Abstract: A method of mechanically processing a metallic material component is provided whereby alloying, carburizing, nitriding and boriding can be performed using a friction stir processing tool. This method for mechanically processing metallic material surfaces is cost effective, efficient and does not require specialized equipment.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for concentrating rare earth elements (REEs) from a coal byproduct. The method includes mixing the coal byproduct input with aluminum phosphate, sulfur and/or other compounds used as an additive; heating the coal byproduct input in air for a period of 3 minutes or longer at a temperature above a liquid starting temperature of the coal byproduct input, forming a molten coal byproduct; cooling the molten coal byproduct at a rate slower than critical glass transition cooling rate of the melt, forming REE phosphate product; heating the coal byproduct input above the liquid starting temperature of the coal byproduct after REE phosphate product is formed; and cooling the coal byproduct input at a rate faster than the critical glass transition cooling rate of the melt, minimizing forming unwanted solids.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for H2 sensing in a gas stream utilizing a hydrogen sensing material. The hydrogen sensing material is comprised of Pd-based or Pt-based nanoparticles having an average nanoparticle diameter of less than about 100 nanometers dispersed in an inert matrix having a bandgap greater than or equal to 5 eV, and an oxygen ion conductivity less than approximately 10?7 S/cm at a temperature of 700° C. Exemplary inert matrix materials include SiO2, Al2O3, and Si3N4 as well as modifications to modify the effective refractive indices through combinations and/or doping of such materials. Additional exemplary matrix materials consist of zeolitic and zeolite-derivative structures which are microporous and/or nanoporous such as the alumino-silicates and the dealuminated zeolite NaA structures.

Abstract: A reaction apparatus includes a hollow chamber with a stirring shaft. The chamber is maintained at a predetermined pressure and accepts at least two reactants from two storage tanks. The stirring shaft rotates around an axis and creates a reaction product. Taylor vortexes are created while the pressure minimizes the volume possession of the gas phase. The reaction product of micron and sub-micron particles is removed from the chamber and depressurized.

Abstract: A single-heating stage method for reclaiming or recovering metals like nickel and vanadium from a petroleum waste byproduct has three steps: melting the petroleum waste byproduct in a reducing atmosphere, generating agglomerated metal in the melted byproduct, and lifting the agglomerated metal to an exposed surface of the melted byproduct. The metal precipitates out of the molten byproduct, agglomerates into a separate portion, and rises to an exposed surface of the melted petroleum waste byproduct even though the metal may have greater density than the molten petroleum waste byproduct. The original petroleum waste byproduct stratifies into a byproduct remnant and the agglomerated metal disk. The agglomerated metal disk is separable from the byproduct remnant and may be additionally separated into constituent metals in those embodiments with multiple metals in the disk.

Abstract: A method to separate rare earth material from a rare earth magnet. At least one embodiment comprises a method that heats a provided rare earth magnet to at least 600° C. whereby the rare earth magnet absorbs a dry gas. Separated rare earth materials are created. Magnetic rare earth materials are produced from the separated rare earth materials.

Abstract: The present invention comprise an elastic piston system for the conversion of solar energy to electrical energy, the system comprising a solar energy concentrator 202, and at least two solar energy conversion cells 200 being configured to receive the sunlight 204 reflected from the solar energy concentrator 202. The solar energy conversion cell 200 comprises at least two elastic piston 302, 304 components. The elastic pistons 302, 304 being coupled via a conduit 314, 416 for the transmittal of a predetermined working fluid 418. The elastic pistons 302, 304 are configured to receive polarized sunlight and generate electrical energy in response to the reception of the polarized sunlight, The solar energy conversion cell further comprises a controller 306 component, The controller 306 being configured to regulate the compression cycles within the elastic piston 302, 304 components and extract electrical energy produced within the cell 200.

Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to providing substrate for separating a first gas component from a gaseous mixture, said substrate comprising a benzimidazole-linked polymer. Also provided is a method for synthesizing a substrate for separating a first gas component from a gaseous mixture, the method comprising performing a free condensation reaction between an aryl-o-diamine and an aryl-aldehyde to yield a benzimidazole-linked polymer. Other embodiments related to providing a CO2 separation membrane comprising benzimidazole-linked polymer residing within a matrix.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to methods, systems And apparatus tor generating lithium from brine. The brine is heated in a first vessel to greater than 260° C. and CO2 gas is injected mixing with the brine such that the CO2/P is greater than 18 g/atm. The brine is held at greater than 18 g/atm for longer than 20 minutes so that any impurities precipitate as solids leaving only lithium ions and chlorine ions. The brine is moved to a second vessel screening out solid precipitates leaving a brine containing only chlorine and lithium. CO2 gas is injected and mixed with the brine at 260° C. so that the CO2/P is greater than 200 g/atm. The brine is held at greater than 200 g/atm for longer than 20 minutes suppressing the chlorine as dissolved ions while lithium precipitates out as lithium carbonate. The lithium carbonate precipitate is removed from the brine solution.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermocouple assembly having a resilient mount; a buffer having a first side and a second side, with the buffer first side connecting with the resilient mount; an insulator having a first side and a second side, with the insulator first side connecting with the buffer second side; and a thermocouple having a first side and a second side, the thermocouple first side connecting with the insulator second side, and the thermocouple second side being configured to be in thermal contact with an object to be measured.

Abstract: A solar cell system is formed with a dynamic surface relief grating. Movement members are actuated by a controller to produce a force on the reflective surface. The reflective surface deforms in response to the force creating a surface relief grating that can adapt to changing light conditions.

Abstract: A non-circular coolant passage is disclosed, which includes one or more walls axially defining a flow path; an inlet connecting to a first end of the flow path; and an exit connecting to a second end of the flow path, wherein a size of a passage cross-section varies in the axial direction. In certain exemplary embodiments the passage cross-section size varies uniformly, while in others the passage cross-section size varies incrementally. In certain exemplary embodiments, an angular orientation of the passage cross-section varies in the axial direction. The cross-section angular orientation can vary uniformly, incrementally, or a combination of both. In still other embodiments, both the size of the passage cross-section and the angular orientation of the passage cross-section vary in the axial direction. In these embodiments, the passage cross-section size and/or the angular orientation of the passage cross-section can vary uniformly, incrementally, and/or a combination of the two.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Cu33Al17 alloys and Cu33Al17-based bulk alloys and coatings that exhibit significantly increased hardness characteristics compared to traditional copper-aluminum alloys.

Abstract: The invention relates to the ROANEX method, which extracts actinides from used nuclear fuel in a single purification cycle. The used nuclear fuel contains actinides, U, Am, Pu, Np. and Cm, and fission products, Cs, Sr and Tc. The fission products are separated first from the used nuclear fuel. The actinides are reduced to their lowest oxidation states and then oxidized to their highest oxidations states. Uranium, Pu and Np move to an organic phase solution and Am and Cm move to a nitrate solution. Uranium, Pu, and Np are stripped from the organic phase solution, and then treated with an oxalic acid to form a precipitate. Americium and Cm are treated with a potassium carbonate solution and Am precipitates. Actinides Am, U, Pu, and Np precipitates are heated in an oven and then blended together to form a mixed oxide fuel of UO2, PuO2, NpO2 and AmO2.

Abstract: A system disaggregates and estimates power consumption of electric loads powered by a single electrical outlet. The system includes a processor having a routine; a current sensor cooperating with the processor to measure samples for one line cycle of an aggregated current waveform for the electric loads powered by the single electrical outlet; and a voltage sensor cooperating with the processor to measure samples for the one line cycle of a voltage waveform for the electric loads powered by the single electrical outlet. The processor routine transfers the measured samples for the one line cycle of the aggregated current waveform and the voltage waveform into an aggregated voltage-current trajectory for the single electrical outlet, and provides an instantaneous decomposition of power consumption for a plurality of different categories of the electric loads from the aggregated voltage-current trajectory for the one line cycle.

Abstract: A nuclear thermoacoustic device includes a housing defining an interior chamber and a portion of nuclear fuel disposed in the interior chamber. A stack is disposed in the interior chamber and has a hot end and a cold end. The stack is spaced from the portion of nuclear fuel with the hot end directed toward the portion of nuclear fuel. The stack and portion of nuclear fuel are positioned such that an acoustic standing wave is produced in the interior chamber. A frequency of the acoustic standing wave depends on a temperature in the interior chamber.

Abstract: The present subject matter discloses a method of measuring a peak load, including the steps of placing an indenter between a first surface and a second surface, exerting a load on at least one of the first and second surfaces, measuring at least one of a width, depth, radial chord length, and cross-sectional area of an indentation formed by the indenter in at least one of the first and second surfaces; and converting the measured parameter into a load value. Certain methods further include the steps of converting the measured parameter into a load per length value and obtaining a load value by integrating along a circumferential length of the indentation. In still other methods, the exerted load is a compressive load.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides an alloy with a density greater than 10 g/cm3, the alloy comprising a single phase solution of tungsten, nickel, and iron. Also provided is a cone liner for use in shaped charges, the liner comprised of a tungsten, nickel, iron alloy having a single phase microstructure. Substantially no precipitates or second phases exist in the alloy.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of sensor devices comprising a sensing component able to determine the presence of, detect, and/or quantify detectable species in a variety of environments and applications. The sensing components disclosed herein can comprise MOF materials, plasmonic nanomaterials, redox-active molecules, a metal, or any combinations thereof. In some exemplary embodiments, optical properties of the plasmonic nanomaterials and/or the redox-active molecules combined with MOF materials can be monitored directly to detect analyte species through their impact on external conditions surrounding the material or as a result of charge transfer to and from the plasmonic nanomaterial and/or the redox-active molecule as a result of interactions with the MOF material.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the pH of an aqueous solution by utilizing the optical properties of a pH sensing material includes optically active nanoparticles fixed to a substrate. The optically active nanoparticles have a localized refractive index modulation over a pH range from 2.0 to 12.0 of at least 1% and, where the plurality of optically active nanoparticles have an average nanoparticle diameter of less than about 500 nanometers. The method includes contacting the pH sensing material with the aqueous solution, illuminating the pH sensing material, and monitoring an optical signal generated through comparison of incident light and exiting light to determine the optical transmission, absorption, reflection, and/or scattering of the pH sensitive material. The optical signal of the pH sensitive material varies in response to the pH of the aqueous solution, providing a means by which the pH and any changes in the pH may be analyzed.