Abstract: An electromagnetic pumping assembly (10) for liquid metal is made, which contains an immersible pump section (16) where electromagnetic windings (22) are disposed in the pump section, and an eddy current blocking structure (25) is disposed within the electromagnetic winding (22), providing liquid flow orifices unoccupied by the structure between the eddy current blocking structure and the winding, where there is at least one axial bore (27) through the eddy current blocking structure (25).

Abstract: Particulate material such as for example soil contaminated with heavy metals, radioactive species and organics, singly or in combination, is treated by first washing the contaminated material with a contaminant mobilizing solution comprising a leaching agent, a surfactant or a mixture thereof. Large particles, typically greater than 5 mm are mechanically separated, washed with water and returned to the site as recovered soil. Fines, along with contaminants dissolved or dispersed in the contaminant mobilizing solution are separated from intermediate sized particles by a countercurrent flow of the contaminant mobilizing solution, preferably in a mineral jig. The intermediate sized particles are then abraded in an attrition scrubber to dislodge attached mineral slimes or fines. These additional fines are separated from the intermediate sized particles with a countercurrent flow of wash water in a second mineral jig.

Abstract: In the method of operating an electrochemical cell generator apparatus containing a generator chamber (20) containing an array of cells (12) having interior and exterior electrodes with solid electrolyte between the electrodes, where a hot gas (F) contacts the outside of the cells (12) and the generating chamber normally operates at over 850.degree. C., where N.sub.2 gas is fed to contact the interior electrode of the cells (12) in any case when the generating chamber (20) temperature drops for whatever reason to within the range of from 550.degree. C. to 800.degree. C., to eliminate cracking within the cells (12).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the incineration and vitrification of radioactive waste materials. Waste materials are fed into a melter containing molten glass wherein the waste is incinerated and vitrified into the glass matrix. Gases produced are combusted in an extended plenum area preferably designed to provide a residence time of at least 3 seconds. A portion of the sulfur compounds in the combustion gases are incorporated into a solid matrix of gypsum by contacting the sulfur compounds with an aqueous solution and calcium hydroxide.

Abstract: An electrode structure (10) is made by applying a base layer of doped LaCrO.sub.3 particles on a portion of an electrode (16) and then coating the particles with a top layer composition such as CaO+Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SrO+Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, or BaO+Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and then heating the composition for a time effective to melt the composition and allow it to fill any open porosity in the base layer of doped LaCrO.sub.3 to form an interconnection (26), after which solid oxide electrolyte (18) can be applied to the remaining portion of the electrode (16) and the electrolyte (18) can be covered with a cermet exterior electrode (20).

Abstract: A submersible, single phase electromagnetic pumping assembly (10) for liquid metal is made, which contains a submersible pump section (16) and a nonsubmersible pump section (18) connected by a hollow conduit (20) where single phase electromagnetic windings (22 and 24) are disposed in each pump section, providing a two stage pumping assembly, and an eddy current blocking electromagnetic winding (22 and 24), providing liquid flow orifices unoccupied by the structure within each pump section near the winding, and where the single phase coils can create a pulsed, standing magnetic wave within each liquid flow orifice.

Abstract: A fuel cell array (10) is made, containing number of tubular, elongated fuel cells (12) which are placed next to each other in rows (A, B, C, D), where each cell contains inner electrodes (14) and outer electrodes (18 and 18'), with solid electrolyte (16 and 16') between the electrodes, where the electrolyte and outer electrode are discontinuous, having two portions, and providing at least two opposed discontinuities which contain at least two oppositely opposed interconnections (20 and 20') contacting the inner electrode (14), each cell (12) having only three metallic felt electrical connectors (22) which contact surrounding cells, where each row is electrically connected to the other.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell generator has a plenum containing at least two rows of spaced apart, annular, axially elongated fuel cells. An electrical conductor extending between adjacent rows of fuel cells connects the fuel cells of one row in parallel with each other and in series with the fuel cells of the adjacent row.

Abstract: A ductile, high electrical conductivity composite is made, containing alkaline earth metal-copper oxide particles (14), having a gold coating (16), within a skeletal matrix of hyperconducting aluminum (22) enclosed by a metallic sheath (12).

Abstract: A generator apparatus (10) is made containing long, hollow, tubular, fuel cells containing an inner air electrode (64), an outer fuel electrode (56), and solid electrolyte (54) therebetween, placed between a fuel distribution board (29) and a board (32) which separates the combustion chamber (16) from the generating chamber (14), where each fuel cell has an insertable open end and in insertable, plugged, closed end (44), the plugged end being inserted into the fuel distribution board (29) and the open end being inserted through the separator board (32) where the plug (60) is completely within the fuel distribution board (29).

Abstract: A process for removing metal from a solid material includes the steps of admixing the metal containing solid (10) with an aqueous liquid (26) and particles of ion exchange material (28) having a strong affinity for metal in a mixer (24), to form a slurry, allowing the slurry materials to interact, and removing the ion exchange material loaded with metal (32) from the solid.

Abstract: A method to form a superconducting wire or ribbon contains the steps: (1) forming ceramic powder, (2) forming pellets from the powder, (3) inserting the pellets in a metal sheath, (4) reducing the cross-section of the sheathed pellets to form a composite, (5) sealing the composite in a deformable container, (6) hot isostatically pressing the composite at a temperature over 600.degree. C., where the temperature is close to or just above the melting point of the core, and (7) annealing the pressed composite in a source of oxygen at a temperature from 770.degree. C. to 870.degree. C. for at least 40 hours.

Abstract: A sintered bipolar battery plate (10) is made containing two porous electrodes and a central, non-porous, metallic cell separator-current collector sheet (12) where the positive electrode contains sintered particles (14) of elemental silver sintered into an expanded metal sheet (18) and the negative electrode contains sintered particles (16) of elemental iron sintered into an expanded metal sheet (18), where the positive and negative electrodes are sintered to a thin, porous, metallic connection layer (20) selected from at least one of nickel fiber or nickel powder, which is sintered to the current collector (12). This plate (10) can be placed in a case (22) containing alkali hydroxide electrolyte and having metal end plates (29) for electrical connections.

Abstract: An electrochemical apparatus (10) is made having a generator section (22) containing electrochemical cells (16), a fresh gaseous feed fuel inlet (28), a gaseous feed oxidant inlet (30), and at least one hot gaseous spent fuel recirculation channel (46), where the spent fuel recirculation channel (46), a portion of which is in contact with the outside of a mixer chamber (52), passes from the generator chamber (22) to combine with the fresh feed fuel inlet (28) at the entrance to the mixer chamber, and a mixer nozzle (50) is located at the entrance to the mixer chamber, where the mixer chamber (52) connects with the reforming chamber (54), and where the mixer-diffuser chamber (52) and mixer nozzle (50) are exterior to and spaced apart from the combustion chamber (24), and the generator chamber (22), and the mixer nozzle (50) can operate below 400.degree. C.

Abstract: A supported superconductor is made where a top layer of alkaline earth metal-copper oxide based material (10) is applied to a buffer layer (14) of La.sub.2-x Sr.sub.x CuO.sub.4, where x is a value from 0 to 0.4, all of which is supported by a bottom layer (12) of .alpha.-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.

Abstract: An electrochemical apparatus (10) is made having a generator section (22) containing electrochemical cells (16), a fresh gaseous feed fuel inlet (28), a gaseous feed oxidant inlet (30), gaseous spent fuel recirculation channels (46), and hot combusted exhaust gas exit channels (45), where the spent fuel recirculation channel (46) passes from the generator chamber (22) to combine with the fresh feed fuel inlet (28) at a circulation and mixing apparatus (50), where a reformable fuel mixture channel (51) passes between the mixing apparatus and reforming chamber (54) containing a reformable material, where a portion of the hot combusted exhaust gas exit channel (45) surrounds the reforming chamber (54), and where the fresh feed fuel inlet has a by-pass channel (62) into the gaseous spent fuel recirculation channel (46), said by-pass channel having valving to control fresh fuel feed flow to the gaseous spent fuel recirculation channel.

Abstract: A highly sinterable powder consisting essentially of LaCrO.sub.3, containing from 5 weight % to 20 weight % of a chromite of dopant Ca, Sr, Co, Ba, or Mg and a coating of a chromate of dopant Ca, Sr, Co, Ba, or Mg; is made by (1) forming a solution of La, Cr, and dopant; (2) heating their solutions; (3) forming a combined solution having a desired ratio of La, Cr, and dopant and heating to reduce solvent; (4) forming a foamed mass under vacuum; (5) burning off organic components and forming a charred material; (6) grinding the charred material; (7) heating the char at from 590.degree. C. to 950 C. in inert gas containing up to 50,000 ppm O.sub.

Abstract: An electrode is attached to a solid electrolyte material by: (1) mixing a metallic nickel component and 1 wt% to 10 wt% of yttria stabilized zirconia having particle diameters up to 3 micrometers with an organic binder solution to form a slurry, (2) applying the slurry to a solid zirconia electrolyte material, (3) heating the slurry to drive off the organic binder and form a porous layer of metallic nickel substantially surrounded and separated by the zirconia particles, and (4) electro-chemical vapor depositing a skeletal structure between and around the metallic nickel and the zirconia particles where the metallic nickel components do not substantially sinter to each other, yet the layer remains porous.

Abstract: A combustible polymer film, useful for application of an interconnection on an electrode is made by: (1) providing doped LaCro.sub.3 particles; (2) dispersing doped LaCrO.sub.3 particles in a solvent, to provide a dispersion; (3) screening the dispersion to provide particles in the range of from 30 micrometers to 80 micrometers; (4) admixing a fugitive polymer with the particles; (5) casting the dispersion to provide a film; (6) drying the film; and (7) stripping the film. The film can then be applied to a porous, preheated electrode top surface, and then electrochemical vapor depositing a dense skeletal LaCrO.sub.3 structure, between and around the doped LaCrO.sub.3 particles. Additional solid oxide electrolyte and fuel electrode layers can then be added to provide a fuel cell.

Abstract: A superconducting film is deposited in a closed, non-baked reactor (10) containing a sputtering gas comprising O.sub.2 with H.sub.2 O vapor addition to preferably provide a total H.sub.2 O vapor pressure of between 3.times.10.sup.-3 mbar to 266.times.10.sup.-3 mbar, where a copper oxide-based target material (15) is used and the deposition substrates (16) are maintained between 550.degree. C. and 800.degree. C.