World Intellectual Property Organization

Effective responses to climate change require efforts by both the public and private sectors to develop and disseminate new environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) on a global scale, as well as to adapt them to local needs. However, due to a number of market failures and specific uncertainties, the spread of green technologies is less than optimal, which necessitates additional incentives. Based on a review of recent literature, the present Global Challenges

There are various types of fuel cells each classified according to the type of electrolyte used in the cell. IN the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) the electrolyte consists of a solid nonporous metal oxide. A major advantage of the SOFC over other types of fuel cells is its high exhaust temperature. Current SOFC’s operate near 1000° C with recent developments moving that figure towards 700° C.

Challenge: Concerns about climate change and oil supply reserves are driving current interest in the development of alternative fuels produced from renewable resources. The fields of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology are addressing this challenge by designing microbial factories to synthesize valuable chemical products for use in industrial applications and as biofuels.

The technology presented within the invention disclosure builds on the inventors’ prior art creating a novel way to extract heavy metals from aqueous solutions (i.e. water) for at least two purposes: • cleaning substrates (e.g. semiconductor wafer chips) and • water treatment purposes. The technology uses the concept of electrochemical properties and sonolysis to achieve success at removing contaminants from either an electronic substrate or from water. This is done by applying a bias to a microelectrode while irradiating with ultrasound radiation.

North Carolina State University is currently seeking an industry partner to further develop and commercialize the novel High Power Density Switched-Capacitor Converter. Abstract: To tap the wind potential and to run the grid solely on HVDC a DC-DC converter is used to convert the low voltage rectified output of the wind turbine to high voltages.This new family of step-up SC converter can significantly reduce the required filter capacitors in switched-capacitor converter leading to high power density and reduced cost.

Methyl halides are reactive one-carbon compounds from which a wide variety of commercially important organic products can be produced. Industrial production of methyl halides has been carried out using chemical methods that often consume high amounts of energy and involve conditions of high temperature and pressure. Many plants and fungi produce methyl halides and release them into the environment.

The invention is a novel means to recirculate hydrogen within a fuel cell and thus prevent corrosion of the fuel cell catalyst and its supports. The ejector is fed primarily with hydrogen from the storage tanks that supply the fuel cell itself maintaining a supersonic jet of hydrogen gas. The low static pressure of this jet allows for the entrance of a secondary feed of hydrogen to the ejector from the outlet of the fuel cell anode. The resulting mixed jet of hydrogen is regulated so that it enters the fuel cell at rate that matches the consumption of hydrogen within the fuel cell.

Background: Components that operate under high temperatures and pressures such as those used in turbines and airplane brakes require materials with excellent chemical and physical properties. Nickel-based alloys (or superalloys) are the current industry standard for these applications. Coating nickel alloys with aluminum oxide and thermal barriers allows the final product to withstand temperatures beyond the melting point of nickel. However there is a growing need for products with properties that nickel cannot achieve.