Abstract: A method and device for reducing or substantially eliminating methanol crossover from the anode to the cathode of a direct methanol fuel cell and for increasing catalyst efficiency in which a catalyst ink layer comprising an electron conductive and proton conductive binder material is applied either to the anode electrode or the electrolyte layer of the direct methanol fuel cell.

Abstract: A single-ended, internally recuperated, radiant tube annulus system in which at least part of the heat recovery takes place within the furnace to which the system is attached and in which the oxidant and/or fuel are preheated not only by heat transfer from the exhaust gases, but also directly from the combustion process. The system includes a plurality of concentric radiant tubular members arranged in a manner providing an outer annular region in which the combustion process is carried out, an inner tubular member through which exhaust gases are exhausted from the system, and intermediate annular regions between the inner tubular member and the outer annular region through which preheated oxidant is provided to the outer annular region for the combustion process. In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the internal recuperator is used as a fuel reformer.

Abstract: A method and system for producing synthesis gas in which a carbonaceous material and at least one oxygen carrier are introduced into a non-thermal plasma reactor at a temperature in the range of about 300° C. to about 700° C. and a pressure in a range of about atmospheric to about 70 atmospheres and a non-thermal plasma discharge is generated within the non-thermal plasma reactor. The carbonaceous material and the oxygen carrier are exposed to the non-thermal plasma discharge, resulting in the formation of a synthesis gas in the non-thermal plasma reactor.

Abstract: A direct carbon fuel electrochemical device and method for generating electricity. The apparatus includes a solid oxide electrolyte having an anode side and a cathode side. Carbon and at least one metal oxide are provided to the anode side for reaction at the anode and air is provided to the cathode side. At least a portion of the carbon is oxidized and at least a portion of the metal oxide is reduced to a metal or lower oxide metal oxide on the anode side. The metal or lower oxide metal oxide is electrochemically reoxidized with oxygen in the air, thereby generating electricity.

Abstract: A method and system for producing product gases in which a carbonaceous material and at least one oxygen carrier are introduced into a non-thermal plasma reactor at a temperature in the range of about 300° C. to about 700° C. and a pressure in a range of about atmospheric to about 70 atmospheres and a non-thermal plasma discharge is generated within the non-thermal plasma reactor. The carbonaceous material and the oxygen carrier are exposed to the non-thermal plasma discharge, resulting in the formation of a product gas in the non-thermal plasma reactor, which product gas comprises substantial amounts of hydrocarbons, such as methane, hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A dilution apparatus for diluting a gas sample. The apparatus includes a sample gas conduit having a sample gas inlet end and a diluted sample gas outlet end, and a sample gas flow restricting orifice disposed proximate the sample gas inlet end connected with the sample gas conduit and providing fluid communication between the exterior and the interior of the sample gas conduit. A diluted sample gas conduit is provided within the sample gas conduit having a mixing end with a mixing space inlet opening disposed proximate the sample gas inlet end, thereby forming an annular space between the sample gas conduit and the diluted sample gas conduit. The mixing end of the diluted sample gas conduit is disposed at a distance from the sample gas flow restricting orifice. A dilution gas source connected with the sample gas inlet end of the sample gas conduit is provided for introducing a dilution gas into the annular space, and a filter is provided for filtering the sample gas.

Abstract: A method for producing a catalytically-active material having at least one base component and at least one catalytically-active component in which the at least one base component is heated to a softening or melting temperature to form a softened or molten base component. While the base component is in the softened or molten state, at least one catalytically-active component is incorporated into or onto the base component, forming the catalytically-active material. In accordance with one embodiment, a catalyst precursor is introduced into the base component and subsequently transformed to a catalytically-active component.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for diluting and cooling that is extracted from high temperature and/or high pressure industrial processes. Through a feedback process, a specialized, CFD-modeled dilution cooler is employed along with real-time estimations of the point at which condensation will occur within the dilution cooler to define a level of dilution and diluted gas temperature that results in a gas that can be conveyed to standard gas analyzers that contains no condensed hydrocarbon compounds or condensed moisture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensor output signal noise reduction in which at least one sensor output signal is introduced into an LMS-based adaptive noise cancellation mechanism and the resulting noise cancellation mechanism output signal is processed using a sub-band spectral subtractive mechanism, producing a reduced noise signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in which a first absorption measurement is made over a first frequency interval or set of frequency intervals including one or more absorptions from a spectral band of interest. The first absorption measurement is ideally selected to be near the frequency of a peak in the absorption spectrum, providing high sensitivity at low gas concentrations. A second absorption measurement is made over a second frequency interval. The second absorption measurement is made to include a contribution from the broadening of the absorption spectrum at higher concentrations. The second absorption measurement provides sensitivity at higher concentrations. The two absorption measurements are then combined to deduce the target sample concentration as the absorption line spectrum changes shape with concentration.

Abstract: A method for removal of hydrogen sulfide and mercury from a gaseous stream containing hydrogen sulfide and mercury in which a hydrogen sulfide conversion catalyst is contacted with the gaseous stream at a temperature less than or equal to the dewpoint of elemental sulfur, and the hydrogen sulfide is oxidized, forming elemental sulfur.

Abstract: A nonporous metal carbonate membrane for selective separation of CO2 from a CO2-containing fluid having a porous substrate having a feed side and a permeate side. The membrane is also suitable for removal of H2S that may be present in the fluid.

Abstract: A method for removal of mercury from a gaseous stream containing the mercury, hydrogen and/or CO, and hydrogen sulfide and/or carbonyl sulfide in which a dispersed Cu-containing sorbent is contacted with the gaseous stream at a temperature in the range of about 25° C. to about 300° C. until the sorbent is spent. The spent sorbent is contacted with a desorbing gaseous stream at a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature at which the mercury adsorption is carried out, producing a regenerated sorbent and an exhaust gas comprising released mercury. The released mercury in the exhaust gas is captured using a high-capacity sorbent, such as sulfur-impregnated activated carbon, at a temperature less than about 100° C. The regenerated sorbent may then be used to capture additional mercury from the mercury-containing gaseous stream.

Abstract: A utility service tee scraping tool having three basic components—a scraper or cutting element, a scraper holder, and an alignment body. The scraper includes a rigid, vertically oriented body to which one or more cutting blades are attached. The scraper holder includes a service pipe tee clamp having two gripping elements with surfaces adapted to fit snugly around the service pipe tee and maintain the tee scraping tool in a fixed position during operation. The tool may be manipulated from above ground. Although particularly suitable for use in keyhole excavations where remote operation of the tool is required, the tool may also be used in traditional excavations.

Abstract: A method for contacting a liquid with a gas in which the gas is introduced into a vessel containing at least one hollow fiber membrane having a plurality of porous hollow fibers. The liquid is introduced into a lumen of at least a portion of the plurality of porous hollow fibers at a liquid pressure sufficient to overcome a resistance to wetting of the porous hollow fibers, thereby covering at least a portion of an outer surface of the plurality of porous hollow fibers with the liquid and providing intimate contact between the gas and the liquid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting the walls of an underground pipe from inside the pipe in which an inspection apparatus having a circular planar platform having a plurality of lever arms having one end pivotably attached to one side of the platform, having a pipe inspection device connected to an opposite end, and having a system for pivoting the lever arms is inserted into the underground pipe, with the inspection apparatus oriented with the planar platform disposed perpendicular to the pipe axis. The plurality of lever arms are pivoted toward the inside wall of the pipe, contacting the inside wall with each inspection device as the apparatus is conveyed along a length of the underground pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating underground cast iron pipe joints having an electrically driven resonant coil generating an alternating magnetic field and two resonant sensor coils disposed within the alternating magnetic field, each of the resonant sensor coils having an independent magnetic reluctance circuit. A device is provided for comparing electrical currents induced in each of the resonant sensor coils and a device is provided for indicating a relative magnitude of the electrical currents.

Abstract: A method for producing a catalytically-active material having at least one base component and at least one catalytically-active component in which the at least one base component is heated to a softening or melting temperature to form a softened or molten base component. While the base component is in the softened or molten state, at least one catalytically-active component is incorporated into or onto the base component, forming the catalytically-active material. In accordance with one embodiment, a catalyst precursor is introduced into the base component and subsequently transformed to a catalytically-active component.

Abstract: A two-stage power generation system having a compressed air source with two compressed air outlets, one of which provides compressed air to the first stage of power generation and the other of which provides compressed air to the second stage of power generation. All of the fuel for the two-stage power generation system is introduced into the first stage. Exhaust gases from the first stage are introduced into a fuel inlet of the second stage of power generation. The first stage preferably includes a gas turbine operated in partial oxidation mode. The exhaust gases from the partial oxidation gas turbine contain thermal and chemical energy, both of which are used in the second stage.

Abstract: A method for purification of a gaseous stream having at least one impurity in which a porous material having at least one polyoxometalate-based material is contacted with the gaseous stream and the at least one impurity is passed through the porous material, producing a purified gaseous stream.