Abstract: Described herein are methods and system that use electromagnetic heating to heat wellbores and the fluids therein. The heating is achieved by placing one or more permanent magnets in the wellbore and moving a metallic component and/or the one or more permanent magnets relative to each other. This generates eddy currents in the metallic component, which heat the metallic component. This heat is transferred to the fluids in the wellbore from the metallic component by convection. In some embodiments, permanent magnets are installed in the tubing to induce eddy current heating in a well by converting the linear motion of a sucker rod to rotary motion of a conducting tube using a lead or ball screw. The heater may directly integrate with existing pump jack equipment with little or no additional infrastructure required.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and system that use electromagnetic heating to heat wellbores and the fluids therein. The heating is achieved by placing one or more permanent magnets in the wellbore and moving a metallic component and/or the one or more permanent magnets relative to each other. This generates eddy currents in the metallic component, which heat the metallic component. This heat is transferred to the fluids in the wellbore from the metallic component by convection. In some embodiments, permanent magnets are installed in the tubing to induce eddy current heating in a well by converting the linear motion of a sucker rod to rotary motion of a conducting tube using a lead or ball screw. The heater may directly integrate with existing pump jack equipment with little or no additional infrastructure required.

Abstract: Rotors with trapped-field magnet (TFM) bulks, machines with TFM rotors, and methods of activating and/or using machines with TFM rotors.

Abstract: The development and application of a novel non-polar oil recovery process utilizing a non-dispersive solvent extraction method to coalesce and recover oil from a bio-cellular aqueous slurry is described herein. The process could apply to recovery of algal oil from a lysed or non-lysed algae slurry, recovery of Omega fatty acids from a bio-cellular aqueous feed, recovery of Beta-carotene from a bio-cellular aqueous feed and for the removal from produced water in oil production and similar type applications. The technique of the present invention utilizes a microporous hollow fiber (MHF) membrane contactor. The non-polar oil recovery process described herein can be coupled to a collecting fluid (a non-polar solvent such as heptane, a biodiesel mixture or the previously extracted oil) that is circulated through the hollow fiber membrane. In cases where the biodiesel mixture or the previously extracted oil is used the solvent recovery step (e.g. distillation) can be eliminated.

Abstract: A device, system and method for treating biological cells includes a voltage source, a half-controlled bridge connected to the voltage source, and a load connected across the half-controlled bridge. The half-controlled bridge includes a first switch, a second switch, a first diode and a second diode. The load includes an inductor connected in parallel with a cell or chamber. A controller is connected to the first and second switches and operates the first switch and the second switch to selectively generate one or more bipolar pulses, wherein each bipolar pulse comprises a positive polarity voltage pulse and a negative polarity voltage pulse with a negligible delay between the positive polarity voltage pulse and the negative polarity voltage pulse.

Abstract: The development and application of a novel non-polar oil recovery process utilizing a non-dispersive solvent extraction method to coalesce and recover oil from a bio-cellular aqueous slurry is described herein. The process could apply to recovery of algal oil from a lysed or non-lysed algae slurry, recovery of Omega fatty acids from a bio-cellular aqueous feed, recovery of Beta-carotene from a bio-cellular aqueous feed and for the removal from produced water in oil production and similar type applications. The technique of the present invention utilizes a microporous hollow fiber (MHF) membrane contactor. The non-polar oil recovery process described herein can be coupled to a collecting fluid (a non-polar solvent such as heptane, a biodiesel mixture or the previously extracted oil) that is circulated through the hollow fiber membrane. In cases where the biodiesel mixture or the previously extracted oil is used the solvent recovery step (e.g. distillation) can be eliminated.

Abstract: Methods and electroporation devices for electrical treatment of algal cell cultures for release of lipids and proteins are described herein. The method of the present invention exploits the differences in electrical time constants for the media inside the cell and outside the cell to produce a net force to cause cellular lysis and extract cellular components. The method of the present invention can be used in the treatment of flocculated as well as unflocculated algal cell cultures. The device of the present invention provides efficient cell lysing in a low-energy cost set-up.

Abstract: Rotors with trapped-field magnet (TFM) bulks, machines with TFM rotors, and methods of activating and/or using machines with TFM rotors.

Abstract: A high-voltage bipolar rectangular pulse generator using a high efficiency solid-state boosting front-end and an H-bridge output stage is described. The topology of the circuit generates rectangular pulses with fast rise time and allows easy step-up input voltage. In addition, the circuit is able to adjust positive or negative pulse width, dead-time between two pulses, and operating frequency. The intended application for such circuit is algae cell membrane rupture for oil extraction, although additional applications include biotechnology and plasma sciences medicine, and food industry.

Abstract: A brushless exciter apparatus including a rotatable rectifier hub assembly and associated methods are provided. The brushless exciter apparatus includes an exciter rotor assembly including a rotor core, a rotatable shaft carrying the rotor core, and an exciter armature having end turns extending beyond either side of an axial extent of the rotor core. The brushless exciter apparatus also includes a rotatable rectifier hub assembly including a rotatable rectifier hub carrying one or more diode assemblies positioned along an axial extent of the rotatable rotor shaft adjacent a rotor core, at least partially radially between an extent of the exciter armature and the outer surface of the shaft.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for a high speed electric machine and associated methods are provided. The rotor assembly includes a shaft, a plurality of laminations positioned along an axial extent of the shaft forming a lamination stack, a pair of end plates each positioned on one of the respective ends of the lamination stack, and an internal clamping tube substantially surrounding major portions of the axial extent of the shaft, positioned between the shaft and inner portions of the lamination stack, and contacting the pair of endplates to provide clamping of the lamination stack.