Abstract: A quasi-liquid of gas in bubbles of nanometer-scale, and devices and processes for making the quasi-liquid. A device includes a channel plate (30) through which an operating gas flows to form micrometer-sized bubbles in a liquid. The bubbles are compressed to nanometer scale by action of cooling and pressure in a hydrophobic liquid (20) or are further fragmented to nanometer scale by a laser. Alternatively, a device has vertical water column having a bottom insertion tube, a bottom exit port, a top extraction port, and a water inflow tube; and, a centrifuge adjoining the top extraction port. A storage gas is diffused into pores of a low-density, solid-content material such as aerogel. The material is then introduced through the bottom insertion tube into an underwater environment creating cavities and a quasi-liquid.

Abstract: A process for conversion of coal in a reaction vessel comprises steps of: admixing coal and powdered alumina clay to form reactants; injecting the reactants with a high-pressure steam jet into the reaction vessel; and producing aluminum oxalate ash and hydrogen. Preferably, the reaction vessel is pressurized to maximize the production of aluminum oxalate and hydrogen. Optionally, the process includes adding calcium carbonate if not present in the clay. The reactants in the reaction vessel are typically maintained a temperature of about 2,000 degrees Kelvin and a pressure of about 1 mega Pascals. To save energy, the process may include preheating water with the aluminum oxalate ash to aid in creating pressurized steam. The hydrogen may be mixed with air and burned in a combustion chamber, such as is found within a gas turbine-generator unit to produce electricity. Optionally the reactants may include an aqueous sodium hydroxide.

Abstract: A natural gas fueled, direct carbon fuel cell produces electricity and hydrogen. It adds to an existing direct carbon fuel cell a carbon dioxide injection port to the cathode compartment; a natural gas feed port to the anode compartment, a hydrogen extraction port from the anode compartment, and a carbon dioxide extraction port from the anode compartment. To improve hydrogen generation efficiency, the anode compartment may have a louvered baffle dividing the anode compartment into an ante-chamber and a main chamber. The louvered baffle preferably has an upper section with slats angled from bottom to top and a lower section with slats angled from top to bottom. A heat exchanger is preferably included to pre-heat natural gas feed from hot hydrogen effluent. A second heat exchanger is preferably included to pre-heat oxygen-containing gas with hot nitrogen and carbon dioxide effluents.

Abstract: A process for conversion of coal in a reaction vessel comprises steps of: admixing coal and powdered alumina clay to form reactants; injecting the reactants with a high-pressure steam jet into the reaction vessel; and producing aluminum oxalate ash and hydrogen. Preferably, the reaction vessel is pressurized to maximize the production of aluminum oxalate and hydrogen. Optionally, the process includes adding calcium carbonate if not present in the clay. The reactants in the reaction vessel are typically maintained a temperature of about 2,000 degrees Kelvin and a pressure of about 1 mega Pascals. To save energy, the process may include preheating water with the aluminum oxalate ash to aid in creating pressurized steam. The hydrogen may be mixed with air and burned in a combustion chamber, such as is found within a gas turbine-generator unit to produce electricity. Optionally the reactants may include an aqueous sodium hydroxide.

Abstract: An ammonia and fertilizer production process is based on partial oxidation of fossil fuel, which co-produces polycarbonsuboxide. The four step process is low-cost and low-carbon-dioxide emission. It comprises the steps of reacting fossil fuel with oxygen in air and steam in an electric discharge plasma to produce a gas exit stream of polycarbonsuboxide, hydrogen with associated nitrogen (110); cooling the gas stream to condense and separate the polycarbonsuboxide as a solid polymer (120); compressing the gas stream to pressures for synthesis of ammonia (140); and, converting the gas stream to ammonia by employing a catalytic converter (150). Optional steps involve gas cleanup, which include removal of contaminants from the gas stream and adding hydrogen or nitrogen to the gas stream to adjust the ratio of hydrogen to nitrogen to three to one, respectively, prior to converting the gas stream to ammonia (130).

Abstract: A quasi-liquid of gas in bubbles of nanometer-scale, and devices and processes for making the quasi-liquid. A device comprises a channel plate (30) through which an operating gas flows to form micrometer-sized bubbles in a liquid. The bubbles are compressed to nanometer scale by action of cooling and pressure in a hydrophobic liquid (20) or are further fragmented to nanometer scale by a laser. Alternatively, a device has vertical water column having a bottom insertion tube, a bottom exit port, a top extraction port, and a water inflow tube; and, a centrifuge adjoining the top extraction port. A storage gas is diffused into pores of a low-density, solid-content material such as aerogel. The material is then introduced through the bottom insertion tube into an underwater environment creating cavities and a quasi-liquid.

Abstract: The invention is a continuous process for producing methane from an underground coal bed or an above ground carbon-containing resource using hydrogen as a recycling working fluid.

Abstract: A device and method of using the device to convert gasoline to hydrogen with zero carbon dioxide emissions and are suitable for co-location at a gasoline filling station. The device has a plasma reactor (100); a container (140); a port to withdraw hydrogen (101) from the plasma reactor; a fuel cell (150); and, a means for storing hydrogen. The method of using the device includes steps for introducing gasoline into the plasma reactor; cracking the gasoline; holding carbon in the container; withdrawing hydrogen from the plasma reactor to supply a first portion to a fuel cell and a second portion that is further divided into a third portion that is recycled back to the plasma reactor and a fourth portion that is sent to the means for storing hydrogen; and, producing electricity to operate the plasma reactor using the first portion of hydrogen as fuel in the fuel cell.

Abstract: An ammonia and fertilizer production process is based on partial oxidation of fossil fuel, which co-produces polycarbonsuboxide. The four step process is low-cost and low-carbon-dioxide emission. It comprises the steps of reacting fossil fuel with oxygen in air and steam in an electric discharge plasma to produce a gas exit stream of polycarbonsuboxide, hydrogen with associated nitrogen (110); cooling the gas stream to condense and separate the polycarbonsuboxide as a solid polymer (120); compressing the gas stream to pressures for synthesis of ammonia (140); and, converting the gas stream to ammonia by employing a catalytic converter (150). Optional steps involve gas cleanup, which include removal of contaminants from the gas stream and adding hydrogen or nitrogen to the gas stream to adjust the ratio of hydrogen to nitrogen to three to one, respectively, prior to converting the gas stream to ammonia (130).

Abstract: A device and method of using the device enable the in-situ extraction of hydrocarbons from oil sands and other hydrocarbon resources. The preferred embodiment of the device includes at least two electrodes of tubular form wherein said electrodes are porous and capable of being inserted into the ground; a source of electrical current to apply to the electrodes; and a means for extracting the hydrocarbons from the tubular electrodes. In the preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the electrodes are inserted into the oil deposit and connected to an electrical potential difference sufficient to drive an electric current between in-ground electrodes. Current is then flowed between the electrodes. The pressure gradient, resulting from heating the oil-bearing fluid, drives product into the tubular electrodes where it is removed.

Abstract: A method is claimed for enabling storage of greater volumes of carbon dioxide for sequestration while simultaneously enhancing methane recovery from the coal bed. The process is implemented by injecting hydrogen into a coal bed, such as a depleted underground coal deposit, at a temperature below about 800 degrees Centigrade (10); extracting the hydrogen together with methane from the deposit (20); separating the hydrogen from the methane (30); delivering the methane as a product of the process (40); reinjecting the separated hydrogen into the deposit to continue the process until sequestration of carbon dioxide is desired (50); optionally producing hydrogen from methane (60) and optionally injecting carbon dioxide for sequestration (70).

Abstract: A method for efficiently producing energy, carbon, carbon monoxide, synthetic carbonaceous liquid and gaseous fuels and hydrogen from fossil or biomass fuels with minimal carbon dioxide emissions. The method includes using an Electric Arc Hydrogen Plasma Black Reactor wherein hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon, ash and sulfur are produced and using a Direct Carbon Fuel Cell wherein a molten salt delivers the carbon produced from the reactor as a feedstock in the fuel cell to produce electricity and hot carbon dioxide gas.

Abstract: A method for efficiently producing energy, carbon, carbon monoxide, synthetic carbonaceous liquid and gaseous fuels and hydrogen from fossil or biomass fuels with minimal carbon dioxide emissions.