Abstract: A method for removal of H.sub.2 S from an H.sub.2 S-containing natural gas stream in which a high surface area contactor is inserted into the natural gas stream and at least one H.sub.2 S scavenging agent is injected into the natural gas stream upstream of the contactor, the result of which is the distribution of the H.sub.2 S scavenging agent on at least a portion of at least one surface of the contactor. The distributed H.sub.2 S scavenging agent is contacted with the natural gas stream resulting in absorption of the H.sub.2 S into the H.sub.2 S scavenging agent and reaction therewith, forming at least one byproduct. Thereafter, the byproduct is removed from the natural gas stream.

Abstract: A system for operating a plurality of motors with a single controller is disclosed. This system includes a first motor, a second motor that is matched to the first motor but has a lower power rating than the first motor and a controller electrically driving the first and second motors with a modulated voltage at one frequency selected from one or more frequencies over a complete range of frequencies. The controller generates a frequency of the modulated voltage from the range of frequencies which is proportional to the desired speed for the first and second motors. A method for building such a system is also disclosed. This system and method have particular application to HVAC systems.

Abstract: A dual mode pilot burner having a control flame mode of operation and a pilot flame mode of operation, which dual mode pilot burner is suitable for controlling the fuel/air ratio of a main burner when operating in the control flame mode of operation. The dual mode pilot burner includes a burner body having a control flame holder and a pilot flame holder disposed downstream of the control flame holder, a mixing chamber having a fuel gas inlet, an oxidant inlet, and a mixed gas outlet, which mixed gas outlet is in fluid communication with the control flame holder and a fuel gas control valve for controlling a fuel gas flow rate through the fuel gas inlet into the mixing chamber.

Abstract: A transducer configuration for use in acoustically imaging a target region behind an acoustically reflective layer includes a sonde having a geometrical center and constructed and arranged to support a plurality of transducers. The system includes a first transducer disposed within the sonde at a first distance from the geometrical center for generating a first acoustic pulse and for receiving a first acoustic signal. The acoustic signal comprises a first reflection from the reflective surface, a first set of fluid multiples arising from reflections between the reflective layer and a surface of the first transducer, and a first signal associated with the target area. The system also includes a second transducer disposed within the sonde at a second distance from the geometrical center for generating a second acoustic pulse and for receiving a second acoustic signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for anchoring a tool within a cased borehole wherein at least one piston connected with respect to the tool includes an associated anchor shoe. The anchor shoe has a penetration means, such as a plurality of wheels having a sharp outer periphery, for engagement with the cased borehole. A packer having a rigid component, such as a plurality of concentric rings, is connected with respect to the tool, opposite the piston. The packer may also have a sealing member for creating a sealed engagement between the tool and the cased borehole. When the piston is extended, the anchor shoe contacts the cased borehole and centers the tool with respect to the cased borehole. When the piston is extended, the packer also engages the cased borehole and maintains the position of the tool as well as creating a sealed connection between the tool and the cased borehole.

Abstract: A multi-category gaseous fuel-fired heating apparatus having a combustion chamber, a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, and an induced draft blower in fluid communication with the mixing chamber whereby combustion air is drawn into the combustion chamber for combustion of the gaseous fuel and the flue gases are drawn from the combustion chamber through the mixing chamber and exhausted into either a high temperature flue gas vent or a low temperature flue gas vent. The mixing chamber includes a dilution air inlet which, in a high temperature vent mode of operation of the heating apparatus is sealed off by an orifice plate disposed between the mixing chamber and the induced draft blower, and in a low temperature vent mode, the dilution air inlet is open and a larger blower inlet orifice is used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a fluid distribution regulator disposed in a fluid distribution system in which an intelligent controller is operatively connected to at least one fluid district regulator for controlling the district regulator. At least one intelligent low-pressure monitor is connected to the distribution system at a distance from the fluid district regulator and monitors ambient temperature and fluid pressure in the distribution system. A computer is operatively connected to the intelligent controller and the intelligent monitor and provides status checks and manual overrides of the intelligent controller and the intelligent monitor. An adaptive algorithm proximate the intelligent controller generates a prediction of fluid demand and a corresponding district regulator fluid outlet pressure setting based upon feedback from the intelligent monitor.

Abstract: A modulating furnace includes a first air flow path which directs supply air to one or more combustion burners and through a heat exchanger, and a second air flow path which directs supply air around the one or more burners and heat exchanger. When the firing rate of the burners is lowered, the amount of air to the burners is reduced by diverting a greater fraction of the supply air to the second air flow path. When the firing rate of the burners is raised, less supply air is diverted resulting in greater flow to the burners. The duct furnace achieves ideal combustion at high and low firing rates by maintaining an ideal balance between firing rates and air supplied to the burners.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell stack having a plurality of integral component fuel cell units, each integral component fuel cell unit having a porous anode layer, a porous cathode layer, and a dense electrolyte layer disposed between the porous anode layer and the porous cathode layer. The porous anode layer forms a plurality of substantially parallel fuel gas channels on its surface facing away from the dense electrolyte layer and extending from one side to the opposite side of the anode layer, and the porous cathode layer forms a plurality of substantially parallel oxidant gas channels on its surface facing away from the dense electrolyte layer and extending from one side to the opposite side of the cathode. A flexible metallic foil interconnect is provided between the porous anode and porous cathode of adjacent integral component fuel cell units.

Abstract: A method for detection of a disturbance in a waveguide comprising transmitting a wavefield having symmetric and antisymmetric components from a horizontally and/or vertically polarized source and/or pressure source disposed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the waveguide at one end of the waveguide, recording the horizontal and/or vertical component or a pressure of the wavefield with a vertical array of receivers disposed at the opposite end of the waveguide, separating the wavenumber transform of the wavefield into the symmetric and antisymmetric components, integrating the symmetric and antisymmetric components over a broad frequency range, and comparing the magnitude of the symmetric components and the antisymmetric components to an expected magnitude for the symmetric components and the antisymmetric components for a waveguide of uniform thickness and properties thereby determining whether or not a disturbance is present inside the waveguide.

Abstract: An SOFC anode is provided, which is fabricated from ceria which has been mixed with a nickel oxide-magnesium oxide material to stabilize the nickel against coarsening during high temperature SOFC operation. With a starting material of NiO--MgO solid solution in a cement anode, the MgO will diffuse into zirconia and/or ceria at the appropriate firing temperature for the respective materials. Reduction of NiO in the anode with the fuel during cell operation will result in metallic Ni grains with a fine dispersion of MgO. The dispersion of MgO in Ni retards coarsening of nickel during the high temperature operation of the cell.

Abstract: An apparatus and system, as well as corresponding methods of operation and treatment of air, are provided which make use of a rotatable desiccant bed such as to permit the effective and selective alternative reduction of humidity of incoming air or recovery of heat from air to be discarded.

Abstract: A pilot burner apparatus for use with gas-fired appliances, such as gas-fired water heaters, is provided with a structure configured for the early detection, and response to, the presence of flammable vapor in the atmosphere ambient to the appliance. Combustion air for the pilot burner is taken from that region of the ambient atmosphere, most likely to become contaminated with flammable vapor first. One or more flame characteristics of the pilot burner flame are monitored, and if the flame characteristics depart from a predetermined range of parameters, gas flow to the pilot and main burner(s) of the appliance are cut off. The sensitivity of the pilot burner is such that flammable vapors are detected before the concentration of flammable vapors car rise to the lower flammability limit of the anticipated flammable vapor(s).

Abstract: The present invention allows for the fabrication of an EMAT system that eliminates static charge impulse noise. The EMAT system includes an EMAT, wear layer, and magnet. If the wear layer is made slightly conductive, the static charges slowly bleed off rather than build up to cause impulse discharges. This semiconductive wear layer does not attenuate the EMAT signals by introducing any additional distance between the EMAT coil and the conductive piping or by introducing any conductive material between the EMAT coil and the conductive piping. In the preferred embodiment, a wear layer of UHMW (ultra high molecular weight) polyethylene with a surface resistivity of about 10,000 ohms per square is utilized. The conductive UHMW polyethylene still acts as a wear layer, but now also acts as a semi-conductive static-dissipative interface between the EMAT coil and the piping.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for combusting fuel which results in reduction of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxides emissions. Fuel and primary air are preferably premixed and introduced into a combustion chamber. Secondary air is introduced through a plurality of secondary air ports, each preferably shaped as a slot, which are positioned about a venturi nozzle or flame holder disk mounted with respect to a combustion chamber wall. The secondary air flowing through the secondary air ports forms relatively high velocity and momentum secondary air jets that promote rapid mixing of the fuel and primary air mixture into the secondary air flow, such that a combustion flame is established at a partial periphery of the secondary air jets.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a method and apparatus to determine the thermodynamic properties of a gas medium without making a determination of gas composition. In the instant invention, the speed of sound of a gas medium in a vessel is determined at various temperatures and pressures based upon an isobaric process with estimated initial values of density, compressibility and numerical deriviative (dZ/dT) for the same gas medium. According to the preferred embodiment, this information may be measured at constant pressure or constant temperature. Once the physical information is determined, a routine is executed by which initial estimated parameters such as the compressibility and heat capacity of the gas medium will converge to accurate values. From these parameters, the thermophysical properties of the gas medium may be determined.

Abstract: A multi-unit automated space management and communication system for use in association with a structure having a plurality of units. The system includes circuitry that monitors various utility related aspects of each of the plurality of units. The system further includes an automated subsystem disposed in each one of the plurality of units. This subsystem includes at least one appliance, at least one communication medium means, at least one interface means for connecting the at least one appliance apparatus into a signal exchanging relationship with the at least one communication medium means, at least one communication source, operably connected to the at least one communication medium means. The system further includes an external communication interface linking the automated subsystem to the monitoring means in a signal-exchanging relationship. The system still further includes data storage circuits.

Abstract: A fail safe gas furnace optical flame sensor uses a transconductance amplifier with low photodiode current to sense the presence or absence of a gas flame within the burner of a gas furnace. The photodiode signal appears as the only negative voltage signal in the circuit, and the equivalent resistance feedback network is redundantly designed, thus ensuring that no false flame-on conditions will be detected due to the failure of a single resistive component. Because it does not reside within the flame, the sensor is immune to false flame-off conditions caused by material deposition and corrosion of the sensor.

Abstract: An improved method of monitoring the setting of a settable liquid-containing material is provided. The compressibility of one or more fluids including the settable material is monitored at periodic intervals during the setting process. As the material sets, its compressibility is lowered, and the overall fluid compressibility is reduced. When the settable material hardens completely, its compressibility approaches zero and the overall fluid compressibility levels off. The method is especially useful for monitoring the setting of cement in the annulus of a well bore, and for determining when the cement is fully set.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell interconnector having a superalloy metallic layer with an anode facing face and a cathode facing face and a metal layer on the anode facing face of the superalloy metallic layer, the metal layer including a metal which reacts with Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 to form an electronically conducting oxide phase on the superalloy metallic layer. In accordance with one particularly preferred embodiment, a second metal layer is disposed between the metal layer and the superalloy metallic layer, the second metal layer including a metal which does not oxidize in a fuel atmosphere.