# US 2013/0158828 A1 · Reducing and/or harvesting drag energy from transport vehicles, including for chemical reactors, and associated systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158828 A1 - Document ID: US20130158828A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/764,493 - Filed: 2013-02-11 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-12 - Assignees: McAlister Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Roy Edward McAlister - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158828A1 ## CPC - B01J 19/24: Stationary reactors without moving elements inside (B01J19/08, B01J19/26 take precedence; with stationary particles B01J8/02) - A61L 2/16: using chemical substances - A61L 2/20: Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours - B01J 4/002: {Nozzle-type elements (nozzle-type reactors B01J19/26)} - B01J 19/20: in the form of helices, e.g. screw reactors - B60K 6/12: by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator - B60L 7/08: Controlling the braking effect (B60L7/04, B60L7/06 take precedence) - B60L 8/006: {Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines} - B60L 50/30: using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels - B60L 50/40: using propulsion power supplied by capacitors - B60L 58/27: by heating - B60T 1/10: by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors - B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines - B60W 10/196: acting within the driveline, e.g. retarders - C01B 3/04: by decomposition of inorganic compounds (reversible storage of hydrogen C01B3/0018) - C01B 3/22: by decomposition of gaseous or liquid organic compounds - C01B 3/24: of hydrocarbons - C01B 3/34: by reaction of hydrocarbons with gasifying agents - C01B 3/36: using oxygen; using mixtures containing oxygen as gasifying agents - F03D 9/00: Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations (hybrid wind-photovoltaic energy systems for the generation of electric power H02S10/12) - F03D 9/17: storing energy in pressurised fluids - F03D 9/32: on moving objects, e.g. vehicles - F03D 13/20: Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors - H02P 9/04: Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator - B01J 2219/00085: Plates; Jackets; Cylinders - B01J 2219/00135: Electric resistance heaters - B01J 2219/00139: using electromagnetic heating - B01J 2219/00144: Sunlight; Visible light - B01J 2219/00155: using insulating materials or refractories - B01J 2219/00157: by means of a burner - B01J 2219/00159: controlling multiple zones along the direction of flow, e.g. pre-heating and after-cooling - B01J 2219/24: Stationary reactors without moving elements inside - B60L 2200/26: Rail vehicles - B60L 2200/36: Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks - B60L 2240/12: Speed - B60L 2240/36: Temperature of vehicle components or parts - B60Y 2400/15: Pneumatic energy storages, e.g. pressure air tanks - C01B 2203/0233: the reforming step being a steam reforming step - C01B 2203/0238: the reforming step being a carbon dioxide reforming step - C01B 2203/025: containing a partial oxidation step - C01B 2203/0266: containing a decomposition step - C01B 2203/1205: Composition of the feed - C01B 2203/1235: Hydrocarbons - C01B 2203/1241: Natural gas or methane - F05B 2240/941: which is a land vehicle - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - Y02E 10/728: Onshore wind turbines - Y02E 60/16: Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids - Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis - Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin - Y02P 20/141: Feedstock - Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles - Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - F03D: WIND MOTORS - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for reducing and/or harvesting drag energy from transport vehicles. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a mobile transport platform, a donor substance source carried by the platform, and a thermochemical reactor carried by the platform and coupled to the donor substance. The reactor is configured to carry out a non-combustion dissociation process that dissociates the donor substance into a first constituent and a second constituent. An energy extraction system carried by the transport platform and positioned to extract energy from an airstream passing the transport platform is coupled to the reactor to provide energy for the dissociation process. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A chemical processing method, comprising: extracting energy from an airstream passing a moving transport platform; providing the energy to a thermochemical reactor carried by the transport platform; at the thermochemical reactor: receiving a donor substance; and dissociating the donor substance into a first constituent and a second constituent in a non-combustion reaction; and using at least one of the first and second constituents to preserve a cargo carried by the transport platform. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein preserving the cargo includes directing the at least one constituent to a refrigerator, and operating the refrigerator to cool the cargo. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein directing the at least one constituent to the refrigerator includes recharging a refrigerant carried by the refrigerator with the at least one constituent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein preserving the cargo includes directing the at least one constituent into a payload volume of the transport platform to cool the payload volume. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein preserving the cargo includes at least discouraging pests by directing the at least one constituent into a payload volume of the transport platform. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one constituent includes carbon monoxide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one constituent includes carbon monoxide, and wherein the cargo includes at least one of fish or meat. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one constituent includes carbon dioxide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one constituent includes nitrogen. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: directing the first and second constituents to a manifold; and selectively using only one of the constituents to preserve the cargo carried by the transport platform by operating the manifold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: braking the transport platform; and transferring energy resulting from braking the transport platform to the thermochemical reactor to facilitate the non-combustion reaction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the transport platform includes an over-the-road truck. ### Claim 13 A reactor system, comprising: a mobile transport platform; a source of a donor substance carried by the transport platform; a thermochemical reactor carried by the transport platform and coupled to the source of donor substance, the thermochemical reactor being configured to carry out a non-combustion dissociation process that dissociates the donor substance into a first constituent and second constituent; and a conduit operatively coupled between the thermochemical reactor and a payload volume of the mobile transport platform to preserve cargo in the payload volume via at least one of the first and second constituents. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising a refrigerator carried by the transport platform, the refrigerator being in thermal communication with the payload volume, and wherein the conduit is operatively coupled to the refrigerator to provide at least one of the first and second constituents to the refrigerator in the form of a refrigerant. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the conduit is coupled to the payload volume to direct at least one of the first and second constituents into the payload volume. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one constituent includes carbon monoxide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one constituent includes carbon dioxide. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one constituent includes nitrogen. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the donor substance includes a hydrogen-bearing compound, and wherein the second constituent includes gaseous hydrogen. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising an energy extraction system carried by the transport platform and positioned to extract energy from an airstream passing the transport platform, the energy extraction system being operatively coupled to the thermochemical reactor to provide energy for the dissociation process. ### Claim 21 A method for braking a vehicle, comprising: in a first mode of operation: propelling the vehicle with an internal combustion engine; in a second mode of operation: compressing gas with the internal combustion engine to place a braking force on the vehicle; storing the compressed gas onboard the vehicle; and releasing the compressed gas to perform work via a device carried by the vehicle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein performing work includes deploying a fairing. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein performing work includes blowing snow away from a region adjacent to the vehicle. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein performing work includes powering an alternator. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein performing work includes deploying a jack. ### Claim 26 A transport system, comprising: a vehicle; an internal combustion engine carried by the vehicle; a compressed gas storage tank carried by the vehicle and coupled to the internal combustion engine; a pneumatically-driven device carried by the vehicle and coupled to the compressed gas storage tank; and a control system carried by the vehicle and programmed with instruction that, when executed: direct the internal combustion engine to provide a propulsive force to the vehicle, in response to an acceleration signal; direct the internal combustion engine to provide a braking force to the vehicle by compressing gas and directing the compressed gas to the compressed gas storage tank; and direct compressed gas from the compressed gas storage tank to the pneumatically-driven device to actuate the pneumatically-driven device ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26 wherein the vehicle includes an over-the-road truck. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26 wherein the pneumatically-driven device includes a deployable fairing. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26 wherein the pneumatically-driven device includes a deployable jack. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26 wherein the pneumatically-driven device includes a turbine-driven alternator.