Abstract: A particulate residue separator and a method for separating a particulate residue stream may include a plenum borne by a harvesting device, and have a first, intake end and a second, exhaust end; first and second particulate residue air streams which are formed by the harvesting device and which travel, at least in part, along the plenum and in a direction of the second, exhaust end; and a baffle assembly which is located in partially occluding relation relative to the plenum, and which substantially separates the first and second particulate residue air streams.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 28, 2006
Date of Patent:
June 29, 2010
Assignee:
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
Inventors:
Reed L. Hoskinson, Kevin L. Kenney, Christopher T. Wright, John R. Hess
Abstract: Centrifugal separators and related methods and devices are described. More particularly, centrifugal separators comprising a first fluid supply fitting configured to deliver fluid into a longitudinal fluid passage of a rotor shaft and a second fluid supply fitting sized and configured to sealingly couple with the first fluid supply fitting are described. Also, centrifugal separator systems comprising a manifold having a drain fitting and a cleaning fluid supply fitting are described, wherein the manifold is coupled to a movable member of a support assembly. Additionally, methods of cleaning centrifugal separators are described.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 18, 2008
Publication date:
June 24, 2010
Applicant:
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
Inventors:
David H. Meikrantz, Jack D. Law, Troy G. Gam, Lawrence L. Macaluso, Terry A. Todd
Abstract: Centrifugal separator devices, systems and to related methods are described. More particularly, fluid transfer connections for a centrifugal separator system having support assemblies with a movable member coupled to a connection tube and coupled to a fixed member, such that the movable member is constrained to movement along a fixed path relative to the fixed member are described. Also, centrifugal separator systems including such fluid transfer connections are described. Additionally, methods of installing, removing and/or replacing centrifugal separators from centrifugal separator systems are described.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 18, 2008
Publication date:
June 24, 2010
Applicant:
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
Inventors:
David H. Meikrantz, Jack D. Law, Troy G. Gam, Terry A. Todd, Lawrence L. Macaluso
Abstract: A method for producing a borohydride is described that includes the steps of providing a source of borate; providing a material that chemically reduces the source of the borate to produce a borohydride; and reacting the source of the borate and the material by supplying heat at a temperature that substantially effects the production of the borohydride.
Abstract: A device, method and system for generating a plasma is disclosed wherein an electrical arc is established and the movement of the electrical arc is selectively controlled. In one example, modular units are coupled to one another to collectively define a chamber. Each modular unit may include an electrode and a cathode spaced apart and configured to generate an arc therebetween. A device, such as a magnetic or electromagnetic device, may be used to selectively control the movement of the arc about a longitudinal axis of the chamber. The arcs of individual modules may be individually controlled so as to exhibit similar or dissimilar motions about the longitudinal axis of the chamber. In another embodiment, an inlet structure may be used to selectively define the flow path of matter introduced into the chamber such that it travels in a substantially circular or helical path within the chamber.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 28, 2006
Date of Patent:
June 22, 2010
Assignee:
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
Inventors:
Peter C. Kong, Jon D. Grandy, Brent A. Detering
Abstract: A product includes actinium-225 (225Ac) and less than about 1 microgram (?g) of iron (Fe) per millicurie (mCi) of actinium-225. The product may have a radioisotopic purity of greater than about 99.99 atomic percent (at %) actinium-225 and daughter isotopes of actinium-225, and may be formed by a method that includes providing a radioisotope mixture solution comprising at least one of uranium-233 (233U) and thorium-229 (229Th), extracting the at least one of uranium-233 and thorium-229 into an organic phase, substantially continuously contacting the organic phase with an aqueous phase, substantially continuously extracting actinium-225 into the aqueous phase, and purifying the actinium-225 from the aqueous phase. In some embodiments, the product may include less than about 1 nanogram (ng) of iron per millicurie (mCi) of actinium-225, and may include less than about 1 microgram (?g) each of magnesium (Mg), Chromium (Cr), and manganese (Mn) per millicurie (mCi) of actinium-225.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 3, 2006
Date of Patent:
June 15, 2010
Assignee:
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
Inventors:
David Herbert Meikrantz, Terry Allen Todd, Troy Joseph Tranter, E. Philip Horwitz
Abstract: Radiation analysis devices include circuitry configured to determine respective radiation count data for a plurality of sections of an area of interest and combine the radiation count data of individual of sections to determine whether a selected radioactive material is present in the area of interest. An amount of the radiation count data for an individual section is insufficient to determine whether the selected radioactive material is present in the individual section. An article of manufacture includes media comprising programming configured to cause processing circuitry to perform processing comprising determining one or more correction factors based on a calibration of a radiation analysis device, measuring radiation received by the radiation analysis device using the one or more correction factors, and presenting information relating to an amount of radiation measured by the radiation analysis device having one of a plurality of specified radiation energy levels of a range of interest.
Abstract: An enzyme isolated from an extremophilic microbe, and a method for utilizing same is described, and wherein the enzyme displays optimum enzymatic activity at a temperature of greater than about 80° C., and a pH of less than about 2, and further may be useful in methodology including pretreatment of a biomass so as to facilitate the production of an end product.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 2, 2005
Date of Patent:
June 1, 2010
Assignee:
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
Inventors:
Vicki S. Thompson, David N. Thompson, Kastli D. Schaller, William A. Apel
Abstract: Methods of removing contaminant matter from porous materials include applying a polymer material to a contaminated surface, irradiating the contaminated surface to cause redistribution of contaminant matter, and removing at least a portion of the polymer material from the surface. Systems for decontaminating a contaminated structure comprising porous material include a radiation device configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward a surface of a structure, and at least one spray device configured to apply a capture material onto the surface of the structure. Polymer materials that can be used in such methods and systems include polyphosphazine-based polymer materials having polyphosphazine backbone segments and side chain groups that include selected functional groups.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 12, 2006
Date of Patent:
May 25, 2010
Assignee:
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
Inventors:
Robert V. Fox, Recep Avci, Gary S. Groenewold
Abstract: Aspects of the invention include methods to produce jet fuel from biological oil sources. The method may be comprised of two steps: hydrocracking and reforming. The process may be self-sufficient in heat and hydrogen.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 17, 2007
Date of Patent:
May 18, 2010
Assignee:
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
Inventors:
Daniel M. Ginosar, Lucia M. Petkovic, David N. Thompson
Abstract: A method for the electrochemical synthesis of dinitro compounds is disclosed. The method comprises using an anode to oxidize an inactive chemical mediator, such as a ferrocyanide (Fe(CN)6?4) ion, to an active chemical mediator or oxidizing agent, such as a ferricyanide (Fe(CN)6?3) ion, in the presence of a differential voltage. The oxidizing agent reacts with a nitro compound and a nitrite ion to form a geminal dinitro compound. The anode may continuously oxidize ferrocyanide to regenerate active ferricyanide, thus keeping sufficient amounts of ferricyanide available for reaction.
Abstract: Pollution control substances may be formed from the combustion of oil shale, which may produce a kerogen-based pyrolysis gas and shale sorbent, each of which may be used to reduce, absorb, or adsorb pollutants in pollution producing combustion processes, pyrolysis processes, or other reaction processes. Pyrolysis gases produced during the combustion or gasification of oil shale may also be used as a combustion gas or may be processed or otherwise refined to produce synthetic gases and fuels.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 27, 2006
Date of Patent:
May 4, 2010
Assignee:
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
Inventors:
Richard D. Boardman, Robert A. Carrington
Abstract: An extraction agent for the separation of trivalent actinides from lanthanides in an acidic media and a method for forming same are described, and wherein the methodology produces a stable regiospecific and/or stereospecific dithiophosphinic acid that can operate in an acidic media having a pH of less than about 7.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 21, 2005
Date of Patent:
April 27, 2010
Assignee:
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
Inventors:
John R. Klaehn, Mason K. Harrup, Jack D. Law, Dean R. Peterman
Abstract: A collimator including a housing having disposed therein a shield element surrounding a converter core in which a photon beam is generated from electrons emanating from a linear accelerator. A beam channeler longitudinally adjacent the shield element has a beam aperture therethrough coaxially aligned with, and of the same diameter as, an exit bore of the converter core. A larger entry bore in the converter core is coaxial with, and longitudinally separated from, the exit bore thereof. Systems incorporating the collimator are also disclosed.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 9, 2008
Publication date:
April 15, 2010
Applicant:
BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLC
Inventors:
DAREN R. NORMAN, WOO Y. YOON, JAMES L. JONES, KEVIN J. HASKELL, BRION D. BENNETT, CHARLES W. TSCHAGGENY, WARREN F. JONES
Abstract: A method for analyzing a biological sample by antibody profiling for identifying forensic samples or for detecting the presence of an analyte. In an embodiment of the invention, the analyte is a drug, such as marijuana, Cocaine (crystalline tropane alkaloid), methamphetamine, methyltestosterone, or mesterolone. The method comprises attaching antigens to a surface of a solid support in a preselected pattern to form an array wherein locations of the antigens are known; contacting the array with the biological sample such that a portion of antibodies in the sample reacts with and binds to the antigens in the array to form immune complexes; washing away antibodies that do form immune complexes; and detecting the immune complexes, to form an antibody profile. Forensic samples are identified by comparing a sample from an unknown source with a sample from a known source.
Abstract: A device for collection of radionuclides includes a mixture of a polymer, a fluorescent organic scintillator and a chemical extractant. A radionuclide detector system includes a collection device comprising a mixture of a polymer, a fluorescent agent and a selective ligand. The system includes at least one photomultiplier tube (PMT). A method of detecting radionuclides includes providing a collector device comprising a mixture comprising a polymer, a fluorescent organic scintillator and a chemical extractant. An aqueous environment is exposed to the device and radionuclides are collected from the environment. Radionuclides can be concentrated within the device.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 3, 2008
Publication date:
April 8, 2010
Applicant:
BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLC
Inventors:
TROY J. TRANTER, CHRISTOPHER P. OERTEL, JOHN R. GILES, NICHOLAS R. MANN, MICHAEL E. MCILWAIN
Abstract: A method of removing at least one polar component from a fluid stream. The method comprises providing a fluid stream comprising at least one nonpolar component and at least one polar component. The fluid stream is contacted with a supercritical solvent to remove the at least one polar component. The at least one nonpolar component may be a fat or oil and the at least one polar component may be water, dirt, detergents, or mixtures thereof. The supercritical solvent may decrease solubility of the at least one polar component in the fluid stream. The supercritical solvent may function as a solvent or as a gas antisolvent. The supercritical solvent may dissolve the nonpolar components of the fluid stream, such as fats or oils, while the polar components may be substantially insoluble. Alternatively, the supercritical solvent may be used to increase the nonpolarity of the fluid stream.
Abstract: A self-recharging battery comprising a generator and an energy storage device contained within the battery case. The generator comprises a magnetic structure configured to generate a compressed magnetic field and a coil configured to focus the compressed magnetic field in electrical conductive elements of the coil.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 26, 2006
Date of Patent:
March 30, 2010
Assignee:
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
Inventors:
Eric Jay Yarger, John Morrison, John Grant Richardson, David Frazer Spencer, Dale W. Christiansen
Abstract: Combustible structural composites and methods of forming same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a combustible structural composite includes combustible material comprising a fuel metal and a metal oxide. The fuel metal is present in the combustible material at a weight ratio from 1:9 to 1:1 of the fuel metal to the metal oxide. The fuel metal and the metal oxide are capable of exothermically reacting upon application of energy at or above a threshold value to support self-sustaining combustion of the combustible material within the composite. Structural-reinforcing fibers are present in the composite at a weight ratio from 1:20 to 10:1 of the structural-reinforcing fibers to the combustible material. Other embodiments and aspects are disclosed.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 19, 2008
Publication date:
March 25, 2010
Applicant:
BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLC
Inventors:
MICHAEL A. DANIELS, RONALD J. HEAPS, ERIC D. STEFFLER, W. DAVID SWANK
Abstract: Network traffic monitoring devices and monitoring systems include a communication module for capturing wireless communications of a wireless device. Processing circuitry is coupled with the communications module and configured to form a new cluster or refine an existing cluster from the captured wireless communications, in which the cluster includes wireless communications having one or more relevant parameters. The processing circuitry is also configured to generate/refine at least one rule set relating to the clusters, create an updated rule set by combining the one or more rule sets to current rule sets, and to compare the captured wireless communications to the updated rule set to determine whether the wireless communications pose a potential threat. Methods of monitoring network traffic are also provided.