Abstract: Design of a rapidly rechargeable gas battery is disclosed. In one embodiment, a rapidly rechargeable gas battery is constructed of a plurality of high surface area, gas adsorbing electrodes and an electrolyte, wherein, during charging operation, gases are formed and adsorbed at the plurality of electrodes such that they generate an electrochemical potential for discharge of the cell formed by electrodes and electrolyte until the state-of-charge has become negligible (deep discharge). The rapidly rechargeable gas battery is designed such that it can withstand high charging current and a deep discharge without irreversible changes in the electrode materials.

Abstract: Design of a rapidly rechargeable gas battery is disclosed. In one embodiment, a rapidly rechargeable gas battery is constructed of a plurality of high surface area, gas adsorbing electrodes and an electrolyte, wherein, during charging operation, gases are formed and adsorbed at the plurality of electrodes such that they generate an electrochemical potential for discharge of the cell formed by electrodes and electrolyte until the state-of-charge has become negligible (deep discharge). The rapidly rechargeable gas battery is designed such that it can withstand high charging current and a deep discharge without irreversible changes in the electrode materials.

Abstract: Design of a rapidly rechargeable gas battery is disclosed. In one embodiment, a rapidly rechargeable gas battery is constructed of a plurality of high surface area, gas adsorbing electrodes and an electrolyte, wherein, during charging operation, gases are formed and adsorbed at the plurality of electrodes such that they generate an electrochemical potential for discharge of the cell formed by electrodes and electrolyte until the state-of-charge has become negligible (deep discharge). The rapidly rechargeable gas battery is designed such that it can withstand high charging current and a deep discharge without irreversible changes in the electrode materials.

Abstract: Design of a rapidly rechargeable gas battery is disclosed. In one embodiment, a rapidly rechargeable gas battery is constructed of a plurality of high surface area, gas adsorbing electrodes and an electrolyte, wherein, during charging operation, gases are formed and adsorbed at the plurality of electrodes such that they generate an electrochemical potential for discharge of the cell formed by electrodes and electrolyte until the state-of-charge has become negligible (deep discharge). The rapidly rechargeable gas battery is designed such that it can withstand high charging current and a deep discharge without irreversible changes in the electrode materials.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack system having multiple sub-stacks that are replaceable online is disclosed. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the fuel cell stack system includes multiple fuel cell sub-stacks electrically coupled to one another, the multiple fuel cell sub-stacks include multiple fuel cells electrically coupled to one another enclosed in a sub-stack vessel. Each of the multiple fuel cells can include a composite cathode element and an anode chamber coupled to the composite cathode element. In one embodiment, each of the multiple fuel cell sub-stacks is replaceable online.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack system having multiple sub-stacks that are replaceable online is disclosed. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the fuel cell stack system includes multiple fuel cell sub-stacks electrically coupled to one another, the multiple fuel cell sub-stacks include multiple fuel cells electrically coupled to one another enclosed in a sub-stack vessel. Each of the multiple fuel cells can include a composite cathode element and an anode chamber coupled to the composite cathode element. In one embodiment, each of the multiple fuel cell sub-stacks is replaceable online.

Abstract: Fuel cells having cathode elements that are oriented such that dispersion of injected fuel through the fuel cell is caused at least in part by buoyancy force are disclosed. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the fuel cell includes a composite cathode element that is oriented such that dispersion of injected fuel through the fuel cell is caused at least in part by buoyancy force. For example, the composite cathode element and may be vertically oriented such that it is substantially parallel to the line of buoyancy. The composite cathode element further comprises, a porous matrix holding electrolyte, a cathode, and/or a cathode current collector. One embodiment of the fuel cell further includes, an anode chamber coupled to the composite cathode element. During operation, fuel injected into the fuel cell is oxidized in the anode chamber by oxidizer ions generated at the composite cathode element and transported to the anode chamber via the electrolyte in the porous matrix.

Abstract: Reaction mechanisms in a fuel cell device are disclosed. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the fuel cell includes a composite cathode element that is vertically oriented. The composite cathode element further comprises a porous matrix holding electrolyte, a cathode, and/or a cathode current collector. One embodiment of the fuel cell further includes, an anode chamber coupled to the composite cathode element, the anode chamber being vertically oriented. During operation, fuel injected into the fuel cell is oxidized in the anode chamber by oxidizer ions are generated from oxidizer gas. The oxidizer gas can include a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide or just oxygen.

Abstract: An economical, efficient process is provided employing coal, particularly subbituminous coal, as a fuel source for the production of distillate fuels, methanol, and methane. A hydroliquefier is operated under severe conditions to provide a high net yield of light distillates which are separated by distillation. The vacuum residue, which is produced above, is transferred as a slurry to a partial oxidation gasifier where synthesis gas is produced as feedstock for methanol or methane synthesis. Gaseous hydrocarbon contaminants are separated and used to generate additional synthesis gas, or to supply other fuel requirements. No net heavy distillates are taken as a product, being used as a fuel or converted to other products.

Abstract: A pressure let-down valve assembly for handling pressurized liquids which contain abrasive solids including a valve adapted for handling such liquids and a flow reversal means for changing the direction of the flowing liquid. The flow reversal means contains a chamber having an outlet located at a point which permits a sufficient amount of liquid to accumulate therein to absorb at least a portion of the energy of the flowing solids in the liquid.

Abstract: An improved reactor and method for use in solvent refining of coal, wherein the reactor is divided into a number of compartments and has an inlet port at the bottom thereof for receiving a mixture of a solvent, coal, recycle gas and hydrogen. The compartments in the reactor are defined by a plurality of vertically spaced, perforated plates, each plate having bubble caps in the perforations thereof to permit an upflow of the feed mixture in which reactions occur as the mixture passes sequentially through the various compartments and to form vapor zones below the plates. In one embodiment, a coolant from an external source is directed into the regions below at least certain of the plates to control the reaction temperature in the zone above the plates by cooling the feed to the next sequential zone. In another embodiment, a portion of the gas below each plate is removed from the housing, cooled and then returned to the compartment above the plate to cool the reaction therein.

Abstract: Sulfur compounds contained in fuel gases produced from the gasification of coal or petroleum residua area removed at about 1600.degree. F temperature by contacting the gas with an absorbent material comprising a strong, macroporous particulate solid support containing molten metal carbonate, such as potassium carbonate, within its pores. Following such contacting and reaction of the sulfur compounds in the hot gas with the supported metal carbonate absorbent, it is regenerated by being contacted at high temperatures with steam and CO.sub.2 to remove the sulfur, which is recovered as H.sub.2 S. The metal carbonate absorbent material is reused by again contacting it with the hot fuel gas for sulfur removal, after which the sulfur-free fuel gas is burned in a combustion process such as a gas turbine to produce power.

Abstract: Coal is hydrogenated in an upflow, random motion, gas-liquid-catalyst process in which the heavy liquids (800.degree. F to 1000.degree. F) are recycled to the reactor to optimize production of preferred 400.degree.-800.degree. F boiling range end product liquids.The optimization is accomplished by not recycling to the reactor any liquid fraction boiling between about 600.degree. and 800.degree. F.

Abstract: The nondistillable residue from solvent refined coal, after extraction and distillation, is sprayed into a boiling pool of a non-solvent hydrocarbon liquid, whose boiling point is at least 50.degree. F. below the melting point of the residue. The solidified product may then be separated by mechanical means and further cooled by countercurrently contacting with a pre-cooled non-solvent hydrocarbon liquid which is employed to remove the sensible heat of the solvent refined coal liquid. The product is thus further cooled from the boiling liquid bath temperature. The resulting product is found to be hard, non-porous, non-tacky and resistant to disintegration and powder formation.

Abstract: Sulfur compounds contained in fuel gases produced from the gasification of coal or petroleum residua are removed at above about 1600.degree.F temperature by contacting the gas with an absorbent material comprising a strong, macroporous particulate solid support containing molten metal carbonate, such as potassium carbonate, within its pores. Following such contacting and reaction of the sulfur compounds in the hot gas with the supported metal carbonate absorbent, it is regenerated by being contacted at high temperatures with steam and CO.sub.2 to remove the sulfur, which is recovered as H.sub.2 S. The metal carbonate absorbent material is reused by again contacting it with the hot fuel gas for sulfur removal, after which the sulfur-free fuel gas is burned in a combustion process such as a gas turbine to produce power.

Abstract: Waste lube oil is refined by treating it with hydrogen in an ebullated bed of catalyst particles and subjecting the liquid effluent to vacuum distillation or other equivalent separation procedures to produce a clean and usable lubestock and a heavy residue which contains the sludge and metallic ingredients in the waste lube oil. This process finds its greatest utility in recovering usable lubricant from a waste product.

Abstract: In producing low sulfur fuel oil by the ebullated bed hydroconversion of petroleum residue, the resulting heavy vacuum bottoms sulfur-containing residue material is utilized to produce hydrogen. The residue material from the hydroconversion operation is gasified to provide a fuel gas, which is then used to fire a steam-methane reformer. The chemical requirements for hydrogen production are met by feeding a portion of light gaseous products from the hydroconversion step to the catalytic side of the steam-methane reformer. A low sulfur fuel oil distillate product is recovered from the reactor effluent streams and can be further hydrotreated as desired. Thus, all hydrogen required in the H-Oil reactor for hydroconversion and desulfurization is ultimately produced from the residual oil feed material, by using the heavy product residue material to produce a fuel gas and converting the light hydrocarbons to hydrogen.

Abstract: A two-stage hydrodesulfurization process for a 65 to 80 percent desulfurization of a high metal content residuum, such as those obtained from Venezuela, in which the contact solids activity in both stages is maintained at an equilibrium level by constant replacement of the contact solids in both stages. The first stage contains a porous alumina solids contact material activated with at least one promoter oxide selected from Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, TiO.sub.2 and SiO.sub.2, which has as its primary purpose the removal of vanadium and nickel from the feed material. However, the treatment of the feed in the first stage was found to improve the second stage performance by a factor greater than the amount of metals removed. The second stage contains a highly active desulfurization catalyst of limited porosity.

Abstract: The maximum conversion and desulfurization of residual petroleum oils having a high content of asphaltenes can be attained by first converting a maximum amount of the asphaltenes contained in these feeds by pretreating the feeds with hydrogen under a selected combination of operating conditions. Conditions of temperature between 700.degree. and 800.degree.F, liquid space velocity between 0.1 and 2.0 V.sub.f /hr/V.sub.r and hydrogen partial pressure between 1200 and 3000 psig, result in a maximum conversion of asphaltenes when 5 to 45 volume percent of the 975.degree.F+ fraction in the feedstock is converted to lower boiling fractions.