Abstract: A battery network management system (1) for swappable batteries (5) used in vehicles (9), the system (1) comprising: at least one swappable battery (5) to discharge electrical power to drive a vehicle (9); and a charging station (3) to receive the swappable battery (5). The charging station (3) charges the swappable battery (5) based on a first condition that the swappable battery (5) is authenticated by an authentication system (7); and a first code (8) is associated with the swappable battery (5) to attest the swappable battery (5) was charged by the charging station (3) based on the first condition. The at least one swappable battery (5) discharges electrical power to drive a vehicle (9) based on a second condition that: the swappable battery (5) is received in the vehicle (9) that is authenticated by the authentication system (7); and the authentication system (7) authenticates the first code (8).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a kiln 100 for use in the production of hydrocarbon fuels from plastics. The kiln 100 comprises a scrubber 200 in fluid communication with a reaction chamber 130, the scrubber 200 being configured to condense hydrocarbons in the reaction chamber gas product stream 501 above a predetermined upper hydrocarbon range for returning to the reaction chamber 130 for further heating in the absence of oxygen. Also disclosed herein is a method of converting waste plastics to a commercially-useful form by way of diesel or the like. The method comprises treating a crude fuel produced from plastics in a pyrolytic process with a first extraction step comprising counterflow liquid-liquid extraction, and a second extraction step comprising counterflow extraction of solvents from the first extraction step.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for removing at least some contaminants from a hydrocarbon feedstock, such as a petroleum. The method includes treating the contaminated feedstock during flow through a supercritical reactor with supercritical water to facilitate the removal of at least some of the contaminants. The flow through the supercritical reactor is a continuous flow.