Abstract:
An apparatus and a method for controllably converting aluminum into alane. In the system of the invention, a reaction between aluminum and hydrogen to form alane is performed at temperatures below 100° C. using a supercritical fluid such as CO2 as a reaction medium, with the optional inclusion of a co-solvent, such as an ether, in the reaction vessel. Inert gas is used to exclude unwanted gases such as oxygen. The reaction of aluminum and hydrogen has been observed to proceed at approximately 60° C. using Me2O as an added solvent in CO2 at supercritical pressures.
Abstract:
A liquid phase process for producing hydrogen gas in a reactor comprising the step of combining at least one oxidizable reactant with liquid water and at least one alkaline electrolyte to form a mixture having a pH, wherein the pH of the mixture is substantially maintained at a value of about 10.5 or greater and conducting a reaction in the presence of an electron transfer material that permits the movement of electrons. An alternative method produces hydrogen gas from a reaction in an electrochemical cell, the reaction characterized by an overall thermodynamic energy balance and half-cell reactions occurring at each of an anode and cathode. Energy transfers, such as thermal and electric, are analyzed and controlled in order to satisfy the thermodynamic energy balance of the reaction for efficient hydrogen production.
Abstract:
Process for the preparation of urea from ammonia and carbon dioxide in a urea production process comprising, in a high-pressure synthesis section: a. a reactor, wherein ammonia and carbon dioxide react to form a urea-comprising synthesis solution; b. a stripper, wherein the urea-comprising synthesis solution is heated and stripped, optionally in counter-current with a stripping agent; c. a submerged condenser, wherein the gas leaving the top of the stripper is, at least partially, condensed to form a condensate solution and d. an ejector, in the line connecting the submerged condenser and the reactor, supporting the transport of the condensate solution from the submerged condenser to the reactor, wherein a gas stream leaving the top of the submerged condenser is controlled by one or more controlling elements.
Abstract:
The present Invention relates to a hydrothermal process for the preparation of coal-like material from biomass, in which a reaction mixture comprising biomass is heated by contacting with steam, the steam moving counter-currently relative to the reaction mixture, to obtain a reaction mixture comprising activated biomass, and the activated biomass is subsequently polymerized to give a reaction mixture comprising coal-like material. According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a column, preferably a vertically oriented evaporation column, comprising horizontally oriented mass transfer trays, rotor elements mounted on a rotor shaft that is vertically oriented and passes through a rotor shaft opening in the mass transfer trays, and a housing provided with suitable upper and lower inlets and outlets. The column can be used with benefit in the hydrothermal process of the invention. The process is advantageous in that it allows the quick, energy-efficient and stable production of high-quality coal-like material.
Abstract:
In an embodiment of the present invention, a renewable energy fuel is prepared by a process including the steps of: a) providing a renewable energy feedstock; b) providing an alcohol; c) providing a catalyst; d) mixing (a), (b), and (c) to form a blend; and e) homogenizing the blend at a pressure greater than 400 kilogram-force per square centimeter (Kg/cm2).
Abstract:
A control system of a surgery autoclave is described, which is capable of establishing a sterilization cycle which includes at least a first evacuation step of a sterilization chamber and of heating of a load and a final drying step. The autoclave includes a device capable of detecting a parameter proportional to the energy used up in a step of the cycle preceding the drying step and the control system establishes at least a reduction of the drying step upon determining that, the parameter of used up energy lies below a preset threshold.
Abstract:
An apparatus and a method for controllably converting aluminum into alane. In the system of the invention, a reaction between aluminum and hydrogen to form alane is performed at temperatures below 100° C. using a supercritical fluid such as CO2 as a reaction medium, with the optional inclusion of a co-solvent, such as an ether, in the reaction vessel. Inert gas is used to exclude unwanted gases such as oxygen. The reaction of aluminum and hydrogen has been observed to proceed at approximately 60° C. using Me2O as an added solvent in CO2 at supercritical pressures.
Abstract:
Improved treatment apparatus (120, 152) is provided for the treatment (e.g., molding, heating and/or curing) of objects such as parts or part precursors (148, 170) including wireless detection of a temperature parameter related to the objects during treatment thereof. The objects include associated microwire-type sensors (150, 174) which have characteristic re-magnetization responses under the influence of applied, alternating magnetic fields. The apparatus (120, 152) have treatment chambers (122, 153) sized to hold the objects to be treated, with one or more antennas (132, 124, 166) proximal to such objects and operable to generate interrogating alternating magnetic fields and to detect the responses of the sensors (150, 174). The detected temperature parameter information is used by an apparatus controller (146) to maintain desired ambient conditions within the treatment chamber (122, 153).
Abstract:
An apparatus and a process for reclaiming fuel oils from waste oils. The apparatus and process is characterized in that waste oils are thermally cracked by combination of high pressure and vacuum in a sequence at high temperature. However, rapid thermal cracking is performed at even lower temperature of 300˜350° C. than at 400˜450° C. of conventional batch method. The semi-continuous method with bleeding process is employed and accordingly no pause stage becomes necessary to physically collect ash cake from the thermal cracking vessel as experienced from the conventional batch process. The ash cake contents drops from 5% of conventional method to 1.4% since slow reaction is a cause for oxidation problem which is related with formation of tar compounds and production rate of #2 diesel fuel oil increases 3 times more than batch process.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for synthesis and screening of materials are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a parallel batch reactor for effecting chemical reactions includes a pressure chamber, and a plurality of reaction wells. Each of the reaction wells is in isolatable fluid communication with the pressure chamber such that during a first pressurizing stage of operation, each of the reaction wells can be simultaneously pressurized through common fluid communication with the pressure chamber, and such that during a second reaction stage of operation, each of the reaction wells can be fluidically isolated from at least one other of said plurality of reaction wells.