Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Mark P. Dvorscak
  • Patent number: 6146432
    Abstract: This invention is a process for the passivation or deactivation with resp to oxygen of a carbonaceous material by the exposure of the carbonaceous material to an oxygenated gas in which the oxygenated gas pressure is increased from a first pressure to a second pressure and then the pressure is changed to a third pressure. Preferably a cyclic process which comprises exposing the carbonaceous material to the gas at low pressure and increasing the pressure to a second higher pressure and then returning the pressure to a lower pressure is used. The cycle is repeated at least twice wherein the higher pressure may be increased after a selected number of cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventors: Thomas L. Ochs, William D. Sands, Karl Schroeder, Cathy A. Summers, Bruce R. Utz
  • Patent number: 6143939
    Abstract: A method for preparing olefins and halogenated olefins is provided comprising contacting halogenated compounds with diamonds for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to convert the halogenated compounds to olefins and halogenated olefins via elimination reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Malvina Farcasiu, Phillip B. Kaufman, Edward P. Ladner, Richard R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6143944
    Abstract: A process for the consolidation and containment of solid or semisolid hazardous waste, which process comprises closing an end of a circular hollow cylinder, filling the cylinder with the hazardous waste, and then cold working the cylinder to reduce its diameter while simultaneously compacting the waste. The open end of the cylinder can be sealed prior to or after the cold working process. The preferred method of cold working is to draw the sealed cylinder containing the hazardous waste through a plurality of dies to simultaneously reduce the diameter of the tube while compacting the waste. This process provides a quick continuous process for consolidating hazardous waste, including radioactive waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Harry C. Hash, Mark C. Hash
  • Patent number: 6137110
    Abstract: A focused ion beam having a cross section of submicron diameter, a high ion current, and a narrow energy range is generated from a target comprised of particle source material by laser ablation. The method involves directing a laser beam having a cross section of critical diameter onto the target, producing a cloud of laser ablated particles having unique characteristics, and extracting and focusing a charged particle beam from the laser ablated cloud. The method is especially suited for producing focused ion beams for semiconductor device analysis and modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Michael J. Pellin, Keith R. Lykke, Thorsten B. Lill
  • Patent number: 6133498
    Abstract: Known phosphate ceramic formulations are improved and the ability to produce iron-based phosphate ceramic systems is enabled by the addition of an oxidizing or reducing step during the acid-base reactions that form the phosphate ceramic products. The additives allow control of the rate of the acid-base reactions and concomitant heat generation. In an alternate embodiment, waste containing metal anions are stabilized in phosphate ceramic products by the addition of a reducing agent to the phosphate ceramic mixture. The reduced metal ions are more stable and/or reactive with the phosphate ions, resulting in the formation of insoluble metal species within the phosphate ceramic matrix, such that the resulting chemically bonded phosphate ceramic product has greater leach resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Dileep Singh, Arun S. Wagh, Seung-Young Jeong
  • Patent number: 6126014
    Abstract: The carbon and mineral components of fly ash are effectively separated by a continuous air agglomeration method, resulting in a substantially carboree mineral stream and a highly concentrated carbon product. The method involves mixing the fly ash comprised of carbon and inorganic mineral matter with a liquid hydrocarbon to form a slurry, contacting the slurry with an aqueous solution, dispersing the hydrocarbon slurry into small droplets within the aqueous solution by mechanical mixing and/or aeration, concentrating the inorganic mineral matter in the aqueous solution, agglomerating the carbon and hydrocarbon in the form of droplets, collecting the droplets, separating the hydrocarbon from the concentrated carbon product, and recycling the hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventors: McMahon L. Gray, Kenneth J. Champagne, Dennis H. Finseth
  • Patent number: 6100807
    Abstract: A hardwired, fail-safe rack protection monitor utilizes electromechanical relays to respond to the detection by condition sensors of abnormal or alarm conditions (such as smoke, temperature, wind or water) that might adversely affect or damage equipment being protected. When the monitor is reset, the monitor is in a detection mode with first and second alarm relay coils energized. If one of the condition sensors detects an abnormal condition, the first alarm relay coil will be de-energized, but the second alarm relay coil will remain energized. This results in both a visual and an audible alarm being activated. If a second alarm condition is detected by another one of the condition sensors while the first condition sensor is still detecting the first alarm condition, both the first alarm relay coil and the second alarm relay coil will be de-energized. With both the first and second alarm relay coils de-energized, both a visual and an audible alarm will be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Stanley G. Orr
  • Patent number: 6083641
    Abstract: A corrosion resistant, electrically conductive, non-porous bipolar plate is made from titanium carbide for use in an eletrochemical device. The process involves blending titanium carbide powder with a suitable binder material, and molding the mixture, at an elevated temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Anthony B. LaConti, Arthur E. Griffith, Cecelia C. Cropley, John A. Kosek
  • Patent number: 6079267
    Abstract: Gravitational acceleration is measured in all spatial dimensions with improved sensitivity by utilizing a high temperature superconducting (HTS) gravimeter. The HTS gravimeter is comprised of a permanent magnet suspended in a spaced relationship from a high temperature superconductor, and a cantilever having a mass at its free end is connected to the permanent magnet at its fixed end. The permanent magnet and superconductor combine to form a bearing platform with extremely low frictional losses, and the rotational displacement of the mass is measured to determine gravitational acceleration. Employing a high temperature superconductor component has the significant advantage of having an operating temperature at or below 77K, whereby cooling may be accomplished with liquid nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: John R. Hull
  • Patent number: 6058709
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of operation designed to reduce undesirably high pressure oscillations in lean premix combustion systems burning hydrocarbon fuels are provided. Natural combustion and nozzle acoustics are employed to generate multiple fuel pockets which, when burned in the combustor, counteract the oscillations caused by variations in heat release in the combustor. A hybrid of active and passive control techniques, the apparatus and method eliminate combustion oscillations over a wide operating range, without the use of moving parts or electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: George A. Richards, Michael C. Janus, Edward H. Robey
  • Patent number: 6059560
    Abstract: The periodic equivalence ratio modulation (PERM) method and apparatus significantly reduces and/or eliminates unstable conditions within a combustion chamber. The method involves modulating the equivalence ratio for the combustion device, such that the combustion device periodically operates outside of an identified unstable oscillation region. The equivalence ratio is modulated between preselected reference points, according to the shape of the oscillation region and operating parameters of the system. Preferably, the equivalence ratio is modulated from a first stable condition to a second stable condition, and, alternatively, the equivalence ratio is modulated from a stable condition to an unstable condition. The method is further applicable to multi-nozzle combustor designs, whereby individual nozzles are alternately modulated from stable to unstable conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: George A. Richards, Michael C. Janus, Richard A. Griffith
  • Patent number: 6056796
    Abstract: The present invention involves a porous rigid filter including a plurality of concentric filtration elements having internal flow passages and forming external flow passages there between. The present invention also involves a pressure vessel containing the filter for the removal of particulates from high pressure particulate containing gases, and further involves a method for using the filter to remove such particulates. The present filter has the advantage of requiring fewer filter elements due to the high surface area-to-volume ratio provided by the filter, requires a reduced pressure vessel size, and exhibits enhanced mechanical design properties, improved cleaning properties, configuration options, modularity and ease of fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Ta-Kuan Chiang, Douglas L. Straub, Richard A. Dennis
  • Patent number: 6056125
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for the separation of coal from pyritic impurities using a modified froth flotation system. The froth flotation column incorporates a helical track about the inner wall of the column in a region intermediate between the top and base of the column. A standard impeller located about the central axis of the column is used to generate a centrifugal force thereby increasing the separation efficiency of coal from the pyritic particles and hydrophillic tailings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: U. S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Ralph W. Lai, Robert A. Patton
  • Patent number: 6046592
    Abstract: An apparatus, near-electrode imager, for employing nuclear magnetic resonance imaging to provide in situ measurements of electrochemical properties of a sample as a function of distance from a working electrode. The near-electrode imager uses the radio frequency field gradient within a cylindrical toroid cavity resonator to provide high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectral information on electrolyte materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Jerome W. Rathke, Robert J. Klingler, Klaus Woelk, Rex E. Gerald, II
  • Patent number: 6033794
    Abstract: A high efficiency, multi-stage fuel cell system method and apparatus is provided. The fuel cell system is comprised of multiple fuel cell stages, whereby the temperatures of the fuel and oxidant gas streams and the percentage of fuel consumed in each stage are controlled to optimize fuel cell system efficiency. The stages are connected in a serial, flow-through arrangement such that the oxidant gas and fuel gas flowing through an upstream stage is conducted directly into the next adjacent downstream stage. The fuel cell stages are further arranged such that unspent fuel and oxidant laden gases too hot to continue within an upstream stage because of material constraints are conducted into a subsequent downstream stage which comprises a similar cell configuration, however, which is constructed from materials having a higher heat tolerance and designed to meet higher thermal demands. In addition, fuel is underutilized in each stage, resulting in a higher overall fuel cell system efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Thomas J. George, William C. Smith
  • Patent number: 6008491
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing the surface characteristics of a sample by Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS) and Mass Spectroscopy of Recoiled Ions (MSRI) is provided. The method includes detecting back scattered primary ions, low energy ejected species, and high energy ejected species by ion beam surface analysis techniques comprising positioning a ToF SIMS/MSRI mass analyzer at a predetermined angle .theta., where .theta. is the angle between the horizontal axis of the mass analyzer and the undeflected primary ion beam line, and applying a specific voltage to the back ring of the analyzer. Preferably, .theta. is less than or equal to about 120.degree. and, more preferably, equal to 74.degree.. For positive ion analysis, the extractor, lens, and front ring of the reflectron are set at negative high voltages (-HV). The back ring of the reflectron is set at greater than about +700V for MSRI measurements and between the range of about +15 V and about +50V for SIMS measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Vincent S. Smentkowski, Dieter M. Gruen, Alan R. Krauss, J. Albert Schultz, John C. Holecek
  • Patent number: 5991351
    Abstract: A method for integrating liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic power generation with fusion blanket technology to produce electrical power from a thermonuclear fusion reactor located within a confining magnetic field and within a toroidal structure. A hot liquid metal flows from a liquid metal blanket region into a pump duct of an electromagnetic pump which moves the liquid metal to a mixer where a gas of predetermined pressure is mixed with the pressurized liquid metal to form a Froth mixture. Electrical power is generated by flowing the Froth mixture between electrodes in a generator duct. When the Froth mixture exits the generator the gas is separated from the liquid metal and both are recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventor: Robert D. Woolley
  • Patent number: 5980610
    Abstract: An apparatus and process that utilize a low temperature nonequilibrium plasma reactor, for improving the particulate removal efficiency of an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) are disclosed. A portion of the flue gas, that contains a low level of SO.sub.2 O.sub.2 H.sub.2 O, and particulate matter, is passed through a low temperature plasma reactor, which defines a plasma volume, thereby oxidizing a portion of the SO.sub.2 present in the flue gas into SO.sub.3. An SO.sub.2 rich flue gas is thereby generated. The SO.sub.3 rich flue gas is then returned to the primary flow of the flue gas in the exhaust treatment system prior to the ESP. This allows the SO.sub.3 to react with water to form H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 that is in turn is absorbed by fly ash in the gas stream in order to improve the removal efficiency of the EPS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Hann-Sheng Huang, Anthony J. Gorski
  • Patent number: 5978444
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for directly determining the crystalline structure of a protein crystal. The crystal is irradiated by a finely collimated x-ray beam. The interaction of the x-ray beam with the crystal produces scattered x-rays. These scattered x-rays are detected by means of a large area, thick CCD which is capable of measuring a significant number of scattered x-rays which impact its surface. The CCD is capable of detecting the position of impact of the scattered x-ray on the surface of the CCD and the quantity of scattered x-rays which impact the same cell or pixel. This data is then processed in real-time and the processed data is outputted to produce a image of the structure of the crystal. If this crystal is a protein the molecular structure of the protein can be determined from the data received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Muzaffer Atac, Timothy McKay
  • Patent number: 5968224
    Abstract: A method for the recovery of valuable materials from titanium grinding swarf is provided comprising the steps of sieving the accumulated titanium grinding swarf to remove unwanted coarse trash and grinding wheel fragments, pelletizing, and smelting in an electric arc furnace to produce ferrotitanium and/or high titanium slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Stephen J. Gerdemann, Jack C. White