Abstract: An electrochemical cell with a blended zinc powder is disclosed. The blended zinc powder includes selected portions of a first zinc powder and a second zinc powder. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second powders are divided into groups based on ranges in their particle size distribution. Particle characteristics such as roughness and elongation are used to selected groups of both powders that are combined to produce the blended zinc powder. The blended zinc powders enable battery manufacturers to maximize the cell's run time while minimizing the cost of the zinc.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell with a collector assembly for sealing the open end of a cell container. The collector assembly includes a retainer and a contact spring with a peripheral flange, each having a central opening therein. A pressure release vent member disposed between the retainer and the peripheral flange of the contact spring seals the openings in the retainer and contact spring under normal conditions and ruptures to release pressure from within the cell when the internal pressure exceeds a predetermined limit.

Abstract: An electrochemical battery cell with an improved thermoplastic sealing member. The seal member is made from a thermoplastic resin comprising polyphthalamide or impact modified polyphenylene sulfide. The seal member provides an effective seal vent over a broad temperature range and has a low electrolyte vapor transmission rate.

Abstract: An electrochemical battery cell with an electrical lead for electrical contact between one of the cell's electrodes and the side of the cell container. A portion of the lead, disposed between the electrode assembly and the side wall of the container, includes an initially non-planar shape that is in a partially deformed, compressed configuration within the cell to bias the lead against the internal surface of the side wall of the container, thereby applying sufficient force to provide good electrical contact between the electrode and the container. The initially non-planar shape can include one or more V-shaped or arc-shaped grooves, and the grooves can be disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the electrode assembly. Also disclosed is a process for making such a cell.

Abstract: The invention is a 1.5 volt primary electrochemical battery cell with an alkali metal lithium negative electrode (such as lithium), a positive electrode (comprising iron disulfide for example) and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The electrolyte has a solute including lithium iodide dissolved in an ether-containing solvent including a 1,2-dimethoxypropane based solvent component and no more than 30 volume percent 1,2-dimethoxyethane. When 1,2-dimethoxypropane is used to replace at least most 1,2-dimethoxyethane in the solvent, the cell provides good discharge capacity at low temperature while maintaining excellent discharge capacity at room temperature.

Abstract: The invention is a battery with power output terminals on opposite ends of a battery and a power output terminal on the side wall of the battery that has the same polarity as one of the end power output terminals. The presence of the side terminal is indicative of a battery characteristic and allow a battery operated device requiring that characteristic to selectively use the battery when designed to use the side terminal and opposite polarity end terminal to provide energy to operate the device. Because the battery also has opposite polarity end terminals, the battery can be used in devices designed to use batteries of the same dimensions and having the same nominal voltage. The location of the side terminal can also be indicative of additional battery characteristics, allowing the selective use of batteries in devices based on various device requirements.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a cable-in-conduit-conductor for use in superconductor application is described. The system utilizes a work surface with drum means provided at each end. A superconductor cable is fed from a supply source at one end. After the cable is pulled through a tube on the work surface, the leading edge of the cable is bent around one of the drums and returned to the opposite end of the table. This naked length of cable is once again bent around one of the drums and then pulled through another tube on the table. This process is repeated until an acceptable length of superconductor cable is present. Tension means are used in conjunction with a tube mill which compresses the tube-cable combination into a viable cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC). Notably, as this tension-compression is occurring, the naked lengths of cable are eliminated and each separate tube section is joined together to create a uniform CICC.

Abstract: A steam generator system incorporates multiple processes, either in series or independently and with each process having a process fluid associated therewith, to transfer heat between a common working fluid and the process fluids in order to generate steam from the working fluid. The heat transfer may be controlled by controlling the flow of the working fluid to further regulate and control the generation of steam and/or the individual processes themselves. The generator system includes a vessel and may optionally have baffles located within the vessel to separate the flow of working fluid into a recirculation system to facilitate in the overall operation of the system. The working fluid must be capable of forming steam and preferably consists essentially of water. Straight tubes, plate-type heat exchange surfaces having a common boiling fluid stream, U-tubes, helical tubes, and/or curved tubes may be used as heat exchange means for transferring heat between the working fluid and the process fluids.

Abstract: A low resistance splice connects two cable-in-conduit superconductors to each other. Dividing collars for arranging sub-cable units from each conduit are provided, along with clamping collars for mating each sub-cable wire assembly to form mated assemblies. The mated assemblies ideally can be accomplished by way of splicing collar. The mated assemblies are cooled by way of a flow of coolant, preferably helium. A method for implementing such a splicing is also described.

Abstract: A method for fabricating sections of a floating offshore spar type structure and mating the sections offshore. A buoyant hard tank is fabricated vertically. The hard tank is then transported in a vertical orientation to a site where it is mated to a truss section of the spar structure offshore while the hard tank and truss section are both in the vertical orientation. The mated tank and truss sections are then towed in the vertical orientation to the operational site. The hard tank is fabricated with a larger diameter and correspondingly shallower draft than a more traditionally proportioned hard tank.

Abstract: Lubrication devices for lubricating wire rope on a crane. Spray nozzles may be permanently mounted to the multi-sheaved wire block assemblies. A controller and oil supply located near the base of the crane are used to control and deliver oil to the spray nozzles. A telescopic spray unit is used to lubricate the vertical stationary wire rope. A crawler that rides on the wire rope is used to lubricate the stationary wire rope between the anchor point and the first sheave of the block assembly. Improved clamshell units are used to lubricate the wire rope between the drums storing wire rope and the first sheave.

Abstract: A high performance electrocatalyst is based on transition metal perovskites of praseodymium, samarium, terbium or neodymium which react with YSZ to form a product which is itself active as the cathode in a fuel cell. While PrCoO3 reacts with YSZ, the reaction product(s) do not result in severe degradation of cell performance. A fuel cell made with a cathode composed of only the reaction product of YSZ and PrCoO3 has good performance, indicating that this phase is itself not only a good conductor, but also a good catalyst for oxygen activation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pressurizing tubular members of an offshore structure immersed in seawater so that the internal pressure resists the hydrostatic pressure of the seawater. To achieve this internal pressure, compressed air or gas is introduced into the tubular members after the various tubular members are submerged in seawater.

Abstract: Lubrication devices for lubricating wire rope on a crane. Spray nozzles may be permanently mounted to the multi-sheaved wire block assemblies. A controller and oil supply located near the base of the crane are used to control and deliver oil to the spray nozzles. A telescopic spray unit is used to lubricate the vertical stationary wire rope. A crawler that rides on the wire rope is used to lubricate the stationary wire rope between the anchor point and the first sheave of the block assembly. Improved clamshell units are used to lubricate the wire rope between the drums storing wire rope and the first sheave.

Abstract: A mercury removal system for removing mercury from combustion flue gases is provided in which alkaline sorbents at generally extremely low stoichiometric molar ratios of alkaline earth or an alkali metal to sulfur of less than 1.0 are injected into a power plant system at one or more locations to remove at least between about 40% and 60% of the mercury content from combustion flue gases. Small amounts of alkaline sorbents are injected into the flue gas stream at a relatively low rate. A particulate filter is used to remove mercury-containing particles downstream of each injection point used in the power plant system.

Abstract: An intrinsically safe fiber optic hydrogen sensing assembly for detecting hydrogen levels in a system and/or for detecting hazardous hydrogen concentration gas leaks therefrom is disclosed. The sensor assembly preferably uses a palladium coated end of the fiber optic cable as the hydrogen sensor based upon the intensity and phase of the light reflecting off of the coated end. The assembly may be constructed to control the flow of hydrogen to the system and/or to sound an alarm indicative of leakage of hydrogen from the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing and removing mercury in industrial gases, such as a flue gas, produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal, adds sulfide ions to the flue gas as it passes through a scrubber. Ideally, the source of these sulfide ions may include at least one of: sulfidic waste water, kraft caustic liquor, kraft carbonate liquor, potassium sulfide, sodium sulfide, and thioacetamide. The sulfide ion source is introduced into the scrubbing liquor as an aqueous sulfide species. The scrubber may be either a wet or dry scrubber for flue gas desulfurization systems.

Abstract: A fume sensor system that measures the concentration of fume particulate in a boiler and suppresses background noise.

Abstract: A burner, particularly for use in thermophotovoltaic (TPV) applications, is provided having a fuel distribution tube with integrated swirl vanes adjacent exit holes in the sides of the fuel distribution tube, a ceramic burner cap attached the top end of the fuel distribution tube and a liquid fuel being provided through a fuel feed tube protruding through the bottom end of the fuel distribution tube, thereby forming a burner assembly. The burner assembly fits slidably into a cylindrical burner sleeve which forces primary combustion air through a passage formed between the sleeve and the swirl vanes. The primary combustion air mixes with the fuel in the vanes and burner slot formed between the burner cap and sleeve. The fuel feed tube used to supply fuel to the burner is a heated tube having a small orifice at the burner end. The tube is heated using an internal heater that vaporizes the fuel and can also use recuperated heat from the burner combustion process.

Abstract: Lubrication devices for lubricating wire rope on a crane. Spray nozzles may be permanently mounted to the multi-sheaved wire block assemblies. A controller and oil supply located near the base of the crane are used to control and deliver oil to the spray nozzles. A telescopic spray unit is used to lubricate the vertical stationary wire rope. A crawler that rides on the wire rope is used to lubricate the stationary wire rope between the anchor point and the first sheave of the block assembly. Improved clamshell units are used to lubricate the wire rope between the drums storing wire rope and the first sheave.