable barrier film disposed on the second surface of the thin film, wherein the thin film comprises a hydrogel comprising at least one hydrophilic polymer, an ionic species, and a solvent; the ionic species is an acid or a salt; and the solvent includes a hygroscopic liquid.

An ionic hydrogel moisture-electric generator including a thin film comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a first electrode electrically connected to the first surface of the thin film; a second electrode electrically connected to the second surface of the thin film; and a moisture impermeable barrier film disposed on the second surface of the thin film, wherein the thin film comprises a hydrogel comprising at least one hydrophilic polymer, an ionic species, and a solvent; the ionic species is an acid or a salt; and the solvent includes a hygroscopic liquid.

A tethered aerial system includes an on-board fuel cell for powering on-board electronics and a tether cable which is less conductive than air. The tether cable includes a pipe for carrying a flow of gas to the fuel cell and/or maintain the gas level in a lighter-than-air platform, so that the tethered aerial system can remain operational for an extended period of time. The system is particularly applicable for maintaining communication links in remote areas, agriculture and applications in the IoT (Internet of Things), event coverage, interactive marketing, for post-disaster situations in rural areas and at mining sites or construction sites in remote environments. The system also is immune to rays.

A tethered aerial system includes an on-board fuel cell for powering on-board electronics and a tether cable which is less conductive than air. The tether cable includes a pipe for carrying a flow of gas to the fuel cell and/or maintain the gas level in a lighter-than-air platform, so that the tethered aerial system can remain operational for an extended period of time. The system is particularly applicable for maintaining communication links in remote areas, agriculture and applications in the IoT (Internet of Things), event coverage, interactive marketing, for post-disaster situations in rural areas and at mining sites or construction sites in remote environments. The system also is immune to rays.

The disclosure provides a chemical reduction of a metal in a cable of an electrical network, which brings about an improvement in the conductive properties of said metal and a reduction in losses during electric power transmission. The invention discloses a reducing compound with a high concentration of quasi-free electrons, which is obtained as a result of the solvation of metals selected from group I and group II of the main group of the periodic table of elements and of amines selected from the group consisting of: pyridine, and dimethylformamide dispersed in a liquid oligomer, with a metal:amine:dielectric molar ratio of 1:2:1.5, allowing, in an alternating electromagnetic field, to initiate a pulsed injection of electrons into the network with a periodicity equal to frequency of alternation of the voltage.