Abstract: Systems and methods for sorbent enhanced reformation to produce high purity hydrogen. Such systems and methods utilize a reforming unit to process a feed containing methane and steam to produce a reformer product stream containing hydrogen and carbon dioxide, a sorbent unit to absorb at least a portion of the carbon dioxide from the reformer product stream to produce a sorbent unit product stream containing H2 and used sorbent, a first separation unit to separate H2 from the used sorbent, a calciner unit to calcine at least a portion of the used sorbent to form a calciner product stream containing regenerated sorbent material and residual gases, a second separation unit to separate the regenerated sorbent material from the residual gases, and a return line to return regenerated sorbent material to the sorbent unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating power using hydrogen fuel, such as derived from natural gas, are provided. Feed materials are introduced into a compact hydrogen generator to produce carbon dioxide, hydrogen gas and steam. Sorbent material within the compact hydrogen generator acts to absorb carbon dioxide, forming a used sorbent. Hydrogen gas and steam are separated from the used sorbent and passed to a power generator such as a hydrogen turbine to produce power. The used sorbent is introduced into a calciner and heated to desorb carbon dioxide and form a regenerated sorbent which can be recycled to the compact hydrogen generator.

Abstract: A safety plug for a pipe formed of two engageable plug halves each having a mateable face to seal together around a cable. An outer surface includes a plurality of steps corresponding with different pipe sizes for engagement within the pipe. The outer surface is threaded or includes a locking mechanism which moves a portion of the two engageable plug halves into physical engagement with threads of the pipe. The locking mechanism can include locking pins at each of the outer steps, and which are extended outward by a manual push button upon the plug being placed in a pipe.

Abstract: Processes and systems for producing hydrogen gas utilizing a sorbent enhanced reformer in combination with a calciner operating at atmospheric pressure. Feed material is introduced into the sorbent enhanced reformer to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas. Sorbent material within the reformer acts to absorb carbon dioxide and form a used sorbent. The used sorbent is introduced into the atmospheric calciner to heat the used sorbent to desorb carbon dioxide from the used sorbent to produce regenerated sorbent which can be recycled to the reformer.

Abstract: Methods and devices for gas mixture combustion on a surface of a permeable matrix are provided which produce or result in surface stabilized combustion (SSC) with increasing amounts of radiation energy emitted by the matrix surface and decreasing concentrations of pollutant components in the combustion products. The gas mixture is fed to a burner that includes a permeable matrix material having a first thermal conductivity and configured to preheat the combustible gas mixture as it travels through the matrix. The burner includes a plurality of thermal elements having a thermal conductivity higher than and disposed in thermal transfer communication with the matrix base material. The permeable matrix base material forms a combustion surface with at least a portion of the thermal elements exposed above the combustion surface. The gas mixture is combusted at or near exit pores and channels formed at the permeable matrix material combustion surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for hydrogen generation via ammonia decomposition that utilize a fixed bed reactor configured to receive inflows of NH3 and oxidant and to produce an outflow of high purity H2. The fixed bed reactor contains a fixed bed of a NH3 decomposition catalyst wherewith the NH3 decomposes to form N2 and H2; a plurality of ceramic hollows fibers with a high surface to volume ratio disposed in the fixed bed, the hollow fibers having an H2 selective membrane disposed thereon for extracting H2 from N2 and to form a permeate of the high purity H2 and a retentate of primarily N2; and a catalytic H2 burner also disposed in the fixed bed, the catalytic H2 burner for burning a portion of the H2 with the oxidant to provide thermal energy for the NH3 decomposition.

Abstract: Devices and methods for sewer system cleanouts such as provide increased cross bore safeguard during sewer system cleanouts. A sewer system cleanout safety device includes a housing for placement at a sewer cleanout opening to prevent passage of gas out through the sewer cleanout opening during the sewer system cleanout. The housing includes opposed inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces, and a peripheral surface extending between said inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces. The housing includes a cavity extending between the inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces to permit passage of a sewer system cleanout implement therethrough. The housing further includes a cavity lining surface to seal with the sewer system cleanout implement passing therethrough.

Abstract: A method for staged combustion in a combustor assembly includes introducing an oxidant stream and a fuel stream at a first location into a combustion chamber to produce a heated stream. A Liquid water stream and an additional oxidant stream, fuel stream or both are then introduced into the heated stream in at least one location along the heated stream downstream from the first location. The additional oxidant stream, fuel stream or both react in the heated stream to generate additional heat that vaporizes liquid water from the liquid water stream to water vapor.

Abstract: A tight-shale oil production tool includes a combustor operable to generate an aqueous-phase nitric acid, combustion products.

Abstract: A method for removing gaseous inclusions from a viscous liquid in which a viscous liquid stream having gaseous inclusions is introduced into a refining chamber, resulting in a flowing viscous liquid layer. The viscosity of a bottom portion of the viscous liquid layer is reduced in a first refining zone in the refining chamber so as to produce an upwardly mobile reduced viscosity portion of the viscous liquid layer. Heat is introduced into the viscous liquid layer from above the viscous liquid layer in a second refining zone in the refining chamber downstream of the first refining zone, reducing the gaseous inclusions in said viscous liquid layer. Thereafter, the viscous liquid layer having substantially reduced gaseous inclusions is discharged from the refining chamber.

Abstract: A method for purifying water involves heating impure water in a first reboiler, a second reboiler and a combustion steam generator to ultimately produce about 3 parts by weight of clean water and about 1 part by weight of clean steam for every 4 parts by weight of the impure water. A water treatment system includes a gas-fired combustion steam generator that is operable to produce a hot steam stream. A reboiler is connected in receiving communication with the gas-fired combustion steam generator to receive the hot steam stream. A separator is connected with the reboiler and is operable to separate an output stream from the reboiler.

Abstract: Catalysts and processing useful in the dry reforming of methane (DRM) are provided. Catalyst are composed of nickel (Ni) nanoparticles supported on a hollow fiber substrate, such as an ?-Al2O3 hollow fiber. The nickel (Ni) nanoparticles can be deposited onto the hollow fiber substrate support by atomic layer deposition. If desired, one or more layers of an overcoat of a promoter can be applied to increase catalyst performance such as in the reforming of methane.

Abstract: A hybrid solar system including a hybrid solar collector using non-imaging optics and photovoltaic components and a heat transfer and storage system in thermal communication with the hybrid solar collector, the heat transfer and storage system using particle laden gas as thermal media to simultaneously generate and store electricity and high temperature dispatchable heat.

Abstract: A compact, on-demand system to produce high pressure (?5,000 psig) and high temperature (?450° C.) water or other liquids which maintains single-phase flow throughout the system utilizing low-cost, thick-wall tubing and thereby negate the requirement to design the unit as a boiler or adhere to coded pressure vessel design requirements. This design can also replace a conventional boiler for the generation of hot water as well as low and high pressure steam.

Abstract: Methods and systems or devices for synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME) from carbon dioxide and hydrogen are provided. A high surface area hollow fiber catalytic membrane reactor such as with hollow fibers coated with a water permeable membrane material is used. The reactor also contains a bi-functional methanol synthesis component and dehydration catalyst component such that the two-step reaction takes place on the catalyst surface. Produced water permeates through the membrane, exiting the reactor immediately after it is formed. Unreacted reactants and products flow to the reactor exit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating electrical power combine pressurized fluidized bed combustors (PFBC) and molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) to provide a low cost solution for electricity generation with CO2 capture. A solid fuel is introduced fuel into a pressurized fluidized bed combustor to produce steam, a first quantity of electrical power, and a flue gas including CO2. Air, natural gas, at least a portion of the steam and at least a portion of the flue gas including CO2 are introduced to a molten carbonate fuel cell to produce a second quantity of electrical power and an output stream comprising primarily CO2. The pressurized fluidized bed combustor can desirably be air-fired and the solid fuel introduced there into can desirably be in a finely pulverized form.

Abstract: Methods and devices for combusting a carbonaceous fuel in an oxy-combustion fluidized bed reactor involving controlling the local oxygen content within the oxy-combustion reactor to specified levels. The carbonaceous fuel and an oxygen-containing gas are introduced into a fluidized bed reactor and eluted through a fluidized bed of an inert material, dolomite or a combination thereof to combust the fuel and oxygen to produce at least CO2 and steam. The oxygen-containing gas is a mixture of oxygen, recycled CO2 and steam and has sufficient oxygen added to the recycled CO2 and steam that the mixture contains 7-20 mole % oxygen. The carbonaceous fuel and the oxygen-containing gas are introduced into the fluidized bed at a location in sufficiently close proximity to each other to avoid producing a reducing atmosphere at the location. At least a portion of the produced CO2 and steam are recycled to the reactor.

Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing system and method for enhancing effective permeability of earth formations to increase hydrocarbon production, enhance operation efficiency by reducing fluid entry friction due to tortuosity and perforation, and to open perforations that are either unopened or not effective using traditional techniques, by varying a pump rate and/or a flow rate to a wellbore.

Abstract: A thermal conveyance system and process for absorbing, transporting, storing, and recovering thermal energy (both hot and cold energy) over a wide range of temperatures from up to 2,100° F., or higher, or cool energy at subzero temperatures in inert and stable particles without the need to maintain a minimum temperature or requiring high system pressures. The process involving the transferring thermal energy to a first transfer fluid and recovering thermal energy from a second transfer fluid wherein the first and the second transfer fluids comprise a two phase thermal media including a gaseous carrier containing a quantity of micron to millimeter sized solid particles.

Abstract: An automated and intelligent quantitative system and method for assessing risk in infrastructure systems including, but not limited to, gas, electric, water, sewer, transportation, and/or telecommunication systems. The invention incorporates a graph-based data structure of multiple infrastructure systems. The graph-based data structure includes a multi-layered structure with each layer having nodes for components of one of the multiple infrastructure systems, and edge links between related pairs of the nodes. A spatio-temporal and ontological reasoner performs spatial and temporal reasoning on the graph-based data structure to identify nodes of the graph-based data structure likely affected by the new activity event.