Abstract: A water pipe has: a water chamber; a bowl or bowl connector; a hollow neck forming a mouthpiece; and a lid that seals both the mouthpiece and the bowl or bowl connector when the lid is in a closed position. A method of operating a water pipe includes assembling the lid in the closed position on the water pipe. A method of operating a water pipe includes, while the lid is out of the close position: combusting or vaporizing a smokable substance in the bowl to create smoke vapor; and drawing the smoke vapor through the water chamber and out the mouthpiece.

Abstract: A water pipe has: a water chamber; a bowl or bowl connector; a hollow neck forming a mouthpiece; and a lid that seals both the mouthpiece and the bowl or bowl connector when the lid is in a closed position. A method of operating a water pipe includes assembling the lid in the closed position on the water pipe. A method of operating a water pipe includes, while the lid is out of the close position: combusting or vaporizing a smokable substance in the bowl to create smoke vapor; and drawing the smoke vapor through the water chamber and out the mouthpiece.

Abstract: A process to facilitate gravimetric separation of alkali metal salts, such as alkali metal sulfides and polysulfides, from alkali metal reacted hydrocarbons. The disclosed process is part of a method of upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock by removing heteroatoms and/or one or more heavy metals from the hydrocarbon feedstock composition. This method reacts the oil feedstock with an alkali metal and an upgradant hydrocarbon. The alkali metal reacts with a portion of the heteroatoms and/or one or more heavy metals to form an inorganic phase containing alkali metal salts and reduced heavy metals, and an upgraded hydrocarbon feedstock. The inorganic phase may be gravimetrically separated from the upgraded hydrocarbon feedstock after mixing at a temperature between about 350° C. to 400° C. for a time period between about 15 minutes and 2 hours.

Abstract: A process to facilitate gravimetric separation of alkali metal salts, such as alkali metal sulfides and polysulfides, from alkali metal reacted hydrocarbons. The disclosed process is part of a method of upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock by removing heteroatoms and/or one or more heavy metals from the hydrocarbon feedstock composition. This method reacts the oil feedstock with an alkali metal and an upgradant hydrocarbon. The alkali metal reacts with a portion of the heteroatoms and/or one or more heavy metals to form an inorganic phase containing alkali metal salts and reduced heavy metals, and an upgraded hydrocarbon feedstock. The inorganic phase may be gravimetrically separated from the upgraded hydrocarbon feedstock after mixing at a temperature between about 350° C. to 400° C. for a time period between about 15 minutes and 2 hours.

Abstract: A seal located between ceramic electrolyte or mixed electrolyte cells, and ceramic components of similar or dissimilar compositions, ceramic components and metal components, or any other materials for use in electrochemical gas separation devices, fuel cells and other thermal electrochemical power generation devices, high temperature heat exchangers, thermal management devices or other applications requiring joining or gas-tight bonding where said seal is comprised of materials derived from pyrolysis of silicocarbon polymers and fillers of active and/or passive fillers.