Abstract: Adaptive filters employing a normalized time domain least mean square algorithm having enhanced convergence rates by virtue of the use of an update gain greater than 2 ? max ? ? or ? ? 2 3 ? ? tr ? [ R ] .

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing radiant heat in which a mixture of fuel and primary combustion oxidant is introduced into a combustion chamber having a heat radiating wall, which mixture has less than a stoichiometric requirement for complete combustion of the fuel, and igniting the mixture, forming heated partial combustion products. At least a portion of the heat in the heated partial combustion products is transferred to the heat radiating wall. The heated partial combustion products are passed from the combustion chamber into an exhaust gas plenum disposed adjacent to the combustion chamber. A secondary combustion oxidant is introduced into the exhaust gas plenum in an amount sufficient to complete combustion of the partial combustion products, forming exhaust gases. Heat in the exhaust gases is transferred to the primary combustion oxidant disposed in a combustion oxidant plenum disposed adjacent to said exhaust gas plenum.

Abstract: A direct carbon fuel cell having an anode electrode of carbon particles pre-wetted with carbonate, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode and containing a molten carbonate. The fuel cell includes a wicking feature whereby excess carbonate produced during the operation of the fuel cell is removed. The use of carbonate pre-wetted carbon particles as the anode provides a network of empty voids, facilitating the removal of CO2 gas from the cell, thereby enhancing fuel cell performance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for humidifying air in which the first side of a permselective water transport membrane is contacted with water vapor laden flue gas from a combustion process having a first water vapor partial pressure and a first temperature and at least a portion of the water vapor is condensed, producing condensed water. The condensed water is transported through the membrane to the opposite side of the membrane, which is contacted with an air stream having a second water vapor partial pressure, which second water vapor partial pressure is less than the first water vapor partial pressure, and having a second temperature, which second temperature is less than the first temperature. Upon contact with the air stream, the condensed water evaporates into the air stream, resulting in a humidified air stream.

Abstract: A process and system for release and recovery of methane from subterranean methane hydrate deposits in which heated CO2 is used to displace methane from the methane hydrate deposits and a portion of the displaced methane is routed to a combustion device proximate the deposit for combustion in-situ, generating heated CO2 which is introduced into the deposit, displacing additional methane, a portion of which is routed to the combustion device, thereby providing a substantially self-sustaining process. Portions of the displace methane not routed to the combustion device are captured for use elsewhere.

Abstract: A system for the selective removal of CO2, H2S, and H2 from a gaseous fluid mixture comprising CO2, H2S, and H2, which system includes a first membrane section having a nonporous metal oxide membrane, a second membrane section having a CO2-selective membrane, and a third membrane section having an H2-selective membrane. Each membrane section has a feed side and a permeate side and the membrane sections are arranged in series whereby the gaseous fluid mixture contacts the feed side, in sequence, of the first membrane section, the second membrane section and the third membrane section, resulting first in the separation or removal of H2S, second in the separation or removal of CO2, and third in the separation or removal of H2. The process can be used to process synthesis gas generated from the gasification or reforming of carbonaceous materials for hydrogen production and carbon dioxide capture.

Abstract: A method for inspecting joined material interfaces, such as butt fusion pipe joints of plastic pipes, using ultrasonic waveforms to discriminate between acceptable and unacceptable interfaces. The waveforms (amplitude vs time) having been transmitted to a material interface of interest are divided into a number of time zones and the amplitudes of the waveforms within the time zones compared against waveform amplitudes obtained from known acceptable joined material interfaces to determine the quality of the material interface of interest.

Abstract: A power generation system and method in which a fuel gas is introduced into a combustor and at least a portion of the fuel gas is combusted in the combustor, producing an exhaust gas having no appreciable available oxygen. The exhaust gas is introduced as a working fluid into a gas turbine, thereby generating power. Cooling of the power generation system is accomplished using a cooling fluid selected from the group consisting of synthesis gas, natural gas, natural gas/steam mixture, flue gas, flue gas/steam mixture, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method for separation of molecular hydrogen from a gaseous mixture containing the molecular hydrogen, which method employs a dense mixed oxide ion/electronic/hydrogen atom conducting membrane or separator having a feed side and a permeate side that enables two mechanisms for hydrogen separation—ambi-polar conduction and hydrogen atom conduction. In this method, at least a portion of the molecular hydrogen is converted on the feed side of the membrane to hydrogen atoms, which hydrogen atoms are conducted through the membrane to the permeate side thereof where they are converted back to molecular hydrogen. The permeate side of the membrane is contacted with steam, forming water and/or steam on the feed side of the membrane and additional molecular hydrogen on the permeate side of the separator.

Abstract: An infrared heater for heating a cooking vessel, such as a Chinese wok. The heater includes a block of refractory material, which emits infrared radiation upon heating to an elevated temperature, forming an inverted frustum-shaped cavity or opening. A gas-fired burner having a burner head which produces a laterally directed flame upon ignition of a mixture of a fuel gas and a combustion oxidant supplied to the burner is disposed in the cavity or opening. A planar structure suitable for emitting infrared radiation upon heating to an elevated temperature and forming at least one centralized opening covers the upward oriented base end of the inverted frustum-shaped opening. In accordance with one embodiment, the refractory block is disposed within a cylindrical housing which supports the cooking vessel above the centralized opening during the cooking process.

Abstract: A system for real-time monitoring of flame properties in combustors and gasifiers which includes an imaging fiber optic bundle having a light receiving end and a light output end and a spectroscopic imaging system operably connected with the light output end of the imaging fiber optic bundle. Focusing of the light received by the light receiving end of the imaging fiber optic bundle by a wall disposed between the light receiving end of the fiber optic bundle and a light source, which wall forms a pinhole opening aligned with the light receiving end.

Abstract: A supercapacitor having a bipolar membrane separator having a first side facing the negative electrode of the supercapacitor and having a plurality of cations and a second side facing the positive electrode and having a plurality of anions.

Abstract: A low pressure directional stop bypass device including a saddle fitting having an axially extending tubular connection element having a connection element wall forming a lateral bypass port, a valve assembly connected with the axially extending tubular connection element having a first valve port in fluid communication with the lateral bypass port and having a second valve port, and a stuffing box connected with the second valve port. A launch tube assembly is inserted through the stuffing box and the valve assembly into the axially extending tubular connection element. The launch tube element includes an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member disposed within the outer tubular member, and a stopper supply tube having a leading end and a trailing end and disposed within the inner tubular member. A flexible inflatable stopper plug connected with the leading end of the stopper supply tube.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-interruptible change out of a gas meter utilizing the meter set assembly swivel connections to create a bypass of the meter. The apparatus is machined to conform to the swivel and the threads of the meter inlet and outlet. A clamping mechanism maintains the meter and the apparatus in place while internal mechanisms create a gap between the swivel and the inlet or outlet of the meter. A sliding mechanism disengages the swivel gasket normally disposed between the meter inlet or outlet and the swivel for replacement during the meter exchange. Once the gap is created, a second apparatus similar to the first apparatus is attached to the other of the meter inlet or outlet. A hose providing fluid communication between the two apparatuses acts as the bypass during change out of the meter.

Abstract: A method for removal of gaseous inclusions from a viscous liquid in which a layer of filter particles is positioned in the viscous liquid and the viscous liquid is passed through the layer of filter particles, whereby the gaseous inclusions combine or coalesce within the layer of filter particles, forming larger gaseous inclusions which rise to the top of the viscous liquid and escape therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for splitting water to produce hydrogen having at least one photoelectrochemical cell. The photoelectrochemical cell includes at least one water permeable photoelectrode having a light sensitive, nano-crystalline catalytic material layer, a polymer electrolyte membrane, a metallic substrate disposed between the light sensitive nano-crystalline catalytic material layer and the polymer electrolyte membrane adjacent to the polymer electrolyte membrane layer, and at least one photovoltaic device connected in series to the light sensitive nano-crystalline material layer and disposed between the light sensitive nano-crystalline catalytic material layer and the metallic substrate layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling a subterranean formation or material utilizing a drilling apparatus which includes a drill string having a leading end and a trailing end and having a bottom hole assembly connected with the leading end. The bottom hole assembly includes a drill bit and an externally threaded screw section. In operation, the drill bit is rotated, forming material cuttings and an opening in the subterranean formation, and the threaded screw section is rotated within the opening, forming a helical groove in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method for recovering sulfur from a sulfur-bearing process gas stream in which a process gas stream comprising H2S and/or SO2 is contacted with a lean mixture of a lean UCSRP solution and a catalyst for promotion of a reaction between H2S and SO2 in anon-UCSRP vessel at a temperature below which H2S and SO2 react, whereby at least a portion of the H2S and/or SO2 is absorbed by the lean UCSRP solution, forming a rich mixture of a rich UCSRP solution and the catalyst. The rich mixture is introduced into a UCSRP vessel and heated to a reaction temperature greater than or equal to a melting temperature of sulfur, forming elemental sulfur and H2O.

Abstract: A combustion method and apparatus which produce a hybrid flame for heating metals and metal alloys, which hybrid flame has the characteristic of having an oxidant-lean portion proximate the metal or metal alloy and having an oxidant-rich portion disposed above the oxidant lean portion. This hybrid flame is produced by introducing fuel and primary combustion oxidant into the furnace chamber containing the metal or metal alloy in a substoichiometric ratio to produce a fuel-rich flame and by introducing a secondary combustion oxidant into the furnace chamber above the fuel-rich flame in a manner whereby mixing of the secondary combustion oxidant with the fuel-rich flame is delayed for a portion of the length of the flame.

Abstract: A direct flame impingement method and apparatus employing at least one multi-ported, internally recuperated burner. The burner includes an innermost coaxial conduit having a first fluid inlet end and a first fluid outlet end, an outermost coaxial conduit disposed around the innermost coaxial conduit and having a combustion products outlet end proximate the first fluid inlet end of the innermost coaxial conduit and a combustion products inlet end proximate the first fluid outlet end of the innermost coaxial conduit, and a coaxial intermediate conduit disposed between the innermost coaxial conduit and the outermost coaxial conduit, whereby a second fluid annular region is formed between the innermost coaxial conduit and the intermediate coaxial conduit and a combustion products annular region is formed between the intermediate coaxial conduit and the outermost coaxial conduit.