Systems and apparatus to generate electrical power from aircraft engine heat are described herein. An example aircraft engine described herein includes a gas turbine engine having an engine housing. The engine housing defines a flow path through a combustion chamber and a core exhaust cavity. The example aircraft engine also includes an energy-generating cell coupled to a portion of the engine housing defining the core exhaust cavity. The energy-generating cell is to generate electrical energy from high temperature fluid in the core exhaust cavity.

Systems and apparatus to generate electrical power from aircraft engine heat are described herein. An example aircraft engine described herein includes a gas turbine engine having an engine housing. The engine housing defines a flow path through a combustion chamber and a core exhaust cavity. The example aircraft engine also includes an energy-generating cell coupled to a portion of the engine housing defining the core exhaust cavity. The energy-generating cell is to generate electrical energy from high temperature fluid in the core exhaust cavity.

Present invention discloses a microfluidic energy harvester for converting solar energy into electrical energy. A preferred embodiment of the present microfluidic energy harvester includes a substrate having an embedded central microchannel, electrolyte configured to reside and/or flow in said central microchannel and electrode assembly having one or more pair of electrodes arranged in a series and integrated with said central microchannel from sides ensuring direct contact between said pair for electrodes with said electrolyte while it reside and/or flow in said central microchannel for ensuing electrochemical photovoltaic effect to convert the solar energy into the electrical energy under direct solar illumination by working under regenerative conditions. The microfluidic energy harvester is capable of producing high density power from three different resources, (a) the solar irradiation produces a photovoltaic potential difference between the metal/metal-oxide electrodes, (b) SPR of the metal nanoparticles suspended in the electrolyte amplifies the photovoltaic potential difference under solar irradiation, and (c) the flow of the nanoparticle laden electrolyte produces a streaming potential between the electrodes by converting the mechanical energy into the electrical one near the electrodes. The transparency of the polymer and adequate absorptivity of the metal/metal-oxide electrodes ensured facile absorption of solar irradiation in the microfluidic energy harvester. The flexibility of the MEH can be tuned by adjusting the cross-linking of the PDMS matrix. The multiplicity of the microchannels and electrodes are expected to increase the total amount of energy harvested.

Methods and systems are provided for air conditioning, capturing combustion contaminants, desalination, and other processes using liquid desiccants.

Methods and systems are provided for air conditioning, capturing combustion contaminants, desalination, and other processes using liquid desiccants.

An apparatus for generating electricity comprises a solar panel having a plurality of photovoltaic cells and a MPPT device alone or in combination with a DC/AC inverter connected directly thereto, and a plurality of heat sink tiles and a heat exchanger. The heat sink tiles are disposed between the solar panel and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is connected to a circulation system which allows coolant fluid to flow through the heat exchanger. Each of the heat sink tiles having a first side in direct thermal contact with a respective one of the photovoltaic cells and an opposite second side in contact with the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger having a plurality of coolant chambers disposed adjacent to the heat sink tiles. The first heat exchanger has at least one second coolant chamber disposed adjacent to said MPPT device and/or DC/AC inverter.

An apparatus for generating electricity comprises a solar panel having a plurality of photovoltaic cells and a MPPT device alone or in combination with a DC/AC inverter connected directly thereto, and a plurality of heat sink tiles and a heat exchanger. The heat sink tiles are disposed between the solar panel and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is connected to a circulation system which allows coolant fluid to flow through the heat exchanger. Each of the heat sink tiles having a first side in direct thermal contact with a respective one of the photovoltaic cells and an opposite second side in contact with the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger having a plurality of coolant chambers disposed adjacent to the heat sink tiles. The first heat exchanger has at least one second coolant chamber disposed adjacent to said MPPT device and/or DC/AC inverter.

A concentrated multifunctional solar energy system, comprising a concentrating-form layer (110) containing a Fresnel concentrated device (111), a light-guiding-form layer (120) containing a light-guiding tube (121), at least one light-energy utilizing device (130), and a bottom tray (140). The light-energy utilizing device (130) is disposed at the bottom of the light-guiding tube (121), or disposed in the light-guiding tube (121); the periphery (122) of the light-guiding-form layer (120) is closely matched with the periphery (112) of the concentrating-form layer (110) and the periphery (141) of the bottom tray (140) separately so as to form closed first and second spaces; the second space accommodates a working substance (142) in thermal conductive connection with a photoelectric conversion device in the light-energy utilizing device (130); the electrical utilization and thermal utilization of the light energy are respectively achieved by means of the two closed spaces.

A concentrated multifunctional solar energy system, comprising a concentrating-form layer (110) containing a Fresnel concentrated device (111), a light-guiding-form layer (120) containing a light-guiding tube (121), at least one light-energy utilizing device (130), and a bottom tray (140). The light-energy utilizing device (130) is disposed at the bottom of the light-guiding tube (121), or disposed in the light-guiding tube (121); the periphery (122) of the light-guiding-form layer (120) is closely matched with the periphery (112) of the concentrating-form layer (110) and the periphery (141) of the bottom tray (140) separately so as to form closed first and second spaces; the second space accommodates a working substance (142) in thermal conductive connection with a photoelectric conversion device in the light-energy utilizing device (130); the electrical utilization and thermal utilization of the light energy are respectively achieved by means of the two closed spaces.

Methods and systems convert combustion products to electricity, by efficiently coupling between photovoltaic cells with photons. The photons are emitted from a burning process of a photoluminescence material, the burning process including the chemical reaction of combustion.