Abstract: A method for treating a flue gas that includes determining a sulfur trioxide concentration within the flue gas and determining an injection rate for a sulfur trioxide sorbent based upon the sulfur trioxide concentration. Also, a method for treating a flue gas that includes determining a sulfuric acid dew point for the flue gas and determining a coolant injection rate for a coolant to be injected into the flue gas to cause the flue gas to have a temperature of from about 20 to about 30° F. above the sulfuric acid dew point.

Abstract: A fluid circuit includes a device, a cooler, and a valve. The valve includes a housing, a sealing member, a biasing device, and an actuator. The sealing member moves inside the housing between a first position and a second position. The actuator includes a smart material that is activated when the temperature of a fluid inside the housing exhibiting at least a first temperature, causing the sealing member to move to the second position. The smart material is deactivated when the fluid is a sufficient number of degrees less than the first temperature, causing the sealing member to move to the first position. The fluid flows from the housing to the device and then to the housing when the sealing member is in the first position. The fluid flows from the housing to the cooler and then to the device when the sealing member is in the second position.

Abstract: A fluid circuit includes a device, a cooler, and a valve. The valve includes a housing, a sealing member, a biasing device, and an actuator. The sealing member moves inside the housing between a first position and a second position. The actuator includes a smart material that is activated when the temperature of a fluid inside the housing exhibiting at least a first temperature, causing the sealing member to move to the second position. The smart material is deactivated when the fluid is a sufficient number of degrees less than the first temperature, causing the sealing member to move to the first position. The fluid flows from the housing to the device and then to the housing when the sealing member is in the first position. The fluid flows from the housing to the cooler and then to the device when the sealing member is in the second position.

Abstract: Automobile usage analytics and personalization are described. In one or more implementations, a digital medium environment is described in which sensors are included with parts of automobiles, detect usage events that result from auto part usage, and produce sensor data indicative of the events. In this environment, a method is described of efficiently aggregating the sensor data and accurately determining automobile usage therefrom. Based on the automobile usage, the automobile is personalized for users. For example, personalized recommendations are made to automobile users to suggest goods, services, or information determined pertinent to the users. The aggregated sensor data can be used in other ways to personalize the automobile, such as to adjust seat positions, control climate, and so on. Further, the aggregated sensor data is used to answer queries regarding automobile usage that are made by users (e.g., manufacturers) via analytics tools of an auto usage reporting platform.

Abstract: A method for treating a flue gas that includes determining a sulfur trioxide concentration within the flue gas and determining an injection rate for a sulfur trioxide sorbent based upon the sulfur trioxide concentration. Also, a method for treating a flue gas that includes determining a sulfuric acid dew point for the flue gas and determining a coolant injection rate for a coolant to be injected into the flue gas to cause the flue gas to have a temperature of from about 20 to about 30° F. above the sulfuric acid dew point.

Abstract: Contemplated configurations and methods are presented for effectively controlling the temperature in an oxy-fuel combustion system. Contemplated systems preferably introduce water independent of the fuel and oxygen into the combustion chamber. Water is injected through one or more nozzles, wherein water is atomized or sprayed, creating boundary layer cool zones in a boiler system and wherein water is recovered.

Abstract: Automobile usage analytics and personalization are described. In one or more implementations, a digital medium environment is described in which sensors are included with parts of automobiles, detect usage events that result from auto part usage, and produce sensor data indicative of the events. In this environment, a method is described of efficiently aggregating the sensor data and accurately determining automobile usage therefrom. Based on the automobile usage, the automobile is personalized for users. For example, personalized recommendations are made to automobile users to suggest goods, services, or information determined pertinent to the users. The aggregated sensor data can be used in other ways to personalize the automobile, such as to adjust seat positions, control climate, and so on. Further, the aggregated sensor data is used to answer queries regarding automobile usage that are made by users (e.g., manufacturers) via analytics tools of an auto usage reporting platform.

Abstract: Systems and methods directed to cleaning a flue gas are described, in which a column housing can be configured to receive a feed stream, and includes an absorber configured to produce a clean stream that is substantially depleted of at least one of SOx and CO2. The absorber can comprise at least one of (1) a primary CO2 capture system disposed downstream of a gas conditioning system and (2) a primary acid gas removal system disposed upstream of a gas conditioning system. The gas conditioning system can also be disposed in the column housing.

Abstract: Processes for transesterifying wax esters. Implementations may include: providing a feedstock including wax esters, contacting the feedstock with a lipase, and catalytically transesterifying the wax esters in the feedstock with the lipase to form a transesterified product. An oxidative stability index (OSI) of the transesterified product may be greater than an OSI of the feedstock.

Abstract: Processes for transesterifying wax esters. Implementations may include providing a feedstock including wax esters, introducing into the feedstock an alcohol with a carbon number ranging from 1 to 34 carbons where the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of a straight chain alcohol, a branched chain alcohol, any combination of straight chain alcohols, any combination of branched chain alcohols, and any combination thereof. The process may include contacting the feedstock with a lipase, and catalytically transesterifying the wax esters in the feedstock with the lipase to form a transesterified product. The enzymatically transesterified product may be adapted to produce a finished product having a certain formula that has a viscosity that substantially matches a viscosity of a finished product having the same certain formula including chemically catalyzed transesterified wax esters.

Abstract: A lean solvent is produced from a CO2 rich solvent using heat exchange with a conditioned stream in a reboiler. A power generator generates a low pressure steam from high pressure steam. A portion of the low pressure steam is sent to a fluid conditioning unit, which conditions the low pressure steam to a temperature and pressure required to allow for the production of lean solvent from a rich solvent in a reboiler.

Abstract: Materials with high levels of unsaponifiable matter, such as extracts from plants, produce hydrolysates with unique properties. The application of a hydrolysis process to materials, particularly materials with a high level of unsaponifiables (e.g., at least 6 weight percent of the material), produces a product with properties significantly different from those products resulting from the conventional saponification of materials with less than 6 weight percent of unsaponifiables. The hydrolysates of the present invention are substantive, resisting both physical and aqueous-based removal from skin and hair, exhibit a unique surfactant property, and are not foaming agents with water. Hydrolysates according to the present invention may be used to enhance the performance of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: Contemplated configurations and methods are presented for effectively controlling the temperature in an oxy-fuel combustion system. Contemplated systems preferably introduce water independent of the fuel and oxygen into the combustion chamber. Water is injected through one or more nozzles, wherein water is atomized or sprayed, creating boundary layer cool zones in a boiler system and wherein water is recovered.

Abstract: A system and method for treating flue gas that results from a combustion process is described. The method and system includes injecting an SOx absorbent reagent into the flue gas pathway at a point upstream of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) reactor exit and downstream of a boiler exit. The method and system may also include injecting a NOx reducing agent simultaneously with the SOx absorbent reagent, either via the same injection system or via a second injection system located nearby the SOx absorbent reagent injection system. Injection of the SOx at a point upstream of the SCR reactor exit simplifies the injection systems, gas distribution systems, and physical and/or computational fluid dynamics modeling.

Abstract: Cosmetic particle compositions are provided which are adapted to form hard cosmetic particles that transform to soft cosmetic particles after their incorporation into topical formulations, particularly surfactant-based topical formulations. The composition includes one or more partially or fully hydrogenated triglyceride oils, at least 50% of which have at least 15% by weight fatty acid moieties with carbon chain lengths of C18 or higher. Additives may be disposed in or on the hard cosmetic particles and delivered when the cosmetic particles are broken proximate a target such as the skin, hair or nails of a mammalian subject or another target. The transformable hard cosmetic particles permit the storage and shipment of intact cosmetic particles yet transform in situ to achieve the benefits of soft cosmetic particles.

Abstract: A lean solvent is produced from a CO2 rich solvent using heat exchange with a conditioned stream in a reboiler. A power generator generates a low pressure steam from high pressure steam. A portion of the low pressure steam is sent to a fluid conditioning unit, which conditions the low pressure steam to a temperature and pressure required to allow for the production of lean solvent from a rich solvent in a reboiler.

Abstract: Materials with high levels of unsaponifiable matter, such as extracts from plants, produce hydrolysates with unique properties. The application of a hydrolysis process to materials, particularly materials with a high level of unsaponifiables (e.g., at least 6 weight percent of the material), produces a product with properties significantly different from those products resulting from the conventional saponification of materials with less than 6 weight percent of unsaponifiables. The hydrolysates of the present invention are substantive, resisting both physical and aqueous-based removal from skin and hair, exhibit a unique surfactant property, and are not foaming agents with water. Hydrolysates according to the present invention may be used to enhance the performance of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: Power is selectively transferred from a primary actuator to one of a plurality of output shafts with a transmission including a plurality of output members coupled to an input member, the input member being coupled to the primary actuator. A first active material actuator includes a mechanical coupling feature coupling one of the plurality of output shafts to one of the plurality of output members when the active material actuator is activated.

Abstract: Cosmetic particle compositions are provided which are adapted to form hard cosmetic particles that transform to soft cosmetic particles after their incorporation into topical formulations, particularly surfactant-based topical formulations. The composition includes one or more partially or fully hydrogenated triglyceride oils, at least 50% of which have at least 15% by weight fatty acid moieties with carbon chain lengths of C18 or higher. Additives may be disposed in or on the hard cosmetic particles and delivered when the cosmetic particles are broken proximate a target such as the skin, hair or nails of a mammalian subject or another target. The transformable hard cosmetic particles permit the storage and shipment of intact cosmetic particles yet transform in situ to achieve the benefits of soft cosmetic particles.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for reducing the start-up time of flue gas conditioning processes. Such processes can include a gas removal unit configured to selectively remove a reactive gas from a flue gas stream using a catalyst and reagent to produce a scrubbed stream that is substantially depleted of the reactive gas. A heating device can advantageously be used upstream of the gas removal unit to thereby preheat the catalyst to an operational temperature and thereby reduce the start-up time of the process.