Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus to improve the utilization of flow and power characteristics of a combustion air fan over the full range of burner operation. More specifically, it is an apparatus and a method of operation that uses a high flue-gas-to-air ratio over most of the boiler operating range to maximize thermal efficiency, but which switches to a lower ratio of flue-gas-to-air, or no flue gas in the limiting case, at the high end of the mass flow range of the burner to minimize the size of the fan housing and fan motor. When applied to current generation ULNBs, fan size can be reduced about 50% and operating power consumption can be reduced by about 50% without adversely affecting NOx emissions.

Abstract: A prepolymer composition for producing polyurethane insulating foams with fire-retardant properties from pressure tanks which consists of a prepolymer component with at least one PU prepolymer with a content of NCO groups of 4 to 20 wt % and usual additives, as well as a propellant component, wherein the prepolymer component is substantially halogenfree and has 5 to 40 wt %, based on the prepolymer component, of softening phosphates and/or phosphonates with the formulae O═P(OR3 and O═P(OR)2R.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an vitro device for the removal of ionized substances from a membrane sample without mechanical penetration, which device comprises: (a) a positive electrode; (b) a negative electrode, and (c) electrical insulation between subpart (a) and (b), wherein the positive electrode, and the negative electrode, and electrical insulation are positioned on the same side of the membrane sample. The present invention also relates to a device for the removal of or delivery of ionized substances to a mammal through intact skin or mucosal membrane without mechanical penetration, which device comprises: (a) a positive electrode, (b) a negative electrode, and (c) an electrically insulating material between subpart (a) and (b), wherein the positive electrode, negative electrode and insulating material are physically positioned so that each present a common surface of the device for contact with the same surface of the skin or mucosal membrane of the mammal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for controlled release of a fumigant into a wooden structure to prevent decay of that structure. According to the present invention, a fumigant in an ampule or container is inserted into the wooden structure. The ampule or container is made of a polymeric material that does not react with the fumigant, but having walls which are permeable to the fumigant such that, when inserted into the wooden structure, the rate of release of the fumigant through the walls of the ampule is slow enough to continuously treat and arrest decay of the wooden structure, particularly decay caused by fungi, over extended periods of time (i.e., 1, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 or 30 years). The rate of release of the fumigant can be controlled by the type of fumigant, the shape of the container, the specific polymer used to make the container, and by the thickness of the container wall.

Abstract: A method is provided for performing array microcrystallizations to determine suitable crystallization conditions for a molecule, the method comprising: forming an array of microcrystallizations, each microcrystallization comprising a drop comprising a mother liquor solution whose composition varies within the array and a molecule to be crystallized, the drop having a volume of less than 1 microliter; storing the array of microcrystallizations under conditions suitable for molecule crystals to form in the drops in the array; and detecting molecule crystal formation in the drops by taking images of the drops.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an improved optical method and optical sensing device for determining the levels of polyhydroxyl-substituted organic molecules in vivo in aqueous media. Specifically, a dye is combined with a conjugated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic aromatic boronic acid-substituted bis-onium compound in the presence of a sugar, such as fructose or glucose. The viologens are preferred as the aromatic conjugated nitrogen-containing boronic acid substituted compounds. The method is useful to determine sugar levels in a human being.

Abstract: Refrigerant compositions include mixtures of at least three different components, including a fluorinated ether with at least one of a second fluorinated ether, an ether and a fluorinated hydrocarbon. Also, methods for cooling a body include compressing such a refrigerant composition and bringing the body into heat transfer relation to it. The disclosed refrigerant compounds have refrigerant-significant properties similar to those of R-22, and they can be employed in place of or as drop-in substitutes in refrigeration apparatus designed for R-22 application.

Abstract: The invention discloses novel azeotrope-like mixtures of fluorinated compounds which are useful for heating and cooling as heat transfer agents and/or refrigerants. The azeotrope-like mixture comprises: (a) pentafluoropropane; and (b) a hydrofluorocarbon of the formula: CxFyHz, wherein x is 3, 4, 5, or 6 and y and z are each independently 1 or a positive whole number such that the result of y / (y+z) is greater than 0.67.

Abstract: A prepolymer composition for producing polyurethane insulating foams from pressure tanks which consists of a prepolymer component with at least one PU prepolymer with a content of NCO groups of 4 to 20 wt % and usual additives, as well as a propellant component, wherein a polyisocyanate with a content of less than 2 wt %, based on the prepolymer component, of monomeric isocyanate is used.

Abstract: Refrigerant compositions include mixtures of at least three different components, including a fluorinated sulfur-containing compound with at least one of a fluorinated ether or a fluorinated hydrocarbon. Also, methods for cooling a body include compressing such a refrigerant composition and bringing the body into heat transfer relation to it. The disclosed refrigerant compounds have refrigerant-significant properties similar to those of R-22, and they can be employed as drop-in substitutes in refrigeration apparatus designed for R-22 application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an vitro device for the removal of ionized substances from a membrane sample without mechanical penetration, which device comprises: (a) a positive electrode; (b) a negative electrode, and (c) electrical insulation between subpart (a) and (b), wherein the positive electrode, and the negative electrode, and electrical insulation are positioned on the same side of the membrane sample. The present invention also relates to a device for the removal of or delivery of ionized substances to a mammal through intact skin or mucosal membrane without mechanical penetration, which device comprises: (a) a positive electrode, (b) a negative electrode, and (c) an electrically insulating material between subpart (a) and (b), wherein the positive electrode, negative electrode and insulating material are physically positioned so that each present a common surface of the device for contact with the same surface of the skin or mucosal membrane of the mammal.

Abstract: Azeotrope-like compositions comprising pentafluoropropane and a perfluorocarbon having 5 to 7 carbon atoms or N-methylperfluoromorpholine OR N-ethylperfluoromorpholine are stable and have utility as refrigerants for heating and cooling, blowing agents, solvents and fire extinguishing agents.

Abstract: The invention discloses novel azeotrope-like mixtures of fluorinated compounds which are useful for heating and cooling as heat transfer agents and/or refrigerants. The azeotrope-like mixture comprises: (a) pentafluoropropane; and (b) a hydrofluorocarbon of the formula: CxFyHz, wherein x is 3, 4, 5, or 6 and y and z are each independently 1 or a positive whole number such that the result of y/(y+z) is greater than 0.67.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an additive composition for a combustible fuel to utilize readily available and renewable resources and to produce improved combustion and reduced smoke and particulate production of the combusted fuel, which additive composition comprises: a. ethanol, in an anhydrous state or as a 0.5-36% aqueous solution, optionally with alcohols having between about 3 and 5 carbon atoms, and one or more of the following: b. one or more alcohols selected from the group consisting of clear, liquid saturated or unsaturated, straight- or branched-chain alcohols having from between about 6 and 12 carbon atoms, optionally with alcohols having between about 13-18 carbon atoms, orone or more alcohols selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated straight- or branched-long-chain alcohols having between about 13 and 18 carbon atoms, where the ethylene oxide add-on is less than 5 moles; c.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a high power density solid oxide fuel cell having a cathode, electrolyte and graded porous anode. The graded porosity of the anode allows easy transport of fuel gases thereby minimizing concentration polarization. Power densities of about 1.8 W/cm2 at 800° C. and about 0.8 W/cm2 at about 650° C. have been achieved with graded porous anodes as thick as 0.75 mm. These fuel cells having a graded porous anode are more durable and mechanically reliable than those found in the art.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the decomposition of material selected from the group consisting of organic compounds, inorganic compounds, or combinations thereof to compounds which are environmentally acceptable, or are amenable to further degradation by conventional disposal systems to produce environmentally acceptable products, which process comprises: (a) conveying an aqueous solution or an aqueous slurry of material into a reaction zone capable of withstanding the temperatures and pressures of decomposition of the material; (b) contacting the material in the reaction zone with aqueous sodium carbonate as a reactant in an amount effective to decompose the material under hot water or supercritical water oxidation conditions of between about 300.degree. and 600.degree. C. and a pressure of between about 20 and 400 atmospheres for between 0.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the decomposition of material selected from halogenated organic compounds, to compounds which are environmentally acceptable, or are amenable to further degradation by conventional disposal systems to produce environmentally acceptable products, which process comprises: (a) conveying an aqueous solution or an aqueous slurry of material into a reaction zone capable of withstanding the temperatures and pressures of decomposition of the material; (b)contacting the material in the reaction zone with aqueous sodium carbonate as a reactant in an amount effective to decompose the material under hydrothermal oxidation conditions of between about 300.degree. and 400.degree. C. and a pressure of between about 20 and 400 atmospheres for between 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the disposal of waste or the conversion of hydrothermally labile chemical groups and compounds to species which are environmentally acceptable, or are amendable to further degradation by conventional disposal systems to produce environmentally acceptable products, which process comprises:(a) conveying an aqueous solution or slurry of ordnance waste material into a reaction zone capable of withstanding the temperatures and pressures of hydrothermal decomposition;(b) reacting the waste material in the reaction zone with an aqueous composition comprising one or more alkali or alkaline earth metal silicates, borates, phosphates, biphosphates, or trisubstituted-phosphates, at between 200.degree. C. and 500.degree. C. and at a pressure between 10 and 400 atmospheres for between about 0.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are aqueous solutions for cleaning contact lenses comprising a water-soluble peroxide, transition metal salts, an amphoteric or anionic surfactant, and, optionally, tonicity salts.

Abstract: Contact lenses are fabricated from a copolymer of a polysiloxanylalkyl acrylic ester and an alkyl acrylic ester. The copolymer has increased oxygen permeability.