Abstract: In a process and apparatus for treating produced water, the produced water flows through a series of treatment units. A portion of the produced water may by-pass one or more of the treatment units but the by-pass portion may be such that the treated water is still acceptable, for example for discharge or reuse. Concentrations of oil and grease, organic carbon, silica, pH or related parameters in the produced water may be monitored and used to control the process or apparatus. Control of the process may involve one or more of altering a by-pass portion, altering the addition of chemicals, and altering the operation of a unit process. The process may be controlled to respond to upset conditions, or such that the concentration of one or more limiting contaminants is near, but not over, a specified maximum for re-use or discharge.

Abstract: The present inventive subject matter is directed to repair compositions for thermal barrier coatings and methods of use thereof. The repair compositions include a ceramic composition, a colloidal solution, an aqueous binder, an aqueous dispersant, and an aqueous ammonia solution. The ceramic composition includes a first population of yttria-stabilized zirconia particles having a mean diameter from about 250 nm to about 1000 nm, a second population of yttria-stabilized zirconia particles having a mean diameter from about 2 ?m to about 10 ?m, and a third population of yttria-stabilized zirconia particles having a mean diameter from about 20 ?m to about 250 ?m. One method includes depositing the repair layer onto the damaged region, the repair layer including the repair composition, and heat treating the repair layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to repair compositions for thermal barrier coatings and methods of use thereof. The repair compositions include a ceramic composition, a colloidal solution, an aqueous binder, an aqueous dispersant, and an aqueous ammonia solution. The ceramic composition includes a first population of yttria-stabilized zirconia particles having a mean diameter from about 250 nm to about 1000 nm, a second population of yttria-stabilized zirconia particles having a mean diameter from about 2 ?m to about 10 ?m, and a third population of yttria-stabilized zirconia particles having a mean diameter from about 20 ?m to about 250 ?m. One method includes depositing the repair layer onto the damaged region, the repair layer including the repair composition, and heat treating the repair layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an additive manufacturing process in which a radiant energy source is used to selectively cure a layer of resin to form a workpiece. The method includes: curing a first portion of the layer using a first application of radiant energy at a first energy level; and curing a second portion of the layer using a second application of radiant energy at a second energy level different from the first energy level.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to repair compositions for thermal barrier coatings and methods of use thereof. The repair compositions include a ceramic composition, a colloidal solution, an aqueous binder, an aqueous dispersant, and an aqueous ammonia solution. The ceramic composition includes a first population of yttria-stabilized zirconia particles having a mean diameter from about 250 nm to about 1000 nm, a second population of yttria-stabilized zirconia particles having a mean diameter from about 2 ?m to about 10 ?m, and a third population of yttria-stabilized zirconia particles having a mean diameter from about 20 ?m to about 250 ?m. One method includes depositing the repair layer onto the damaged region, the repair layer including the repair composition, and heat treating the repair layer.

Abstract: There is set forth herein a silicon-based patch formulation comprising about 25 to 66 percent by volume of a solvent; about 4 to 10 percent by volume of a silicon-comprising binding material; and about 30 to 65 percent by volume of a patching material, the patching material comprising particles having one or more non-actinide Group IIIA elements, wherein a molar ratio of the one or more non-actinide Group IIIA elements to silicon within the patch formulation is about 0.95 to 1.25.

Abstract: Processes for fabricating ceramic membranes include providing a porous substrate having at least one inner channel extending therethrough and having surfaces defined by porous walls, depositing a coating slurry on surfaces of the inner channel(s), and sintering. Sintering temperatures for the processes range from about 400° C. to 800° C. Coating slurries for use in the processes include a boehmite sol and a colloidal suspension of porous alumina particles.

Abstract: There is set forth herein a silicon-based patch formulation comprising about 25 to 66 percent by volume of a solvent; about 4 to 10 percent by volume of a silicon-comprising binding material; and about 30 to 65 percent by volume of a patching material, the patching material comprising particles having one or more non-actinide Group IIIA elements, wherein a molar ratio of the one or more non-actinide Group IIIA elements to silicon within the patch formulation is about 0.95 to 1.25.

Abstract: A method of coating a surface, preparing a doped metal-ion precursor solution for coating, and an article including a component coated by the described method are disclosed. The method of coating includes applying a fluoro-silane doped metal-ion precursor solution on the surface to form a coated surface. The metal-ion precursor solution includes greater than about 0.6 molar percent concentration of a metal-ion precursor in a solvent comprising an alcohol. The method of preparing the doped metal-ion precursor solution includes dissolving a metal-ion precursor in a solvent comprising an alcohol at a temperature greater than about 100° C. and refluxing at a temperature greater than about 150° C. such that the concentration of metal-ion precursor in the solution is greater than 0.6 molar percent of the solution, and adding a fluoro-silane to the metal-ion precursor solution.

Abstract: Scintillator arrays and methods of making scintillator arrays are provided. One scintillator array includes a scintillator substrate having a plurality of scintillators spaced apart by gaps within the scintillator substrate and a smoothing layer overlaying a surface of the scintillator substrate within the gaps. The smoothing layer includes an organically modified silicate. The scintillator array also includes an optical reflector layer overlaying a surface of the smoothing layer within the gaps.

Abstract: A method of coating a surface is provided. The method comprises feeding a feedstock to a thermal spray torch, the feedstock comprising a liquid, disposing the feedstock on a substrate by thermal spray under conditions selected to produce a textured surface comprising a hierarchical structure, wherein the hierarchical structure comprises agglomerations of at least partially melted and solidified particles derived from the feedstock with individual at least partially melted and solidified particles derived from the feedstock disposed on a surface of the agglomerations; and applying a surface energy modification material over the textured surface. An article comprising a component having a coated surface is also provided.

Abstract: Scintillator arrays and methods of making scintillator arrays are provided. One scintillator array includes a scintillator substrate having a plurality of scintillators spaced apart by gaps within the scintillator substrate and a smoothing layer overlaying a surface of the scintillator substrate within the gaps. The smoothing layer includes an organically modified silicate. The scintillator array also includes an optical reflector layer overlaying a surface of the smoothing layer within the gaps.

Abstract: A hybrid multichannel porous structure for processing between two fluid streams of different compositions includes a housing and one or more structures disposed within the cavity of the housing in a shell and tube configuration. Each structure includes a body made of a porous, inorganic material and a plurality of channels for processing an optional sweep stream. Each channel is coated with a membrane layer. A feed stream introduced into the housing is in direct contact with the structures such that a gas selectively permeates through the body and into the channels. The gas combines with the sweep stream to form a permeate that exits from each channel. The remaining feed stream forms a retentate that exits from the housing. The feed stream may consist of syngas containing hydrogen gas and the sweep stream may contain nitrogen gas. A power plant that incorporates the hybrid structure is disclosed.

Abstract: A free-standing zeolite membrane and a zeolite membrane supported on a support structure are disclosed. The free-standing zeolite membrane is fabricated by mixing zeolite particles and an optional inorganic binder, forming a green body, and sintering the green body at a sufficiently low temperature so as to prevent damage to the gas selectivity properties of the zeolite particles. The supported composite zeolite membrane is fabricated by mixing a sacrificial binder, an optional inorganic binder, boehmite sol and zeolite particles to form a slurry. The slurry is then coated onto a porous support structure, dried and sintered at a sufficiently low temperature so as to prevent damage to the gas selective properties of the zeolite particles. In both membranes, the zeolite particles span the entire thickness of the membrane to provide a high selectivity path for the flow of gas to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A hybrid multichannel porous structure for processing between two fluid streams of different compositions includes a housing and one or more structures disposed within the cavity of the housing in a shell and tube configuration. Each structure includes a body made of a porous, inorganic material and a plurality of channels for processing an optional sweep stream. Each channel is coated with a membrane layer. A feed stream introduced into the housing is in direct contact with the structures such that a gas selectively permeates through the body and into the channels. The gas combines with the sweep stream to form a permeate that exits from each channel. The remaining feed stream forms a retentate that exits from the housing. The feed stream may consist of syngas containing hydrogen gas and the sweep stream may contain nitrogen gas. A power plant that incorporates the hybrid structure is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of coating a surface, preparing a doped metal-ion precursor solution for coating, and an article including a component coated by the described method are disclosed. The method of coating includes applying a fluoro-silane doped metal-ion precursor solution on the surface to form a coated surface. The metal-ion precursor solution includes greater than about 0.6 molar percent concentration of a metal-ion precursor in a solvent comprising an alcohol. The method of preparing the doped metal-ion precursor solution includes dissolving a metal-ion precursor in a solvent comprising an alcohol at a temperature greater than about 100° C. and refluxing at a temperature greater than about 150° C. such that the concentration of metal-ion precursor in the solution is greater than 0.6 molar percent of the solution, and adding a fluoro-silane to the metal-ion precursor solution.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for treating produced water, for example for re-use in an oil or bitumen extraction operation of for treating frac water, the produced water flows through a series of treatment units. A portion of the produced water may by-pass one or more of the treatment units but the by-pass portion may be such that the treated water is still acceptable, for example for discharge or reuse. Concentrations of oil and grease, organic carbon, silica, pH or related parameters in the produced water may be monitored and used to control the process or apparatus. Control of the process may involve one or more of altering a by-pass portion, altering the addition of chemicals, and altering the operation of a unit process. The process may be controlled to respond to upset conditions, or such that the concentration of one or more limiting contaminants is near, but not over, a specified maximum for re-use or discharge.

Abstract: A scintillator array and method for making the same are provided. The array comprises a bi-layer reflector further comprising a conformal smoothing layer and a mirror layer. The bi-layer reflector does not comprise an intervening reducing agent or adhesion layer and/or comprises aluminum. Further, the mirror layer may be deposited via gas phase metallization, allowing application to tightly confined spaces. A detector array comprising the scintillator array is also provided.

Abstract: Processes for fabricating ceramic membranes include providing a porous substrate having at least one inner channel extending therethrough and having surfaces defined by porous walls, depositing a coating slurry on surfaces of the inner channel(s), and sintering. Sintering temperatures for the processes range from about 400° C. to 800° C. Coating slurries for use in the processes include a boehmite sol and a colloidal suspension of porous alumina particles.

Abstract: A free-standing zeolite membrane and a zeolite membrane supported on a support structure are disclosed. The free-standing zeolite membrane is fabricated by mixing zeolite particles and an optional inorganic binder, forming a green body, and sintering the green body at a sufficiently low temperature so as to prevent damage to the gas selectivity properties of the zeolite particles. The supported composite zeolite membrane is fabricated by mixing a sacrificial binder, an optional inorganic binder, boehmite sol and zeolite particles to form a slurry. The slurry is then coated onto a porous support structure, dried and sintered at a sufficiently low temperature so as to prevent damage to the gas selective properties of the zeolite particles. In both membranes, the zeolite particles span the entire thickness of the membrane to provide a high selectivity path for the flow of gas to pass therethrough.