Feed flow rate is delivered volumetrically at a constant flow rate based on the liquid hourly space velocity (L of bio-oil feed/L of catalyst/hour). By adjusting for density and temperature, a known mass flow rate of feed is known. Free water content of the feed is also needed for determining the dry bio-oil weight for a dry-basis measurement throughout the paper. Each 12-13h sample were then separated into an organic phase and an aqueous phase, and the organic phase was then weighted to capture overall organic yield (g of dry oil/ g of dry bio-oil feed). For gas products, overall yield (g of gas products/g of dry bio-oil feed) was determined by measuring exit gas flow rate of the process at standard condition (STP) to determine moles of gas being produced. Gas composition was then determined using the GC-TCD (Gas chromatography-thermal conductor detector, Inficon 3000 Micro-GC). Overall gas product weight is the sum total of individual concentration of gas product multiplied by the moles of exiting gas and multiplied with molecular weight of each gas product. Hydrogen consumption was the difference between mass of pure hydrogen gas in and mass of hydrogen in the mixed gas effluent. Hydrogen mass was determined by the same method as for other gas products by using the GC-TCD.

This paper presents the development of an origami-inspired support system (the OriGuide) that enables the insertion of flexible instruments using medical robots. Varying parameters of a triangulated cylindrical origami pattern were combined to create an effective highly compressible anti-buckling system that maintains a constant inner diameter for supporting an instrument and a constant outer diameter throughout actuation. The proposed origami pattern is composed of two repeated patterns: a bistable pattern to create support points to mitigate flexible shaft buckling and a monostable pattern to enable axial extension and compression of the support system. The origami-based portion of the device is combined with two rigid mounts for interfacing with the medical robot. The origami-based portion of the device is fabricated from a single sheet of polyethylene terephthalate. The length, outer diameter, and inner diameter that emerge from the fold pattern can be customized to accommodate various robot designs and flexible instrument geometries without increasing the part count. The support system also adds protection to the instrument from external contamination.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheets show promise for application in origami-based engineering design. Origami-based engineering provides advantages that are not readily available in traditional engineering design methods. Several processing methods were examined to identify trends and determine the effect of processing of PET sheets on the crease properties of origami mechanisms in PET. Various annealing times, temperatures, and cooling rates were evaluated and data collected for over 1000 samples. It was determined that annealing temperature plays the largest role in crease response. An increase in the crystallinity of a PET sheet while in the folded state likely increases the force response of the crease in PET sheets. An annealing time of at least 60 min at 160 °C-180 °C with a quick cooling results in a high force response in the crease. The effectiveness of the processing methods was demonstrated in several origami patterns of various complexities.

Design parameters of the origami flasher pattern can be modified to meet a variety of design objectives for deployable array applications. The focus of this paper is to improve understanding of design parameters, objectives, and trade offs of origami flasher pattern configurations. Emphasis is placed on finite-thickness flasher models that would enable engineering applications. The methods presented aim to provide clarity on the effects of tuning flasher parameters based on existing synthesis tools. The results are demonstrated in the design of a flasher-based deployable LiDAR telescope where optimization is used to converge on optimal design parameters and the results are implemented in proof-of-concept hardware.

The hexagonal twist origami pattern has characteristics that made it a candidate for next-generation deployable space arrays. It has a deployed area that is up to 3.3 times larger than the stowed area, has a single-degree-of-freedom which simplifies actuation, it is flat-foldable making flat positions possible in both stowed and deployed positions, and its rigid foldability means that its motion is enabled by rotation about distinct axes without deformation of its panels. Although the pattern shows promise for deployable systems, it cannot be directly applied with thick materials because of the self-intersection of nesting panels. This paper presents the kinematics and mechanical advantages of the hexagonal twist pattern, addresses the self-intersection problem by implementing five different thickness accommodation techniques and provides metrics for comparing thickness accommodation techniques to determine which would be best suited for a given application. The concepts are demonstrated through two applications: a deployable reflectarray antenna and a LiDAR telescope.