Abstract: The present invention relates to emulsion compositions for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system. In particular, the invention includes emulsion compositions comprising hydrocarbon fuel, water and alkoxylated alcohol surfactants for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system.

Abstract: A method for determination for a given oil the relative stability of a water-in-oil emulsion that will be formed by that oil with water comprises measuring for the given oil the weight fraction of the oil that is most strongly adsorbed on a silica gel column successively eluted with n-hexane, toluene and methylene chloride-methanol mixture solvents and determining whether said weight fraction is greater than about 0.05; with a value above 0.05 being determinative of an emulsion more stable than one with a value less than 0.05.

Abstract: A cermet composition represented by the formula (PQ)(RS)X comprising: a ceramic phase (PQ), a binder phase (RS) and X wherein X is at least one member selected from the group consisting of an oxide dispersoid E, an intermetallic compound F and a derivative compound G wherein said ceramic phase (PQ) is dispersed in the binder phase (RS) as particles of diameter in the range of about 0.5 to 3000 microns, and said X is dispersed in the binder phase (RS) as particles in the size range of about 1 nm to 400 nm.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O) emulsion compositions for starring a reformer or a fuel cell system. The oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O) emulsion compositions include hydrocarbon fuel, water, alkoxylated alkyl alcohol, alkoxylated alkyl ester and alkyl polyglycerol surfactants, and are used for starring a reformer of a fuel cell system.

Abstract: A cermet composition represented by the formula (PQ)(RS) comprising: a ceramic phase (PQ) and binder phase (RS) wherein, P is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Group IV, Group V, Group VI elements, Q is boride, R is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Mn and mixtures thereof, S comprises at least one element selected from Cr, Al, Si and Y.

Abstract: The invention includes a cermet composition represented by the formula (PQ)(RS) comprising: a ceramic phase (PQ) and a binder phase (RS) wherein, P is a metal selected from the group consisting of Si, Mn, Fe, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W and mixtures thereof, Q is nitride, R is a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Mn and mixtures thereof, S consists essentially of at least one element selected from Cr, Al, Si, and Y, and at least one reactive wetting aliovalent element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a cermet composition represented by the formula (PQ)(RS) comprising: a ceramic phase (PQ) and a binder phase (RS) wherein, P is a metal selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Mg, Ca, Y, Fe, Mn, Group IV, Group V, Group VI elements, and mixtures thereof, Q is oxide, R is a base metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni Co, Mn and mixtures thereof, S consists essentially of at least one element selected from Cr, Al and Si and at least one reactive wetting element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta, Sc, Y, La, and Ce.

Abstract: The present invention relates to emulsion compositions for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system. In particular, the invention includes emulsion compositions comprising hydrocarbon fuel, water and alkyl sorbitan surfactants for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system.

Abstract: Method to determine the viscosity of a water-in-oil emulsion that will be formed by an oil comprising organic acids when mixed with water comprising: determining the value of the expression: ? ( emul ) = K ? ? ? ( oil ) ? TAN - r ( 1 - ? ) 2.5 wherein ?(oil) is the viscosity the oil, TAN is the total acid number of the oil, ? is a number in the range of 0.1 to 0.8, r is a number in the range of about 0.5 to 2, and K is a number from about 1 to 20, said determined value, ?(emul) being the viscosity of the water-in-oil emulsion. The method is used to prepare water-in-oil emulsions of predetermined viscosity and to improve desalting of oils.

Abstract: A method for determination for a given oil the relative stability of a water-in-oil emulsion that will be formed by that oil with water comprises measuring for the given oil the weight percent asphaltenes (A), total acid number (TAN), and ratio of the amount of naphthenic acids in the 450+ molecular weight to 450 molecular weight range (R); calculating an emulsion stability parameter, S=A+TAN*R; and determining whether the emulsion stability parameter, S, is greater than about 3; with a value above 3 being determinative of an emulsion more stable than one with a value less than 3.

Abstract: Cermets are provided in which a substantially stoichiometric metal carbide ceramic phase along with a reprecipitated metal carbide phase, represented by the formula MxCy, is dispersed in a metal binder phase. In MxCy M is Cr, Fe, Ni, Co, Si, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mo or mixtures thereof, x and y are whole or fractional numerical values with x ranging from 1 to 30 and y from 1 to 6. These cermets are particularly useful in protecting surfaces from erosion and corrosion at high temperatures.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for demulsification of water-in-oil emulsions, oil-in-water emulsions, and mixtures of water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions by oscillatory mixing of the emulsions.

Abstract: A method for deconvoluting a time dependent impedance spectrum and using the deconvoluted time dependent impedance spectrum as an indicator of the performance condition of a working fluid is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method to determine the viscosity ratio of a working fluid using the resistance ratio obtained from frequency dependent impedance data.

Abstract: Emulsion compositions for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system comprises hyrdocarbon fuel, water and alkoxylated alkyl ester and alcohol surfactants.

Abstract: The invention includes a compositon of matter comprising a heavy oil having dispersed therein surface modified solid wherein said surface modified solids comprise solids having adsorbed thereon air oxidized polar hydrocarbons from said heavy oil and wherein said surface modified solids have a diameter of about 10 microns or less and a method for preparing the same.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for extending the depth of a subterranean borehole that uses heated aqueous fluid to dissolve rock of the subterranean formation. The heated aqueous fluid comprises water and hydroxides of Group I elements of The Periodic Table of Elements and mixtures thereof. The drilling system comprises means for delivering aqueous fluid and heating the aqueous fluid prior to contacting rock of a subsurface formation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to emulsion compositions for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system. In particular, the invention includes emulsion compositions comprising hydrocarbon fuel, water and ethoxylated alkyl amine surfactants for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to emulsion compositions for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system. In particular, the invention includes emulsion compositions comprising hydrocarbon fuel, water and alkyl polyglycerol surfactants for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for demulsification of water-in-oil emulsions.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards a chemical demulsifier formulation comprising an alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid additive with at least 16 carbon atom alkyl group and at least two 6 carbon-ring aromatic group and a co-additive selected from the group consisting of dipropylene monobutyl ether, aromatic naphtha, isoparaffinic solvent, cycloparaffinic solvent, aromatic solvent, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, benzyl alcohol and mixtures thereof and a process for demulsification and desalting crude oil using the demulsifier formulation.