Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbons from an underground formation having an array of horizontal wells has the steps of: inserting one or more heater strings into at least one heater well section, the heater string comprising a heating element and a flow passage for transporting fluid from a fluid input to at least one injection port; activating the heating element of the heater string to heat the formation sufficient to produce hydrocarbons from the formation immediately adjacent to the at least one heater well section; heating and injecting a solvent into the at least one heater well in the gaseous phase through the at least one injection port of the heater string such that the solvent is injected into the voidage in the at least one heater well section created by the produced hydrocarbons; and producing hydrocarbons from at least one producer well.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for preparing sugar compositions. The methods include: i) forming a mixture including polysaccharide biomass and an ionic liquid solution, wherein the ionic liquid solution contains water and an ionic liquid, and the ionic liquid contains a) a cation and b) a sugar acid anion or a ketoacid anion; ii) maintaining the mixture under conditions sufficient to dissolve at least a portion of the polysaccharide present in the polysaccharide biomass; iii) adding at least one glycoside hydrolase to the mixture; and iv) maintaining the mixture containing the glycoside hydrolase under conditions sufficient to hydrolyze at least a portion of the dissolved polysaccharide, thereby forming the sugar compositions. The sugar compositions contain at least one monosaccharide or oligosaccharide. New sugar-based ionic liquids are also described.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to controlling power delivery to a consumer appliance in a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a connection signal from the consumer appliance indicating presence of the consumer appliance. The method also includes directly providing electrical power from a propulsion device providing DC voltage to the consumer appliance without substantially lowering a voltage level of the propulsion device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a construct including a porous core, a cargo, and a spacer disposed between the core and the cargo. In some examples, the construct further includes an outer layer composed of a lipid, a polymer, or a combination thereof. Methods of making and employing such constructs are also described herein.

Abstract: An anti-clogging liquid dispersion system and method for an air conditioner or heat pump is disclosed. A tank holds an anti-clogging liquid. A pump or valve connected with the tank periodically supplies the liquid to a condensate drain pan or the outlet of an existing drain line located exteriorly of a structure. One or more sensors are provided to detect moisture, flooding and/or lack of condensate flow and, when so detected, a control circuit causes the liquid to be supplied to the condensate drain pan to prevent flooding of a condensate drain pan or to clear a clogged drain line of an air handler of the air conditioner or heat pump. An additional dose of the liquid can also be supplied at any time when an unacceptable amount of condensate moisture and/or a clogged drain line has been detected.

Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring a wheelchair are provided. One embodiment of a method includes receiving a passenger-specific setting for the wheelchair, determining that a chair component of the wheelchair is removably coupled to a power base component, and in response to determining that the chair component and the power base component are coupled, communicating the passenger-specific setting to the chair component. In some embodiments, in response to receiving the passenger-specific setting, implementing the passenger-specific setting, where implementing the passenger-specific setting includes altering a physical property of the wheelchair.

Abstract: Fungi that are genetically inactivated for the mstC gene (or a homolog thereof) are provided, which can also be genetically modified to increase production of heterologous proteins from a glucoamylase promoter. Methods of using these fungi, for example to degrade a biomass, are also provided.

Abstract: Solar receivers including a plurality of multi-scale solar absorbing surfaces arranged such that light or heat reflected from or emitted from one or more of the plurality of solar absorbing surfaces impinges one or more other solar absorbing surfaces of the solar receiver. The disclosed receivers increase the amount of absorbed energy from a concentrated light source, such as a heliostat field, and reduce radiative and convective heat losses.

Abstract: An air filter and methods are provided for optimizing filtration of an airstream passing through a volume within an air cleaner cover of an internal combustion engine. The air filter comprises a base plate that includes an inlet receiver for passing the airstream into an air inlet of the engine. A top plate comprises a receiver for fastening the air cleaner cover onto the air filter. Countersinks in the top plate and sleeves extending through the air filter facilitate fastening the air filter onto the air inlet of the engine. The air filter has a tapering height along a length of the air filter to maximize the total surface area of a filter medium within the volume between the air cleaner cover and the engine, and to take advantage of a relatively greater airflow due to a ram air opening in the air cleaner cover.

Abstract: Gas treatment systems and processes for reducing tail gas emissions such as SO2, SO3, H2SO4, NOx, HC, CO, and other pollutants are provided. The processes include transferring tail gas from at least one source of tail gas to at least one destination sulphuric acid plant via a tail gas transfer system, wherein the tail gas replaces or supplements one or more of the combustion gas, air feed, dilution gas, and quench gas used by the destination sulphuric acid plant. The systems include at least one destination sulphuric acid plant and a tail gas transfer system for transferring tail gas from at least one source of tail gas to the at least one destination sulphuric acid plant. The systems and processes described herein may be used to eliminate start-up emissions and/or convert sulphur-containing species present in tail gas emissions into commercial H2SO4.

Abstract: A fluid coupler includes: an outer body; an end connector being at least partially received inside the outer body and configured to receive pressurized fluid; an inner body received inside the outer body, the inner body being moveable with respect to the outer body; a seat holder and a valve seat both located inside of the inner body, the valve seat being configured to press against an inner surface of the inner body to close the fluid coupler; a connector partially housed within the inner body, the connector comprising a first end secured to the seat holder and a second end. The fluid coupler defines a pressurized fluid flow path enabling pressurized fluid to contact and pressurize the end connector, the inner body, the seat holder, and the connector without contacting and pressurizing the outer body.

Abstract: A coil spring for use in a cavity, such as in a groove of a pin, a housing, or both. The cavity can also be part of a seal assembly. The coil spring can have a longitudinal component positioned within the plurality of interconnected coils that runs along the spring coil axis in order to increase rigidity of the coil spring. The longitudinal component applies a load against the coil spring and/or provides restriction against the coil spring taking a shape or size different than that of the coil spring retaining groove.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel and improved processes for treating a lignocellulosic biomass or technical lignin using ionic liquids to obtain lignin breakdown products and polysaccharide biomass components. Recycling of ionic liquids can be included in the methods of the invention.

Abstract: A gap joint for use with a gap sub for electromagnetic telemetry. The gap joint has a replaceable uphole shoulder on the male gap joint component, which may be composed of a sacrificial material, to extend gap joint useful life where there is electrolysis of the component outside diameter. The gap joint also has a thicker outside diameter seal to reduce the risk of underlying O-ring extrusion and failure, again extending gap joint useful life. The thicker seal may also be able to withstand higher pressures before collapsing or experiencing punctures in unsupported areas. The replaceable shoulder and outside diameter seal can be used separately or together in a gap joint.

Abstract: A computational memory for a computer. The memory includes a memory bank having a selected-row buffer and being configured to store records up to a number, K. The memory also includes an accumulator connected to the memory bank, the accumulator configured to store up to K records. The memory also includes an arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) connected to the accumulator and to the selected row buffer of the memory bank, the ALU having an indirect network of 2K ports for reading and writing records in the memory bank and the accumulator, and the ALU further physically configured to operate as a sorting network. The memory also includes a controller connected to the memory bank, the ALU, and the accumulator, the controller being hardware configured to direct operation of the ALU.

Abstract: The modular wheelchair system includes an upper component, and an autonomous power base configured to detachably couple to the upper component. The autonomous power base includes one or more processors, one or more memory modules, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the autonomous power base to: determine whether the upper component is separated from the autonomous power base; and navigate to a location in response to determination that the upper component is detached from the autonomous power base.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a vehicle makes a determination, during a second ignition-on cycle of the vehicle, that a trailer brake output circuit of the vehicle was operated during a first ignition-on cycle of the vehicle preceding the second ignition-on cycle. In response to making the determination, the vehicle presents a query, via a user interface of the vehicle, whether to operate the trailer brake output circuit according to a previously-used trailer profile according to which the trailer brake output circuit was operated during the first ignition-on cycle preceding the second ignition-on cycle. The vehicle receives a reply, associated with the query, via the user interface and, in response to receiving the reply, operates the trailer brake output circuit based on the reply.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for retrofitting data collection systems in an electrical power system. In one embodiment, a retrofit system includes a wireless current sensor. The wireless current sensor includes a current monitoring subsystem to generate a digitized representation of a current measurement of an alternating current signal in an electrical conductor, a power harvesting subsystem to harvest power from the electrical conductor, and a first wireless communication subsystem to transmit the digitized representation of the current measurement. An analog-to-digital converter includes at least one analog input in electrical communication with a voltage signal associated with the electrical conductor and a digital output to generate a digitized representation of the voltage signal. An intelligent electronic device in communication with a second wireless communication subsystem and the ADC may provide the digitized representations to a main processor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device package includes a first substrate, a dielectric layer, a thin film transistor (TFT) and an electronic component. The first substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The dielectric layer is disposed on the first surface of the first substrate. The dielectric layer has a first surface facing away from the first substrate and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The TFT layer is disposed on the dielectric layer. The electronic component is disposed on the second surface of the first substrate. A roughness of the first surface of the dielectric layer is less than a roughness of the first surface of the first substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device package includes a display device, an electronic module and a conductive adhesion layer. The display device includes a first substrate and a TFT layer. The first substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The TFT layer is disposed on the first surface of the first substrate. The electronic module includes a second substrate and an electronic component. The second substrate has a first surface facing the second surface of the first substrate and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The electronic component is disposed on the second surface of the second substrate. The conductive adhesion layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.