Enhanced collective detection for GNSS weak signals acquisition in Rayleigh channel

Global navigation satellite system applications based on high sensitivity and weak‐signal acquisition is a difficult task and has become an important research area. Algorithms and techniques are proposed, principally those associated to cases of limited global navigation satellite system signal availability. Collective detection is a new technique that seems to offer better solutions in a such situation. This paper presents a performance analysis of GPS L₁ noncoherent acquisition via collective detection based on the systematic and efficient collective acquisition algorithm in the Rayleigh fading channel, firstly in the case of a fixed threshold detection and secondly in the case of adaptive threshold detection based on a constant false alarm rate. To compare these methods with traditional acquisition schemes, we develop detection and false alarm probability analytic expressions.     

Distributed generation—Molten carbonate fuel cells

High efficiency and ultra-clean molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) technology development by FuelCell Energy, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), has progressed to commercial power plants for stationary applications such as distributed generation. Lessons learned from this development will also be valuable to DOE for the ongoing Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) development and cost reduction, for fuel cell turbine hybrids, and for hydrogen economy development with FutureGen.     

A review of integration strategies for solid oxide fuel cells

Due to increasing oil and gas demand, the depletion of fossil resources, serious global warming, efficient energy systems and new energy conversion processes are urgently needed. Fuel cells and hybrid systems have emerged as advanced thermodynamic systems with great promise in achieving high energy/power efficiency with reduced environmental loads. In particular, due to the synergistic effect of using integrated solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and classical thermodynamic cycle technologies, the efficiency of the integrated system can be significantly improved. This paper reviews different concepts/strategies for SOFC-based integration systems, which are timely transformational energy-related technologies available to overcome the threats posed by climate change and energy security.