Abstract: A membrane composition comprising an inorganic substrate which has a coating of an associating polymer. The membrane composition includes an inorganic substrate selected from the group consisting of a porous silica hollow tube, an alumina hollow tube and a ceramic monolith.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymeric membrane composition utilizing the non-hazardous compound 4-aminophenyl disulfide (“APD”), a method of making the polymeric membrane, and a process for separating components of a feedstream utilizing the polymeric membrane. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this invention relates to utilizing the polymeric membrane composition in a process for the separation of aromatics from a hydrocarbon feedstream containing aromatics and aliphatic compounds.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymeric membrane composition comprising an associating polymer. The polymer coating is characterized as having hard and soft segments where the hard segment comprises TMPA, combined with HDPA. The membrane may utilize a porous substrate.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for the separation of aromatics from a feed stream, including aromatics and non-aromatics by selectively permeating the aromatics through a membrane comprising feeding a mixed phase vapor-liquid feed to a membrane wherein said liquid phase preferentially wets the surface of the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention is a heat pipe having a specified volume of working fluid determined in relation to the interior volume of the heat pipe and a target temperature TT, to provide self-temperature regulation and pressure management. The heat pipe comprises at least a evaporator region and a condenser region having a known interior volume V and a mass of working fluid given by the relationship Mwf=Dwf at TT×V plus an amount of additional working fluid sufficient to have the rate of evaporation about equal to the rate of condensation for the particular heat pipe configuration.

Abstract: A service station is provided with a plurality of vehicle servicing islands including liquid fuel blending pumps for dispensing and blending fuel components from underground tanks for refueling standard gasoline engine driven vehicles, standard diesel engine vehicles, vehicles with engines requiring dual fuels, vehicles with HCCI engines requiring low octane gasoline blended with standard diesel fuel, and fuel cell powered vehicles having onboard reformers. Other service islands include pumps for dispensing compressed hydrogen to fuel cell powered vehicles that do not include onboard reformers. In addition, service islands are provided for recharging the batteries of pure electric powered vehicles.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and formula for producing a fuel having reduced particulate emissions from an internal combustion engine. The fuel taught herein is characterized as having a cetane number ranging from about 45 to about 65, a T95 distillation property of less than about 370° C., and having NR, AR, cetane number and T95 defined by the relation: PEI=156+Z1×(cetane#?49)+Z2×(NR?14)+Z3×(AR?25)+Z4×(T95?315° C.) Where Z1 ranges from abut 0.67 to about 1.06, Z2 ranges from about 0.9 to about 1.28, Z3 ranges from about 2.54 to about 2.80, Z4 ranges from about 0.1 to about 0.4, NR is a defined correlation of the naphthene rings content in the fuel, and AR is a defined correlation of the aromatic rings content in the fuel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved exhaust gas cleaning system and method for a combustion source comprising a hydrogen generation system, a sulfur oxides trap, and a nitrogen storage reduction (NSR) catalyst trap. The improved exhaust gas cleaning system and method of the present invention also provides for a water-gas-shift catalyst between the sulfur oxides trap and the NSR catalyst trap, and a clean-up catalyst downstream of the NSR catalyst trap. The invention provides also a sulfur trap regenerable at moderate temperatures with rich pulses, rather than at high temperatures. The improved exhaust gas cleaning system of the present invention provides for the sulfur released from the sulfur trap to pass through the nitrogen oxide trap with no or little poisoning of NOx storage and reduction sites, which significantly improves NSR catalyst trap lifetime and performance to meet future emissions standards.

Abstract: A fuel system for on-board vehicle fuel separation to supply engine fuel compositions formulated as a function of driving cycle conditions. The invention results in improvements in one or more of feed efficiency and combustion emissions.

Abstract: Tuning fuel composition delivered to a spark ignition, internal combustion engine as a function of driving cycle conditions results in improvements in one or more of fuel efficiency and combustion emissions.

Abstract: Tuning fuel composition delivered to a spark ignition, internal combustion engine as a function of driving cycle conditions results in improvements in one or more of fuel efficiency and combustion emissions.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine fuel system having a membrane separator for separating a primary fuel into a high octane fuel and a low octane fuel, and wherein the primary fuel is heated for separation in the membrane separator, the improvement comprising a heat pipe having an evaporator section positioned to be in the heat exchange relationship with exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine under conditions of use; and a heat output area in heat exchange relationship with a primary fuel as it is fed into the separator whereby the primary fuel is heated. In one embodiment the heat pipe is a variable conductance heat pipe having a top operating temperature not greater than about 160° C.

Abstract: An onboard fuel separation apparatus separates a material fuel (gasoline) into a high-octane fuel having a higher octane value than the material fuel and a low-octane fuel having a lower octane value than the material fuel using a separation membrane which selectively allows high-octane value components (such as aromatic components) permeate through the membrane. The apparatus increases the ratio of the amount of the high-octane value components permeating through the membrane to the amount of the high-octane value components contained in the material fuel by, (A) Controlling the temperature of the material fuel supplied to the membrane (B) Increasing partial pressure of the low-octane value components on the high-octane fuel side of the membrane and removing volatiles from the permeate, and (C) Bypassing volatiles in the material feed around the membrane.

Abstract: A fuel system for on-board vehicle fuel separation to supply engine fuel compositions formulated as a function of driving cycle conditions. The invention results in improvements in one or more of feed efficiency and combustion emissions.

Abstract: A method for recovering acid from a feed mixture comprising acid, hydrocarbons and water, the method comprising:

Abstract: An onboard fuel separation apparatus separates a material fuel (gasoline) into a high-octane fuel having a higher octane value than the material fuel and a low-octane fuel having a lower octane value than the material fuel using a separation membrane which selectively allows high-octane value components (such as aromatic components) permeate through the membrane. The apparatus increases the ratio of the amount of the high-octane value components permeating through the membrane to the amount of the high-octane value components contained in the material fuel by, (A) Controlling the temperature of the material fuel supplied to the membrane (B) Increasing partial pressure of the low-octane value components on the high-octane fuel side of the membrane and removing volatiles from the permeate, and (C) Bypassing volatiles in the material feed around the membrane.

Abstract: A gasoline in a material fuel tank is separated into a high-RON fuel having a higher octane value than the material fuel and a low-RON fuel having a lower octane value than the material fuel, by a separator device equipped with a separation membrane. Using a fuel switching mechanism, one or both of the high-RON fuel and the low-RON fuel are supplied to the engine in accordance with the state of operation of the engine. As the octane value of a fuel can be changed in accordance with the engine operation state, the state of combustion in the engine improves, so that both an increase in engine output and an improvement in an exhaust property can be achieved.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and formula for producing a fuel having reduced particulate emissions from an internal combustion engine. The fuel taught herein is characterized as having a cetane number ranging from about 45 to about 65, a T95 distillation property of less than about 370° C.

Abstract: A fuel system for on-board vehicle fuel separation to supply engine fuel compositions formulated as a function of driving cycle conditions. The invention results in improvements in one or more of feed efficiency and combustion emissions.

Abstract: Tuning fuel composition delivered to a spark ignition, internal combustion engine as a function of driving cycle conditions results in improvements in one or more of fuel efficiency and combustion emissions.