USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Other

David Bart Chadwick

Yolanda Meriah Arias-Thode

Lewis Hsu

Gregory Jon Groves

Andrew E Patterson

Adriane Q Wotawa-Bergen

Wayne P Liu

Alex G Phipps

Jeffrey Kagan

Kenneth E Richter

Matthew Lanford Bond

Gunther H Rosen

Ken E Richter

Gregory Wayne Anderson

Stephen H Lieberman

Christopher Scott Smith

Aaron Bruce Burmeister

Hoa Gia Nguyen

Maxwell Mayekawa Kerber

Daniel Carl Grady

Ronald J Paulsen

Andrew Higier

G Allen Burton

Adriane Q Wolfe

Y Meriah Arias-Thode

Brittney Nguyen

David R Bower

A benthic microbial fuel cell comprising: a nonconductive frame having an upper end and a lower end; a plurality of anodes, wherein each anode is a conductive plate having a top section and a bottom edge; a plurality of conductive, threaded rods disposed perpendicularly to the anode plates and configured to secure the top sections of the anodes to the lower end of the frame and to hold the plates in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to each other such that none of the plates are in direct contact with each other; and a plurality of cathodes, wherein each cathode is made of carbon cloth connected to the upper end of the frame.

Readily-deployable microbial fuel cell

A device for capturing energy, with an anode base, a rigid body, a pressure housing, a cathode array, and a wire. The anode base is connected to the rigid body, the pressure housing is connected to the rigid body, and the cathode array is connected to the rigid body. The first wire is electrically connected to the cathode array. The second wire is electrically connected to the anode base.

Self-contained and scalable microbial fuel cell array with grid-based anode and bottle brush cathode power sensors underwater

A system comprising a series of at least two benthic microbial fuel cells (BMFC), wherein each BMFC comprises an anode electrically connected to a cathode, and wherein for each BMFC there is a first and second comparator configured to monitor BMFC voltage to determine if the voltage falls below one of two present thresholds. The output of the first comparator is electrically connected to the BMFC via a switch and the output of the second comparator is electrically connected to a pulse width monitor (PWM) block via a switch. A DC/DC converter is electrically coupled to each BMFC and configured to transfer energy stored in each BMFC to a battery, wherein the DC/DC converter is driven by the PWM block.

Method for self-assessing microbial fuel cell electronics for energy harvesting

A method for improving power production comprising the steps of providing an existing linear array benthic microbial fuel cell system having an anode and a plurality of cathodes, wherein the anode is an insulated underwater cable buried beneath seafloor sediment, and wherein the plurality of cathodes are configured to be buoyant and to rise above the sea floor, wrapping the insulated underwater cable with carbon fiber bundles and a current collector, wherein the carbon fiber is coated with a binder, securing the carbon fiber bundles and current collector with a web of synthetic fiber, fraying the carbon fiber bundles, creating exposed carbon ends on the cable and removing the binder.

System and method for improving power production in linear array benthic microbial fuel cells

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying a plurality of components of a computing system, determining a power flow and a heat flow between the plurality of components, creating a plurality of system matrices, utilizing the power flow and the heat flow, creating a plurality of system vectors, utilizing information derived from the plurality of components, and distributing a plurality of processing jobs to one or more of the plurality of components of the computing system according to one or more constraints, utilizing the plurality of system vectors and the plurality of system matrices.

Capacity based distribution of processing jobs to computing components

A core catcher comprising: a cap configured to be secured to a first end of a core liner such that when the first end of the core liner is inserted into sediment a sample sediment core enters the core liner through the cap; a cross-beam coupled to the cap and mounted across the first end of the core liner such that a cross-section of the first end of the core liner is divided into two openings; a flexible member secured to the cross-beam such that the flexible member, the cross-beam, and the cap form a dual-flap valve designed to allow the sediment core to enter the core liner through the two openings and to prevent the sediment core from escaping the core liner through the cap.

Surface sediment core catcher

A self-propelled microbial fuel cell apparatus includes a microbial fuel cell with a cathode electrode and an anode electrode wherein the anode electrode is enclosed within an enclosure that has an opening in it. The microbial fuel cell is positioned within a self-propelled delivery vehicle so that the electrodes of the fuel cell are exposed to interface with a microbial environment.

Microbial fuel cell integrated in vehicle

This application is directed to a probe used for measuring groundwater characteristics such as temperature and conductivity, and for collecting a groundwater sample. The probe also has a shielding device that allows the probe to be driven into a hard underwater surface without damaging the probe. A deployment rig for accurately placing the probe into the underwater surface is also disclosed. The application is further directed to a method for placing a probe and measuring groundwater characteristics. An external screen membrane used with the probe allows accurate groundwater characteristic measurement by filtering particulate matter. The probe and external screen membrane allow for in situ measurement and monitoring.

Groundwater evaluation tools and methods of groundwater evaluation

A system for burying fabric cloth in marine sediment includes a sled having first and second ends and a partially open bottom surface proximate to the second end. A fabric deployer is coupled to and extended from the sled adjacent to the second end. A sediment disruption device resides opposite the fabric deployer and faces the first end. The fabric deployer is a tubular structure having a slot therein extending lengthwise along the tubular structure facing away from the first end. A fabric cloth is disposed on an axle within the tubular structure so a distal end of the cloth protrudes from the slot. An electronics package is releaseably secured adjacent to the second end by a release mechanism and to the end of the cloth by a tether. A cathode may be connected to the electronics package, forming, with a buried fabric cloth anode, a microbial fuel cell.

System for deploying fabric cloth in marine sediment

A system includes a plurality of chamber holders having openings therein, and an exposure chamber positioned in each chamber holder. Each exposure chamber includes a mesh portion and a top end cap. One exposure chamber contains a mesh bottom and one contains a closed bottom. Each chamber holder is positioned within an opening contained within a base portion. One exposure chamber may extend beyond the lower boundary of the base portion. A top portion may be secured to the base portion to contain the chamber holders. A pump, with connected supply hose, may be coupled to the top portion. The supply hose is routed through the chamber holders such that a supply hose opening is adjacent to each chamber holder. The system may include a water quality sensor and a passive sampling device coupled to the base portion. A deployment system may be connected to the top portion.

In situ sediment ecotoxicity assessment system

A method includes the steps of providing a tidal seepage meter having a power supply, a controller capable of controlling the power supply according to a sampling schedule, a motor capable of receiving power from the power supply according to the sampling schedule, a selector valve having an input port and at least two outlet ports and capable of selecting an output valve according to the sampling schedule, a seepage chamber capable of receiving seepage and inputting seepage to the selector valve via the input port, and a first sample container and a second sample container capable of receiving seepage from the selector valve via the output valve, transferring the sampling schedule to the tidal seepage meter, positioning the tidal seepage meter in sediment; and sampling seepage according to the sampling schedule. The sampled seepage water may then be analyzed and the results may be displayed to a user.

Method for sampling seepage

A method and apparatus for tidal seepage meters. The meter includes a power supply, controller, motor, selector valve, seepage chamber and at least two sample containers. The controller is operatively coupled to the power supply and is capable of controlling the power supply in accordance with a sampling schedule. The motor is operatively coupled to the power supply and is capable of receiving power from the power supply in accordance with the sampling schedule. The selector valve includes an input port and at least two outlet ports and is operatively coupled to the motor. The selector valve is capable of selecting an output valve in accordance with the sampling schedule. The seepage chamber is operatively coupled to the selector valve, capable of receiving seepage and inputting seepage to the selector valve via the input port. The sample containers are operatively coupled to the selector valve and receive seepage.

Tidal seepage meter

A method for sampling toxin flux rates across a benthic boundary relies upon deploying an apparatus having a frame which houses a container having an open bottom for isolating a volume of fluid above a benthic fluid boundary. A sampling system periodically samples and stores samples of the isolated fluid and an oxygenation system maintains a constant dissolved oxygen level within the container. The device is then retrieved and the samples analyzed. In this way, the toxin flux rate across the fluid boundary may be determined.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

David Bart Chadwick