GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160137940 | RADIANT NON-CATALYTIC RECUPERATIVE REFORMER - A radiant, non-catalytic recuperative reformer has a flue gas flow path for conducting hot exhaust gas from a thermal process and a reforming mixture flow path for conducting a reforming mixture. At least a portion of the reforming mixture flow path is positioned adjacent to the flue gas flow path to permit heat transfer from the hot exhaust gas to the reforming mixture. The reforming mixture flow path contains substantially no material commonly used as a catalyst for reforming hydrocarbon fuel (e.g., nickel oxide, platinum group elements or rhenium), but instead the reforming mixture is reformed into a higher calorific fuel via reactions due to the heat transfer and residence time. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the reforming mixture flow path is positioned outside of flue gas flow path for a relatively large residence time. | 05-19-2016 |
20160137935 | ENTRAINED-FLOW GASIFIER AND METHOD FOR REMOVING MOLTEN SLAG - An entrained-flow gasifier reactor includes a vessel and a first liner within the vessel. The first liner extends around a reaction zone in the vessel and has an inlet end and an exit end with respect to the reaction zone. The first liner includes a drip lip at the exit end. An isolator is arranged near the drip lip. The isolator is operable to thermally isolate the drip lip from a quench zone downstream from the reaction zone such that molten slag at the drip lip remains molten. | 05-19-2016 |
20160097009 | PARTICULATE PUMP WITH ROTARY DRIVE AND INTEGRAL CHAIN - A particulate pump includes a posimetric rotary drive that has a hub affixed to a pair of discs. The posimetric rotary drive and chain together provides a working surface for a coal plug against a wall. A chain has a plurality of overlapping links and is integral with the hub. | 04-07-2016 |
20140262727 | Rapid Production of Hydrothermally Carbonized Biomass via Reactive Twin-Screw Extrusion - A system for the production of carbonized biomass that includes an infeed for accepting biomass feed material and an associated twin screw extruder. A water heater is connected with respect to at least one inlet along a length of the twin screw extruder and a pressure sustaining valve is connected at an outlet of the twin screw extruder. | 09-18-2014 |
20140174423 | WATERLESS HUMIDIFIER FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL FURNACES - A method and apparatus for humidifying residential and commercial buildings in which a flue gas generated by a residential of commercial furnace is provided to one side of a porous liquid water transport membrane and habitable space air is provided to an opposite side of the porous liquid water transport membrane in an amount sufficient to provide a habitable space air to flue gas volume flow rate ratio of at least 8.3:1. At least a portion of the water vapor in the flue gas is condensed, providing condensed liquid water which is passed through the porous liquid water transport membrane to the habitable space air side of the porous liquid water transport membrane. On the habitable space air side of the membrane, the condensed liquid water is evaporated into the habitable space air, producing humidified habitable space air which is provided to the rooms of the residential and commercial buildings. Beneficially, no supplemental water source is required for the humidification process. | 06-26-2014 |
20140134695 | INTEGRATED HYBRID MEMBRANE/ABSORPTION PROCESS FOR CO2 CAPTURE AND UTILIZATION - A two-stage process for upgrading a gaseous stream containing CO | 05-15-2014 |
20140124381 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING METHANOL FROM METHANE - A method for producing methanol from methane in which methane is provided to an anode electrode having a metal oxide catalyst disposed on an anode side of an electrolyte membrane, thereby producing methanol and electrons on the anode side. The electrons are conducted to a cathode electrode disposed on a cathode side of the electrolyte membrane, thereby transforming water provided to the cathode side to H | 05-08-2014 |
20140100395 | DIRECT PRODUCTION OF FRACTIONATED AND UPGRADED HYDROCARBON FUELS FROM BIOMASS - Multistage processing of biomass to produce at least two separate fungible fuel streams, one dominated by gasoline boiling-point range liquids and the other by diesel boiling-point range liquids. The processing involves hydrotreating the biomass to produce a hydrotreatment product including a deoxygenated hydrocarbon product of gasoline and diesel boiling materials, followed by separating each of the gasoline and diesel boiling materials from the hydrotreatment product and each other. | 04-10-2014 |
20140076161 | NANO-CHANNEL ENHANCED COMPOSITE MEMBRANES - An apparatus for gas separation a composite gas separation membrane having a gas separation layer disposed on a surface of a porous support. The gas separation layer has a plurality of gas permeable inorganic nano-particles embedded in a dense polymer forming substantially only discrete gas transport channels through the dense polymer layer, wherein direct fluid communication is provided from a feed side of the composite gas separator membrane to the porous support. Preferably, the inorganic nano-particles are porous molecular sieve particles, such as SAPO-34, ALPO-18, and Zeolite Y nano-particles. | 03-20-2014 |
20140065515 | TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT IONIC GATE - An electrochemical device having a liquid electrolyte which includes a protic solvent, an anode electrode disposed in contact with the liquid electrolyte, and a cathode electrode disposed in contact with the liquid electrolyte. A membrane which interrupts the transport of ions between the electrodes at a predetermined temperature is disposed in the liquid electrolyte between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. In this way, electrochemical devices such as batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers, and sensors, which may overheat during use and cause a fire or explosion, are precluded from overheating. | 03-06-2014 |
20140038019 | BIPOLAR ION EXCHANGE MEMBRANES FOR BATTERIES AND OTHER ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICES - A bipolar ion exchange membrane suitable for use in ZnBr batteries, LiBr batteries, and electrolyzers. The membrane is produced by hot pressing or extruding a mixture of an anion exchange ionomer powder, a cation exchange ionomer powder, and a non-porous polymer powder. | 02-06-2014 |
20130338412 | HYDROPYROLYSIS OF BIOMASS FOR PRODUCING HIGH QUALITY LIQUID FUELS - A self-sustaining process for producing liquid fuels from biomass in which the biomass is hydropyrolyzed in a reactor vessel containing molecular hydrogen and a deoxygenating catalyst, producing a partially deoxygenated pyrolysis liquid, which is hydrogenated using a hydroconversion catalyst, producing a substantially fully deoxygenated pyrolysis liquid and a gaseous mixture comprising CO and light hydrocarbon gases (C | 12-19-2013 |
20130043887 | COMMUNICATION METHOD FOR MONITORING PIPELINES - A method for underground pipeline monitoring in which a continuous alternating electrical current having a current frequency in a range of about 1 kHZ to about 8 kHz is imparted onto a pipeline, producing an alternating magnetic field at the current frequency along the pipeline. Distributed along the pipeline is a network of RFID tag sensors which absorb an amount of energy from the alternating magnetic field. The impedance of the sensors is modulated, producing a modulated sensor impedance which is detected at a location proximate the location at which the continuous alternating electrical current is imparted onto the pipeline. | 02-21-2013 |
20130037268 | TELESCOPIC LASER PURGE NOZZLE - A method and apparatus for wellbore perforation in which a laser beam at a downhole location of a wellbore is directed to a target area of a wellbore wall to be perforated. The laser beam is guided through a longitudinally extensible nozzle onto the target area and a purge fluid is introduced into the longitudinally extensible nozzle, thereby longitudinally extending the nozzle toward the target area. The purge fluid in the longitudinally extensible nozzle is passed through a purge fluid outlet of the nozzle onto the target area, thereby removing debris from the target area generated by the laser beam. | 02-14-2013 |
20130035528 | REMOVAL OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE AS AMMONIUM SULFATE FROM HYDROPYROLYSIS PRODUCT VAPORS - A system and method for processing biomass into hydrocarbon fuels that includes processing a biomass in a hydropyrolysis reactor resulting in hydrocarbon fuels and a process vapor stream and cooling the process vapor stream to a condensation temperature resulting in an aqueous stream. The aqueous stream is sent to a catalytic reactor where it is oxidized to obtain a product stream containing ammonia and ammonium sulfate. A resulting cooled product vapor stream includes non-condensable process vapors comprising H | 02-07-2013 |
20120315586 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOW-NOx DUAL-FUEL COMBUSTION OF LIQUID AND/OR GASEOUS FUELS - A method and apparatus for combustion in which a pressurized preheated liquid fuel is atomized and a portion thereof flash vaporized, creating a mixture of fuel vapor and liquid droplets. The mixture is mixed with primary combustion oxidant, producing a fuel/primary oxidant mixture which is then injected into a primary combustion chamber in which the fuel/primary oxidant mixture is partially combusted, producing a secondary gaseous fuel containing hydrogen and carbon oxides. The secondary gaseous fuel is mixed with a secondary combustion oxidant and injected into the second combustion chamber wherein complete combustion of the secondary gaseous fuel is carried out. The resulting second stage flue gas containing very low amounts of NO | 12-13-2012 |
20120312600 | ROTARY JOINT FOR SUBTERRANEAN DRILLING - A rotary joint for use in directional control of a subterranean rotary steerable drilling apparatus. The rotary joint is formed by mated spherical-shaped sockets, each of which is connected with a hollow rod. By virtue of this arrangement, a continuous passageway is provided for fluid to flow through the rotary joint, which fluid may be used for cooling the rotary joint during operation of the rotary steerable drilling system. | 12-13-2012 |
20120210751 | CONVECTIVE THERMAL REMOVAL OF GASEOUS INCLUSIONS FROM VISCOUS LIQUIDS - A method for removing gaseous inclusions from a viscous liquid in which a viscous liquid stream having gaseous inclusions is introduced into a refining chamber, resulting in a flowing viscous liquid layer. The viscosity of a bottom portion of the viscous liquid layer is reduced in a first refining zone in the refining chamber so as to produce an upwardly mobile reduced viscosity portion of the viscous liquid layer. Heat is introduced into the viscous liquid layer from above the viscous liquid layer in a second refining zone in the refining chamber downstream of the first refining zone, reducing the gaseous inclusions in said viscous liquid layer. Thereafter, the viscous liquid layer having substantially reduced gaseous inclusions is discharged from the refining chamber. | 08-23-2012 |
20120210643 | HEATED ROLLER FOR CONTROL OF SOIL-BORNE PESTS SUCH AS NEMATODES, PATHOGENS, FUNGUS, AND WEEDS - An apparatus for controlling or eradicating nematodes or other soil-borne pests having a heated metal roller having surface-mounted blades to heat the soil to a desired temperature and depth sufficient to effect control of the relevant species in the soil under the roller. The roller is heated with one or more burners firing across the surface of the roller. The apparatus further includes a heat exchanger through which the combustion products generated by the burner or burners are exhausted and in which the combustion air is preheated. In accordance with one embodiment, the heat exchanger condenses water vapor in the combustion products which water vapor, together with any water that evaporates from the soil during heating, may be captured and returned to the soil. | 08-23-2012 |
20120197575 | METHOD OF ABSORBANCE CORRECTION IN A SPECTROSCOPIC HEATING VALUE SENSOR - A method and apparatus for absorbance correction in a spectroscopic heating value sensor in which a reference light intensity measurement is made on a non-absorbing reference fluid, a light intensity measurement is made on a sample fluid, and a measured light absorbance of the sample fluid is determined. A corrective light intensity measurement at a non-absorbing wavelength of the sample fluid is made on the sample fluid from which an absorbance correction factor is determined. The absorbance correction factor is then applied to the measured light absorbance of the sample fluid to arrive at a true or accurate absorbance for the sample fluid. | 08-02-2012 |
20120195334 | LASER MATERIAL PROCESSING TOOL - An apparatus for laser drilling including a laser beam emitter disposed within a housing having at least one laser beam outlet and at least one purge fluid outlet. At least one actuated nozzle is disposed within the housing for providing a purge fluid through the purge fluid outlet and having functional control for synchronized programmable activation patterns. Laser beam control is provided for directing a laser beam over a target surface. | 08-02-2012 |
20120175354 | PURGING AND DEBRIS REMOVAL FROM HOLES - A method for purging of, and debris removal from, a hole created with laser energy in which a swirling purge gas stream is provided in a hole containing debris to be removed, imparting a swirl to the debris and lifting the debris from a bottom of the hole. In accordance with one embodiment, the purge gas is swirled in a purge gas nozzle providing purge gas into the hole. In accordance with another embodiment of this invention, the purge gas is swirled directly in the hole. | 07-12-2012 |
20120118568 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WELLBORE PERFORATION - A method for wellbore perforation in which a section of the wellbore to be perforated is isolated and purged of wellbore fluid to provide a clear path for laser beam transmittal. A laser beam emitter in the purged wellbore section transmits a laser beam pulse from the laser beam emitter to a target area of a sidewall and formation lithology of the purged wellbore section, thereby altering a mechanical property of a material of the sidewall and formation lithology and producing material debris. A liquid jet pulse of a liquid is transmitted immediately following termination of the laser beam pulse to the target area, thereby removing the material debris from the target area. This cycle is then repeated until the desired perforation depth has been achieved. | 05-17-2012 |
20120103429 | INTERNAL PRESSURE BOOST SYSTEM FOR GAS UTILITY PIPELINES - A method and system for boosting pipeline gas pressure in a low-pressure gas pipeline in which a supplemental gas supply pipe in fluid communication with a supplemental pipeline gas supply is provided to an interior of a gas pipeline containing a pressurized pipeline gas, where the pressure of the supplemental pipeline gas supply is greater than the pressure of the pressurized pipeline gas. The gas pressure differential between the pressurized pipeline gas and the supplemental pipeline gas supply pressure is measured. When the pressure differential reaches a certain predetermined set value, supplemental pipeline gas is provided from the supplemental pipeline gas supply through the supplemental gas supply pipe into a pipeline space between the gas pipeline and the supplemental gas supply pipe. The flow of supplemental pipeline gas is halted upon achievement of a second predetermined set differential pressure. | 05-03-2012 |
20120088850 | CO-PRODUCTION OF FUELS, CHEMICALS AND ELECTRIC POWER USING TURBOCHARGERS - A method and system for co-production of electric power, fuel, and chemicals in which a synthesis gas at a first pressure is expanded using a turbo-expander, simultaneously producing electric power and an expanded synthesis gas at a second pressure after which the expanded synthesis gas is converted to a fuel and/or a chemical. | 04-12-2012 |
20120031542 | PIPE FUSION FITTING AND INSTALLATION METHOD - A method for connecting a pipe fitting with a buried pipe from above ground in which the top, outer wall surface of the buried pipe is exposed to an aboveground location, producing an exposed outer wall surface. An opening into the pipeline is formed at the exposed outer wall surface following which a fitting to be connected with the pipeline is inserted through the opening into the pipeline and connected with a circumferential pipe surface encircling the opening into the pipeline. Preferably, keyholing techniques are used to carry out the steps of the method so as to substantially limit the amount of excavation required compared with conventional pipe fitting connection procedures. | 02-09-2012 |
20120012001 | OXYGEN ENRICHMENT USING SMALL-PORE SILICOALUMINOPHOSPHATE MEMBRANES - A method of oxygen enrichment in which a gaseous mixture containing O | 01-19-2012 |
20110303164 | INTEGRATED CONTACT CONDENSING WATER HEATER - An apparatus for heating water having three vertically aligned water heating process sections. The upper section includes an annular water storage tank disposed around a combustion chamber having a downward firing burner. The intermediate section, disposed vertically below the upper section receives flue gas from the combustion chamber, which flue gas is cooled and dehumidified, producing a hot condensate which collects in a passive condensate flow control device disposed proximate the bottom of the intermediate section. The lower section, disposed vertically below the intermediate and separated therefrom by the passive condensate flow control device receives hot condensate from the flow control device, which is used to preheat and humidify air, such as room air, which is then recycled to the combustion process of the upper section for use as combustion air. This passive condensate flow control device uses gravity to inject condensate, thereby facilitating a system design that only requires a single condensate pump. | 12-15-2011 |
20110303116 | SELF-ORIENTING, TWO-WHEEL PIPE CRAWLER - An apparatus for conveying a payload through a pipe having the ability to automatically self-stabilize and orient itself inside the pipe by controlling two pipe tracking contactors so as to maintain contact between the pipe tracking contactors and the pipe wall and maintain the apparatus in a functional orientation. The apparatus includes tilt sensor arrays for continuously monitoring the position of the apparatus with respect to the pipe wall, variable speed drive motors operably connected with the pipe contactors for rotating the contactors, tilt motors operably connected with the pipe tracking contactors to enable movement of the contactors between a non-functional orientation and a functional orientation, and a controller for controlling the motors based upon information provided by the tilt sensor arrays. | 12-15-2011 |
20110290664 | CASED PIPE INTERNAL CATHODIC PROTECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A method and system for protecting underground gas carrier pipes housed within an outer casing pipe in which a gas carrier pipe section disposed within an outer casing pipe section and having opposed ends is electrically isolated from a remaining gas carrier pipe section proximate each of the ends. An annular space between the gas carrier pipe section and the outer casing pipe section is filled with an electrolyte. At least one anode electrode is inserted into the annular space distal from each of the gas carrier pipe section and the outer casing pipe section and connected with a positive voltage lead of a cathodic protection rectifier. A negative voltage lead of the cathodic protection rectifier is connected to the gas carrier pipe section. | 12-01-2011 |
20110274988 | BATTERIES, FUEL CELLS, AND OTHER ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICES - An electrochemical device having an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte. At least one of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode is provided with a substantially uniform superficial relief pattern formed by a plurality of substantially uniform projections and has an electrical conductivity gradient between peaks of the projections and valleys between the projections | 11-10-2011 |
20110273178 | DEVICE FOR MARKING OUT BURIED OBJECTS - A method and apparatus for marking the location of a buried object in which the location of the buried object is determined and a barhole driver or plunger bar having a detachable plug element and a marking material for marking the location of the buried object is driven into the ground proximate the location of the buried object. The detachable plug element detaches from the plunger bar as the plunger bar is removed from the ground, leaving a substantially continuous path of the marking material in the ground extending substantially continuously from proximate the detachable plug element to the ground surface. | 11-10-2011 |
20110236846 | Submerged combustion melter - A submerged combustion melter having a plurality of side walls, a bottom wall adjacent the side walls, and a top wall adjacent the side walls, the walls collectively enclosing a melting chamber, and the bottom wall forming a plurality of openings, each of which is adapted to receive a submerged combustion burner. Each of the submerged combustion burners is positioned at least 4 inches from the side walls, at least twice as far apart from each other as the distance between the submerged combustion burners and the side walls, and less than or equal to about 20 inches apart. | 09-29-2011 |
20110232292 | COMBINED FUEL AND AIR STAGED POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - A method and apparatus for generation of electric power employing fuel and air staging in which a first stage gas turbine and a second stage partial oxidation gas turbine power operated in parallel. A first portion of fuel and oxidant are provided to the first stage gas turbine which generates a first portion of electric power and a hot oxidant. A second portion of fuel and oxidant are provided to the second stage partial oxidation gas turbine which generates a second portion of electric power and a hot syngas. The hot oxidant and the hot syngas are provided to a bottoming cycle employing a fuel-fired boiler by which a third portion of electric power is generated. | 09-29-2011 |
20110222967 | COLD ASSISTED PIPE SPLITTING AND BURSTING - A method and system for repairing, replacing or installing an underground pipeline using an appropriate tool head. A coolant, preferably a cryogenic liquid, is injected in front of the tool head to embrittle or otherwise reduce the toughness of the material ahead of the tool head. Although suitable for use involving boring or drilling of the ground to install the underground pipeline, the method and system of this invention are particularly suitable for use in connection with pipe splitting and pipe bursting, where a pig disposed within the underground pipeline is connected with the appropriate tool head forming a space between the pig and the tool head into which the coolant is introduced. The pipe between the pig and the tool head is embrittled by the coolant, reducing the resistance of a pipe to splitting or bursting which, in turn, reduces the force required for the pig to pull the tool head as the pig is motivated through the pipe. | 09-15-2011 |
20110211193 | PRESSURE CONTROLLED SPECTROSCOPIC HEATING VALUE SENSOR - A method and system for measuring a physical property of a fluid in which light having wavelengths in the near-infrared is directed into a test cell containing the fluid and portions of the light not absorbed by the fluid and passing out of the cell are spatially dispersed by wavelength, forming a light spectrum that is projected onto a detector. The light spectrum is digitized and inputted into a data processing unit in which it is compared to the actual spectrum of the light source stored in the system to determine the absorbance spectrum of the fluid. The system is spectrally calibrated by identifying known spectral features of the fluid absorbance spectrum. To correct for deviations in the original light source spectrum, a calibration method in which the pressure of the fluid in the test cell is alternated between a first positive pressure and a second positive pressure is employed. Upon determination of the absorbance spectrum of the fluid, the physical property of interest of the fluid is determined by comparing the absorbance spectrum to a plurality of spectra located within an on-board database. | 09-01-2011 |
20110205652 | TRANSMISSION OF LIGHT THROUGH LIGHT ABSORBING MEDIUM - A method and apparatus for transmitting light through a light absorbing medium in which a light transmissive fluid column or channel contiguous with the light absorbing medium is formed in the light absorbing medium. The light is introduced into a light inlet end of the column of light transmissive fluid, whereby the light is transmitted in the column of light transmissive fluid through the light absorbing medium until exiting a light outlet end of the column. The invention has applicability to the field of fiber optics and downhole applications of lasers, such as for wellbore drilling and completion activities. | 08-25-2011 |
20110169177 | WATERLESS HUMIDIFIER FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL FURNACES - A method and apparatus for humidifying residential and commercial buildings in which a flue gas generated by a residential or commercial furnace is provided to one side of a porous liquid water transport membrane and habitable space air is provided to an opposite side of the porous liquid water transport membrane in an amount sufficient to provide a habitable space air to flue gas volume flow rate ratio of at least 8.3:1. At least a portion of the water vapor in the flue gas is condensed, providing condensed liquid water which is passed through the porous liquid water transport membrane to the habitable space air side of the porous liquid water transport membrane. On the habitable space air side of the membrane, the condensed liquid water is evaporated into the habitable space air, producing humidified habitable space air which is provided to the rooms of the residential and commercial buildings. Beneficially, no supplemental water source is required for the humidification process. | 07-14-2011 |
20110146407 | METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING DEFECTIVE HEAT FUSION JOINTS - A method for characterizing a defect of a defective heat fusion joint connecting two pipe segments in which the time of flight of an ultrasonic waveform reflected off an exterior surface of a heat fusion joint fitting connecting the two pipe segments or reflected off an interior wall of one of the pipe segments at a plurality of locations around the circumference of the heat fusion joint fitting is measured to determine the minimum and maximum times of flight, which correspond to the maximum and minimum combined wall thicknesses of the heat fusion joint fitting connecting the pipe segments and the pipe segment wall. If the difference between the minimum and maximum combined wall thicknesses as determined from the measured times of flight is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, then the heat fusion joint is defective and possibly unacceptable for use, requiring a second set of time-of-flight measurements to characterize the nature of the defect. | 06-23-2011 |
20110126644 | SEDIMENT SAMPLER FOR IN-SITU MEASUREMENT OF SOLUBLE CONTAMINANT FLUX RATES - A method and apparatus for in-situ measurement of soluble contaminant flux rates from sediments in which an inverted desorption chamber containing a sorbent system is filled with water and placed over an area of sediment, whereby the interior of the chamber is isolated from the exterior of the chamber above the sediment. Soluble contaminants released from the sediment are sorbed onto the surface of a sorbent material disposed within a plurality of semipermeable membrane bags disposed within the chamber. Each semipermeable membrane bag is removed from the chamber in a pre-defined sequence over a period of time and the sorbent material in each bag is analyzed to determine an amount of the soluble contaminant sorbed by the sorbent material. From the results of the analyses, the mass of the soluble contaminant removed from the sediment over time can be calculated. | 06-02-2011 |
20110094380 | ULTRA-THIN CO2 SELECTIVE ZEOLITE MEMBRANE FOR CO2 SEPARATION FROM POST-COMBUSTION FLUE GAS - A method for producing a crystalline silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) membrane in which a porous support is contacted with SAPO seed crystals to form a SAPO seeded porous support. The SAPO seeded porous support is filled with an aqueous SAPO synthesis gel including a mixture of sources of aluminum, phosphorus, silicon, oxygen, water, and a templating agent, forming a gel-filled porous structure which is then heated to form a SAPO layer of SAPO crystals on a surface of and/or within pores of the porous support. The SAPO layer is calcined, thereby removing the templating agent and forming a supported porous SAPO membrane layer, which is then subjected to a pore size reduction post-synthesis treatment process, producing a reduced pore size supported porous SAPO membrane layer having an average pore size of less than about 0.38 nm. | 04-28-2011 |
20110076104 | PIPELINE POD TRANSPORT METHOD - A method for transporting gaseous, liquid, and solid materials in which a sealed containment vessel containing a material for transport is introduced into an underground pipeline or conduit. The sealed containment vessel is then motivated through the underground pipeline or conduit to a predetermined location. Pipelines for use in accordance with the method of this invention may be natural gas or water pipelines. | 03-31-2011 |
20110073001 | SELF-RIGHTING, TWO-WHEEL PIPE CRAWLER - An apparatus for transporting a payload along the inside of a substantially horizontal pipe, which apparatus includes a pair of spaced apart, vertically aligned, relationally pivotably connected, rollable pipe tracking contactors, wherein pivoting of one of the pipe tracking contactors in a first direction results in pivoting of the other pipe tracking contactor in a direction opposite to the first direction. The apparatus further includes a control system which is used to maintain the vertical alignment of the pipe tracking contactors and which includes a two-dimensional tilt sensor that provides information to a controller regarding the orientation of the apparatus. Using the information from the sensor, the controller is able to correct both the lateral position and the speed of the contactors to bring the apparatus back into vertical alignment. | 03-31-2011 |
20110061463 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNDERGROUND LINE CROSSING DETECTION - A method and apparatus for detecting contact between an underground electric wire conduit and an underground utility pipeline in which a detectable signal is applied to an electric line wire disposed within the underground electric wire conduit and the underground utility pipeline is monitored for a presence of the detectable signal. When there is a contact between the underground electric wire conduit and the underground utility pipeline, the signal applied to the electric line wire is detected by a suitable signal detector disposed on the surface of the utility pipeline and/or within the utility pipeline. | 03-17-2011 |
20110042229 | PHOTO-ELECTRO-REFINING OF BIO-OIL TO BIOFUEL AND HYDROGEN - An electrochemical device having a proton exchange membrane disposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, an anode plate adjacent the anode electrode and forming at least one anode flow channel, and a cathode plate adjacent the cathode electrode and forming at least one cathode flow channel, in which a bio-oil is introduced into the at least one anode flow channel, and a carbohydrate is introduced into the at least one cathode flow channel. The bio-oil is oxidized at the anode, producing the biofuel, and protons from the anode electrode migrate to the cathode electrode and are reduced to hydrogen and/or reacted with the carbohydrate at the cathode, producing hydrogen and carbon-hydrogen biofuel | 02-24-2011 |
20110034569 | CO-PRODUCTION OF FUELS, CHEMICALS AND ELECTRIC POWER USING GAS TURBINES - A method and system for co-production of electric power, fuel, and chemicals in which a synthesis gas at a first pressure is expanded using a stand-alone mechanical expander or a partial oxidation gas turbine, simultaneously producing electric power and an expanded synthesis gas at a second pressure after which the expanded synthesis gas is converted to a fuel and/or a chemical. | 02-10-2011 |
20110027431 | ON-SITE FRYING OIL REGENERATION METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method and system for regenerating used cooking oil in which the used cooking oil is introduced into a cooking oil regenerator, which includes an electrochemical device having a high temperature proton exchange membrane disposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode. A voltage is applied between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode using an external electricity source, producing regenerated cooking oil. | 02-03-2011 |
20100330603 | PORTABLE MICROBIOLOGICAL TESTING DEVICE FOR GASES - A method and apparatus for microbiological testing of biogas and other gaseous streams in which a liquid bacteria growth medium disposed within a lower region of a portable sampling vessel is contacted with a gas sample of interest. The gas sample is passed through a hydrophobic filter element which retains microorganisms in the gas sample. The sampling vessel is then inverted, thereby submerging the hydrophobic filter element in the liquid bacteria growth medium. The sampling vessel is incubated for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature following which a presence or absence of microorganisms is determined based on turbidity and/or color of the liquid bacteria growth medium. | 12-30-2010 |
20100330462 | CORROSION RESISTANT MOLDED GRAPHITE PLATES FOR HIGHLY CORROSIVE ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICES - A graphite plate for electrochemical devices produced from a mixture of solid thermosetting ether-based epoxy resin particles and graphite particles compression molded at room temperature and heated to a temperature greater than about 200° C. | 12-30-2010 |
20100307333 | SUPPORTED METAL MEMBRANE WITH INTERNAL COOLING FOR H2 SEPARATION - A method and apparatus for separation of H | 12-09-2010 |
20100303693 | HYBRID SOLVENT USING PHYSICAL SOLVENTS AND NANOPARTICLE ADSORBENTS - A hybrid solvent combining a physical solvent with particles of solid adsorbent for separation of components of a gas mixture, wherein both the physical solvent and the solid adsorbent particles are suitable for preferential removal of the components of interest. | 12-02-2010 |
20100288181 | IMPACT SENSING MULTI-LAYERED PLASTIC MATERIAL - A method and apparatus for detecting encroachment of property perimeters or boundaries employing a multi-layer structure having an inner layer of polyvinylidene fluoride having piezoelectric properties disposed between and joined with two outer layers of an electrically conductive plastic material. The multi-layer structure is connected with an electrical signal detector and buried at a boundary or property perimeter. The buried multi-layer structure is monitored for generation of an electrical signal. Detection of an electrical signal corresponds to an encroachment of the property perimeter or boundary. | 11-18-2010 |
20100282239 | COMMERCIAL CHARBROILER WITH INTEGRATED CATALYTIC HOOD - A cooking appliance having a cooking surface, a housing enclosing a heating source for heating the cooking surface disposed beneath the cooking surface, and a vertically movable cooking fume hood connected with the housing and having a cooking fume exhaust opening proximate a top of the hood. The cooking surface may be a grid-type cooking surface or a griddle-type cooking surface or a combination thereof. The heating source preferably is a gaseous fuel-fired burner. | 11-11-2010 |
20100258447 | BIOFUEL PRODUCTION BY HIGH TEMPERATURE NON-FARADAIC ELECTROCHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF CATALYSIS - A method for producing biofuels from biomass in which a refined biomass material is introduced into a non-Faradaic electrochemical device, preferably at a temperature greater than or equal to about 150° C., and deoxygenated and/or decarboxylated in said device to produce an increased carbon chain fuel. | 10-14-2010 |
20100251615 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING METHANE FROM BIOMASS - A multi-stage method and apparatus for producing methane from biomass in which the biomass is hydropyrolyzed in a reactor vessel containing molecular hydrogen and a deoxygenating catalyst, the output of which is hydrogenated using a hydroconversion catalyst. The output from the hydroconversion step is provided to a water-gas-shift process providing a mixture of H | 10-07-2010 |
20100251600 | HYDROPYROLYSIS OF BIOMASS FOR PRODUCING HIGH QUALITY LIQUID FUELS - A self-sustaining process for producing liquid fuels from biomass in which the biomass is hydropyrolyzed in a reactor vessel containing molecular hydrogen and a deoxygenating catalyst, producing a partially deoxygenated pyrolysis liquid, which is hydrogenated using a hydroconversion catalyst, producing a substantially fully deoxygenated pyrolysis liquid and a gaseous mixture comprising CO and light hydrocarbon gases (C | 10-07-2010 |
20100243245 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR RELEASE AND RECOVERY OF METHANE FROM METHANE HYDRATES - A process and system for release and recovery of methane from subterranean methane hydrate deposits in which heated CO | 09-30-2010 |
20100239921 | CO2 TOLERANT ALKALINE FUEL CELLS AND ALKALINE BATTERIES - An alkaline electrochemical device having an alkaline electrolyte disposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, where the anode electrode and/or the cathode electrode is provided with a CO | 09-23-2010 |
20100214578 | METHOD FOR EVALUATION OF APPLIANCE ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT - A method and system for determining appliance economics and environmental impacts of appliances comprising the steps of electronically reading an appliance identifier of an appliance using a portable, hand-held communication device, inputting an installation location of the appliance into the communication device, transmitting the appliance identifier and the installation location of the appliance to a data processing center containing current energy cost data and externalities data for the installation location, and transmitting at least one of said appliance economics and said appliance environmental impact for the appliance to the communication device. | 08-26-2010 |
20100187010 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SUBTERRANEAN DRILLING - A method and apparatus for drilling a subterranean formation or material utilizing a drilling apparatus which includes a drill string having a leading end and a trailing end and having a bottom hole assembly connected with the leading end. The bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit and an externally threaded screw section. In operation, the drill bit is rotated, forming material cuttings and an opening in the subterranean formation, and the threaded screw section is rotated within the opening, forming a helical groove in the subterranean formation. | 07-29-2010 |
20100132258 | MECHANICALLY DRIVEN CENTRIFUGAL PYROLYZER - An apparatus for fast pyrolysis of biomass and other solid organic materials including a vertically oriented cylindrical vessel having a solids outlet proximate the bottom thereof, a vapor outlet, a top wall forming at least one opening, and an adjacent heated side wall. Disposed within the cylindrical vessel and extending through the at least one opening in the top wall is a rotor having a rotatable shaft coincident with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel to which is attached at least one substantially vertically oriented blade having one edge connected directly or indirectly with the rotatable shaft and having an opposite edge spaced apart from the heated side wall, whereby a non-radial, preferably tangential, force is imparted on the feedstock in the cylindrical vessel. Also disclosed is a method for fast pyrolysis of biomass and other solid organic materials. | 06-03-2010 |
20100119810 | COMPOSITIONALLY UNIFORM, MULTI-LAYER, GROUP VB, HYDROGEN TRANSPORT MEMBRANE - A hydrogen-selective membrane material having a dense inner membrane layer composed of a Group VB alloy and no Pd disposed between two porous outer membrane support layers composed of the same Group VB alloy and no Pd or other noble metal, the amount of the Group VB alloy being greater than about 90 atomic % of each layer. | 05-13-2010 |
20100098260 | ROBUST PIPE-STRIKE PULSE DETECTOR - A method for discriminating a noise pulse from a background noise in which a signal of interest is converted to an envelope signal using an entropy-based envelope generator, which envelope signal is then integrated over a plurality of consecutive integrative periods, producing an integrated envelope signal for each of the integration periods. The ratio of the envelope signal at the end of each of the integration periods corresponding to each corresponding said integrated envelope signal is determined and compared with a predetermined threshold signal for each of the integration periods, resulting in a comparison value. The integration period in which the comparison value exceeds the predetermined threshold signal and which is preceded by two integration periods in which the comparison value does not exceed the threshold value represents the point in time at which the noise pulse is detected. | 04-22-2010 |
20100078414 | LASER ASSISTED DRILLING - An apparatus for drilling underground having at least one optical fiber for transmitting light energy from a laser energy source disposed above ground to an underground drilling location and a mechanical drill bit having at least one cutting surface and forming at least one light transmission channel aligned to transmit light from the at least one optical fiber through the mechanical drill bit by way of the at least one light transmission channel. | 04-01-2010 |
20100078090 | IMPACT SENSING MULTI-LAYERED PLASTIC MATERIAL - A multi-layer structure for sensing impacts in real-time having an inner layer of polyvinylidene fluoride having piezoelectric properties disposed between and joined with two outer layers of an electrical signal conductor. | 04-01-2010 |
20090316336 | BIPOLAR MEMBRANE FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL SUPERCAPACITORS AND OTHER CAPACITORS - A supercapacitor having a bipolar membrane separator having a first side facing the negative electrode of the supercapacitor and having a plurality of cations and a second side facing the positive electrode and having a plurality of anions. | 12-24-2009 |
20090249834 | METHOD FOR REMOVAL OF GASEOUS INCLUSIONS FROM VISCOUS LIQUIDS - A method for removal of gaseous inclusions from a viscous liquid in which a layer of filter particles is positioned in the viscous liquid and the viscous liquid is passed through the layer of filter particles, whereby the gaseous inclusions combine or coalesce within the layer of filter particles, forming larger gaseous inclusions which rise to the top of the viscous liquid and escape therefrom. | 10-08-2009 |
20090239288 | INTEGRATED MEMBRANE SEPARATION - BIOREACTOR FOR SELECTIVE REMOVAL OF ORGANIC PRODUCTS AND BY-PRODUCTS - A system for selective removal of metabolites from an aqueous broth including a bioreactor vessel containing at least one live culture producing at least one metabolite disposed within an aqueous broth, and a membrane module having a mixed matrix membrane suitable for selective removal of the at least one metabolite from the aqueous broth. The membrane is made of mixtures of hydrophobic zeolite and carbon on a porous substrate. In accordance with one particularly preferred embodiment of this invention, the membrane module is integral with the bioreactor vessel. | 09-24-2009 |
20090236285 | ETHANOL SEPARATION BY A MIXED MATRIX MEMBRANE - A mixed matrix membrane including at least one layer of a porous carbon-based structure and a plurality of silicalite crystals dispersed on a surface of the porous carbon-based structure and/or within the porous carbon-based structure. The membrane is suitable for use in processes involving the separation of ethanol from ethanol-containing mixtures. | 09-24-2009 |
20090235671 | PARTIAL OXIDATION GAS TURBINE COOLING - A power generation system and method in which a fuel gas is introduced into a combustor and at least a portion of the fuel gas is combusted in the combustor, producing an exhaust gas having no appreciable available oxygen. The exhaust gas is introduced as a working fluid into a gas turbine, thereby generating power. Cooling of the power generation system is accomplished using a cooling fluid selected from the group consisting of synthesis gas, natural gas, natural gas/steam mixture, flue gas, flue gas/steam mixture, and mixtures thereof. | 09-24-2009 |
20090205490 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HUMIDIFYING AIR WITH WATER VAPOR EXTRACTED FROM MOISTURE-LADEN FLUE GAS - A method and apparatus for humidifying air in which the first side of a permselective water transport membrane is contacted with water vapor laden flue gas from a combustion process having a first water vapor partial pressure and a first temperature and at least a portion of the water vapor is condensed, producing condensed water. The condensed water is transported through the membrane to the opposite side of the membrane, which is contacted with an air stream having a second water vapor partial pressure, which second water vapor partial pressure is less than the first water vapor partial pressure, and having a second temperature, which second temperature is less than the first temperature. Upon contact with the air stream, the condensed water evaporates into the air stream, resulting in a humidified air stream. | 08-20-2009 |
20090153658 | VIDEO AND THERMAL IMAGING SYSTEM FOR MONITORING INTERIORS OF HIGH TEMPERATURE REACTION VESSELS - A system and method for real-time monitoring of the interior of a combustor or gasifier wherein light emitted by the interior surface of a refractory wall of the combustor or gasifier is collected using an imaging fiber optic bundle having a light receiving end and a light output end. Color information in the light is captured with primary color (RGB) filters or complimentary color (GMCY) filters placed over individual pixels of color sensors disposed within a digital color camera in a BAYER mosaic layout, producing RGB signal outputs or GMCY signal outputs. The signal outputs are processed using intensity ratios of the primary color filters or the complimentary color filters, producing video images and/or thermal images of the interior of the combustor or gasifier. | 06-18-2009 |
20090136797 | Direct carbon fuel cell - A direct carbon fuel cell having an anode electrode of carbon particles pre-wetted with carbonate, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode and containing a molten carbonate. The fuel cell includes a wicking feature whereby excess carbonate produced during the operation of the fuel cell is removed. The use of carbonate pre-wetted carbon particles as the anode provides a network of empty voids, facilitating the removal of CO | 05-28-2009 |
20090061369 | Multi-response time burner system for controlling combustion driven pulsation - A combustion system having at least one wall enclosing a combustion chamber and forming a plurality of burner or burner nozzle openings. Disposed within each of the openings is a premix burner or burner nozzle, each of which has a premixed fuel/oxidant outlet proximate the combustion chamber and a fuel/oxidant inlet distal from the combustion chamber. At least a portion of the premix burners or burner nozzles are sized to produce different fuel/oxidant delivery disturbance response times in response to a pressure disturbance within the combustion system. Differences in fuel/oxidant delivery response times are achieved by using burners or burner nozzles having different internal dimensions, different volume flow rates, and, optionally, by varying the fuel/oxidant ratios of the mixtures flowing through the burners or burner nozzles. | 03-05-2009 |
20090026070 | Solar hydrogen charger - An apparatus for splitting water to produce hydrogen having at least one photoelectrochemical cell. The photoelectrochemical cell includes at least one water permeable photoelectrode having a light sensitive, nano-crystalline catalytic material layer, a polymer electrolyte membrane, a metallic substrate disposed between the light sensitive nano-crystalline catalytic material layer and the polymer electrolyte membrane adjacent to the polymer electrolyte membrane layer, and at least one photovoltaic device connected in series to the light sensitive nano-crystalline material layer and disposed between the light sensitive nano-crystalline catalytic material layer and the metallic substrate layer. | 01-29-2009 |
20090011290 | Method and apparatus for thermochemical recuperation with partial heat recovery of the sensible heat present in products of combustion - A system and method for fuel reforming in which at least a portion of the exhaust gases from a combustion process, such as an industrial furnace, is mixed with a fuel, such as natural gas, and the mixture is introduced into a first stage heat exchange vessel in which the fuel is reformed. The reformed fuel is then returned to the combustion process for burning. In accordance with one embodiment, primary combustion oxidant is introduced into a second stage heat exchange vessel in which it is heated by a portion of the exhaust gas exiting the first stage heat exchange vessel. The heated oxidant is then introduced into the combustion process for burning of the fuel(s) therein. | 01-08-2009 |
20080305948 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING CATALYTICALLY-ACTIVE MATERIALS - A method for producing a catalytically-active material having at least one base component and at least one catalytically-active component in which the at least one base component is heated to a softening or melting temperature to form a softened or molten base component. While the base component is in the softened or molten state, at least one catalytically-active component is incorporated into or onto the base component, forming the catalytically-active material. In accordance with one embodiment, a catalyst precursor is introduced into the base component and subsequently transformed to a catalytically-active component. | 12-11-2008 |
20080302221 | Aldyl a tee scraper - A utility service tee scraping tool having three basic components—a scraper or cutting element, a scraper holder, and an alignment body. The scraper includes a rigid, vertically oriented body to which one or more cutting blades are attached. The scraper holder includes a service pipe tee clamp having two gripping elements with surfaces adapted to fit snugly around the service pipe tee and maintain the tee scraping tool in a fixed position during operation. The tool may be manipulated from above ground. Although particularly suitable for use in keyhole excavations where remote operation of the tool is required, the tool may also be used in traditional excavations. | 12-11-2008 |
20080283390 | CuC1 thermochemical cycle for hydrogen production - An electrochemical cell for producing copper having a dense graphite anode electrode and a dense graphite cathode electrode disposed in a CuCl solution. An anion exchange membrane made of poly(ethylene vinyl alcohol) and polyethylenimine cross-linked with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of acetone, formaldehyde, glyoxal, glutaraldehyde, and mixtures thereof is disposed between the two electrodes. | 11-20-2008 |
20080260611 | Method for direct oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur at low temperatures - A method for removal of hydrogen sulfide and mercury from a gaseous stream containing hydrogen sulfide and mercury in which a hydrogen sulfide conversion catalyst is contacted with the gaseous stream at a temperature less than or equal to the dewpoint of elemental sulfur, and the hydrogen sulfide is oxidized, forming elemental sulfur. | 10-23-2008 |
20080260141 | Method and apparatus for enhanced convergence of the normalized LMS algorithm - Adaptive filters employing a normalized time domain least mean square algorithm having enhanced convergence rates by virtue of the use of an update gain greater than | 10-23-2008 |
20080226525 | Method for creating a gas-liquid contact area - A method for contacting a liquid with a gas in which the gas is introduced into a vessel containing at least one hollow fiber membrane having a plurality of porous hollow fibers. The liquid is introduced into a lumen of at least a portion of the plurality of porous hollow fibers at a liquid pressure sufficient to overcome a resistance to wetting of the porous hollow fibers, thereby covering at least a portion of an outer surface of the plurality of porous hollow fibers with the liquid and providing intimate contact between the gas and the liquid. | 09-18-2008 |
20080223153 | Method and apparatus maintaining multi-component sample gas constituents in vapor phase during sample extraction and cooling - An apparatus and method for diluting and cooling that is extracted from high temperature and/or high pressure industrial processes. Through a feedback process, a specialized, CFD-modeled dilution cooler is employed along with real-time estimations of the point at which condensation will occur within the dilution cooler to define a level of dilution and diluted gas temperature that results in a gas that can be conveyed to standard gas analyzers that contains no condensed hydrocarbon compounds or condensed moisture. | 09-18-2008 |
20080202261 | Apparatus and method for maintaining multi-component sample gas constituents in vapor phase during sample extraction and cooling - A dilution apparatus for diluting a gas sample. The apparatus includes a sample gas conduit having a sample gas inlet end and a diluted sample gas outlet end, and a sample gas flow restricting orifice disposed proximate the sample gas inlet end connected with the sample gas conduit and providing fluid communication between the exterior and the interior of the sample gas conduit. A diluted sample gas conduit is provided within the sample gas conduit having a mixing end with a mixing space inlet opening disposed proximate the sample gas inlet end, thereby forming an annular space between the sample gas conduit and the diluted sample gas conduit. The mixing end of the diluted sample gas conduit is disposed at a distance from the sample gas flow restricting orifice. A dilution gas source connected with the sample gas inlet end of the sample gas conduit is provided for introducing a dilution gas into the annular space, and a filter is provided for filtering the sample gas. The apparatus is particularly suited for diluting heated sample gases containing one or more condensable components. | 08-28-2008 |