Patents Assigned to ENERGY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
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Patent number: 11953443Abstract: An actively Q-switched laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) probe, utilizing an optical fiber, a pump beam transmitted through the optical fiber, a coupler, and a lens for collimating the pump beam. The actively Q-switched laser, coupled to a sensor which provides information to a computer that controls a high voltage pulser providing a pulse to a Pockels cell located within the laser which can selectively cause the laser to pulse, resulting in high energy pulses and a second lens for focusing the output pulse such that it creates a plasma or spark. The light from the spark is captured and directed back through an optical system to remote equipment for elemental and/or molecular analysis.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Energy, United States Department ofInventors: Dustin Langdon McIntyre, Daniel Allen Hartzler
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Patent number: 11866555Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a composition comprising a crosslinked blend of polyphosphazene polymers. The composition comprises a first polyphosphazene and a second polyphosphazene, where the first polyphosphazene and the second polyphosphazene being bound by a thiol bearing crosslinking agent. Such compositions are useful as a membrane material for the separation of gasses in a gaseous mixture.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2019Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Energy, United States Department ofInventors: David Hopkinson, Victor Armanda Kusuma, Surendar R. Venna, Joshua S. McNally, Christopher J. Orme, Frederick F. Stewart
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Patent number: 11708279Abstract: Embodiments relate to methods for generating selected materials from a natural brine, where the natural brine is sea water, saline water, fresh water, synthetic solutions, or industrial liquid wastes. A natural brine comprising at least a portion of a selected material is heated. CO2 is added and mixes with the natural brine forming a mixture such that the CO2/P is a first predetermined value. The mixture is held so that impurities in the natural brine precipitate as solids leaving a second brine substantially comprising the selected material. The second brine is heated. CO2 gas is injected into the second brine, mixing so that the CO2/P is a second predetermined value. The mixture is held so that the selected material precipitates out and are removed.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2019Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Energy, United States Department ofInventors: Jinichiro Nakano, Anna Nakano, James P. Bennett
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Patent number: 11535518Abstract: The invention provides a method for the production of graphene-structured products. The method generally comprises contacting at a conversion temperature ranging from about 850° C. to about 1100° C. in an inert atmosphere coal with a molten salt to produce a graphene-structured product. In an alternate embodiment, the method comprises contacting at a conversion temperature ranging from about 850° C. to about 1100° C. in an inert atmosphere coal with a molten salt to produce a graphene-structured product; and, separating a rare earth element from the graphene-structured product.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Energy, United States Department ofInventors: Fan Shi, McMahan L. Gray, Christopher Matranga, Tuo Ji
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Patent number: 11466344Abstract: This disclosure provides alloy compositions comprising the main constituent elements iron, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, and chromium. In one embodiment, the alloy comprises 10.0 to 30.0 wt % iron; 30.0 to 60.0 wt % nickel; 10.0 to 25.0 wt % cobalt; 1.0 to 15.0 wt % molybdenum; 15.0 to 25.0 wt % chromium by weight; where the sum of iron and nickel is at least 50 wt %; and, where the balance comprises minor elements, the total amount of minor elements being about 5% or less by weight. The alloy compositions have use as coatings to protect metals and alloys from corrosion in extreme environments where corrosion is a major concern such as with exposure to sea water or sea water with CO2.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Energy, United States Department ofInventors: Jeffrey A. Hawk, Paul D. Jablonski, Malgorzata Ziomek-Moroz, Joseph H. Tylczak, Michael C. Gao, Alvaro A. Rodriguez
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Patent number: 11433385Abstract: This disclosure provides a method to produce highly attrition resistant pellets by encapsulating reactive components in a vitrified clay outer layer. The reactive component mixture is present relative to the clay substrate in a weight ratio of part per 60-100 part to about 60 parts of the clay substrate. The reactive components are agglomerated first, and clay substrate is added to form the outer layer of the pellet. The pellets are calcined at temperatures above 1200 C to form a vitrified clay semi porous outer layer providing high strength to the pellet while facilitating the gas transfer for the reaction with the encapsulated reactive components. Pellets containing CuO—Fe2O3-alumina oxygen carrier for chemical looping combustion of fuel demonstrated high attrition resistance and high reactivity with methane.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2019Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Energy, United States Department ofInventors: Ranjani Siriwardane, Jarrett Riley
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Patent number: 11427467Abstract: The invention provides a calcined Fex—Aly—Oz based catalyst for the decomposition of hydrocarbons such as methane to produce hydrogen and carbon. The catalyst comprises iron oxide mixed with aluminum oxide and calcined at temperatures above 1100° C., where Fex—Aly—Oz is a chemical composition with x>0.1, y>0.1, z?0 and 0<x/y<200. Reaction of the calcined Fex—Aly—Oz catalyst with methane generates a product stream comprising at least 40 vol. % H2 and carbon. In an embodiment, carbon is separated from the catalyst and the catalyst is reused for continuous methane decomposition to produce H2.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2019Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Energy, United States Department ofInventors: Ranjani Siriwardane, William Benincosa, Jarrett Riley
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Patent number: 11352712Abstract: One or more embodiments relate to a method for controlling fiber growth and fiber diameter in a laser heated pedestal growth (LHPG) system so as to provide long, continuous single-crystal optical fibers of uniform diameter. The method generally provides three independent parameter feedback controls to control the molten zone height, laser power, and fiber drawing rates simultaneously in order to reduce the mismatch between instantaneous diameter changes and current diameter. The method permits the growth of fibers with non-uniform diameters along the fiber's length. The method also provides the capability to stop the LHPG system, remove the exhausted pedestal feedstock with a second pedestal feedstock, and restart the LHPG system to provide a continuous fiber.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Energy, United States Department ofInventors: Michael P. Buric, Bo Liu
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Patent number: 11262289Abstract: Embodiments relate to methods, systems and apparatus for detecting corrosion using a detector apparatus with a host component. The method includes a detector apparatus. The detector apparatus includes an energy source; a corrosion proxy thin film that corrodes at a rate where the normalized change of mass of the film over time is greater than the normalized change of mass of the bulk material of the host component in a harsh environment; and the detector, wherein the detector is capable of detecting a change in energy due to corrosion of the corrosion proxy thin film. The method includes exposing the host component and the corrosion proxy thin film to the harsh environment; and detecting a change in energy using the detector due to corrosion of the corrosion proxy thin film.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2016Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Energy, United States Department ofInventors: Paul R. Ohodnicki, Jr., Malgorzata Ziomek-Moroz
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Publication number: 20200283874Abstract: This disclosure provides alloy compositions comprising the main constituent elements iron, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, and chromium. In one embodiment, the alloy comprises 10.0 to 30.0 wt % iron; 30.0 to 60.0 wt % nickel; 10.0 to 25.0 wt % cobalt; 1.0 to 15.0 wt % molybdenum; 15.0 to 25.0 wt % chromium by weight; where the sum of iron and nickel is at least 50 wt %; and, where the balance comprises minor elements, the total amount of minor elements being about 5% or less by weight. The alloy compositions have use as coatings to protect metals and alloys from corrosion in extreme environments where corrosion is a major concern such as with exposure to sea water or sea water with CO2.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: Energy, United States Department ofInventors: Jeffrey A. Hawk, Paul D. Jablonski, Malgorzata Ziomek-Moroz, Joseph H. Tylczak, Michael C. Gao, Alvaro A. Rodriguez
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Publication number: 20190358585Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for the separation of a gas constituent from a gaseous mixture. The disclosure also provides polyethylene glycol disubstituted siloxane based solvents for use in the method. These solvents are of use for pre-combustion CO2 capture and are capable of replacing glycol-based solvents while offering operation at a higher temperature region. These solvents are also of use for generation of hydrogen from reformed natural gas or syngas, adjusting CO/H2 ratio for Coal & Biomass to Liquids, removal of CO2 from syngas for coal & biomass to NH3/Fertilizer, natural gas sweetening, and upgrading of landfill and biogas.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2018Publication date: November 28, 2019Applicant: Energy, United States Department ofInventors: DAVID P. HOPKINSON, NICHOLAS SIEFERT, ROBERT L. THOMPSON, MEGAN MACALA, LEI HONG
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Publication number: 20110042351Abstract: A novel method of forming large atomically flat areas is described in which a crystalline substrate having a stepped surface is exposed to a vapor of another material to deposit a material onto the substrate, which material under appropriate conditions self arranges to form 3D islands across the substrate surface. These islands are atomically flat at their top surface, and conform to the stepped surface of the substrate below at the island-substrate interface. Thereafter, the deposited materials are etched away, in the etch process the atomically flat surface areas of the islands transferred to the underlying substrate. Thereafter the substrate may be cleaned and annealed to remove any remaining unwanted contaminants, and eliminate any residual defects that may have remained in the substrate surface as a result of pre-existing imperfections of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2009Publication date: February 24, 2011Applicant: ENERGY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OFInventors: Farid El Gabaly, Andreas K. Schmid
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Patent number: 5044765Abstract: A heat flux gauge comprising first and second thermographic phosphor layers separated by a layer of a thermal insulator. The gauge may be mounted on a surface with the first thermographic phosphor in contact with the surface. A light source is directed at the gauge, causing the phosphors to luminesce. The luminescence produced by the phosphors is collected and its spectra analyzed in order to determine the heat flux on the surface. First and second phosphor layers must be different materials to assure that the spectral lines collected will be distinguishable.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1990Date of Patent: September 3, 1991Assignee: United States Department of Energy and United States Department of Air ForceInventors: Bruce W. Noel, Henry M. Borella, Michael R. Cates, W. Dale Turley, Charles D. MaCarthur, Gregory C. Cala