Abstract: Apparatus and processes for conversion of solar energy to chemical and electrical energy using a photoelectrochemical membrane cell to regenerate the redox anolyte of a redox-oxygen cell.

Abstract: A bench scale hydrocarbon reactor simulator accurately simulating full scale reactor coking conditions wherein the rate of coking may be measured by maintaining constant temperature of the reactor simulator exit gas by a temperature responsive circuit varying power supplied to a heater, the increase in power to the heater being proportional to deposition of coke on the heater sheath.

Abstract: Sulfur dioxide is removed from waste gases such as stack gases by contacting the gas stream with free tertiary amines having basic strengths greater than about pK 5 to form a coordinate covalent complex of the amine and the sulfur dioxide. The sufficiently stable complex is than thermally regenerated to liberate the sulfur dioxide in one stream, to provide the residual gases in another stream, and to provide the regenerated tertiary amine for collection and reuse in a subsequent sulfur dioxide cleanup step. The coordinate covalent complex reacts with even very small concentrations of sulfur dioxide to effectively reduce the sulfur dioxide to detectable zero levels. The presence of carbon dioxide in waste gas streams does not interfere with the efficient cleanup because the selected tertiary amine does not react with the carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A solid adsorption air conditioning apparatus and process using water or ammonia refrigerant in a generator-condenser-evaporator-adsorber cycle wherein the refrigerant is adsorbed on a solid adsorbent coated on the interior of a combination adsorber-generator module and then generated from said adsorbent, the adsorber-generator modules alternately performing each of these functions. The apparatus and process may be used for cooling and heating functions by simple adjustment of dampers. The apparatus and process provides an air conditioning apparatus which may utilize solar heat for a substantial portion of its energy input requirements and does not require any liquid pumping.

Abstract: An improved method for feeding caking coal particles to a fluidized bed gasifier, without prior pretreatment, is disclosed. The coal particles are entrained in a gaseous stream and injected directly into the bottom of the fluidized bed around the outer perimeter thereof at a plurality of points and at a predetermined high velocity, such that the coal particles are shock heated and charred.

Abstract: A thrust generator combining gas driving either directly or through a hydraulic fluid with gas or hydraulic fluid cocking in a compact, lightweight thrust generator suitable for repetitive operation. The thrust generator has control fluid triggering of the power stroke and a floating piston for separating hydraulic fluid and gas. The thrust generator of this invention is particularly suited for provision of an integrated thrust generator-high pressure pulsed water jet apparatus.

Abstract: A process for recovering underground fossil fuel deposits retained in an inorganic matrix wherein the deposit is contacted with an aqueous medium of anaerobic microorganisms for a time sufficient to produce particles of the deposit containing both the organic fossil fuel and inorganic matrix of a size capable of forming a slurry with the aqueous medium for pumping to the ground surface. At the ground surface, the particulates are separated from the aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms, the particulates further processed by efficient surface techniques to separate the organic carbon and hydrocarbon component from the inorganic matrix. The aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms is recycled to the underground fossil fuel deposit for further production of the slurry forming particles of the deposit. Spent inorganic matrix may be added to the aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms to provide solid support and nutrient for the organisms and to maintain the desired pH.

Abstract: In accordance with the method of the present invention, methane and other similar fuel components are separated from the brine found in geopressurized geothermal zones by immersing gas permeable membranes selective for these fuel components into the brine in these zones, and permitting these fuel components to permeate through the membranes while rejecting the brine. The permeated fuel components then are collected.

Abstract: A solid adsorption air conditioning apparatus for cooling and heating which is compact in size and particularly adapted to low capacity and which may be at least partially solar powered and air cooled. The apparatus utilizes water vapor as refrigerant working within a hermetically sealed module. The hermetically sealed module has opposing thermally conductive walls which are internally coated with water vapor adsorbent material and thermally insulated from each other.

Abstract: A high temperature molten carbonate fuel cell ferrous metal cell housing having about 2 to about 70 weight percent aluminum content in the cell housing surface wet seal area prior to cell operation providing corrosion inhibition during fuel cell operation.

Abstract: A thermally regenerable sorbent composition for removal of oxides of nitrogen from a gas stream wherein the sorbent consists essentially of about 15 to 35 wt. percent Fe, about 15 to 35 wt. percent Co and greater than about 5 wt. percent Na. The process for removal of oxides of nitrogen from a gas stream containing oxygen wherein the gas stream is passed in contact with the thermally regenerable sorbent composition described at a contact temperature of about 200.degree. C. to 400.degree. C. and is thermally regenerable by heating at a temperature of about 400.degree. C. to 550.degree. C. The process and composition is effective for gas streams where the oxides of nitrogen content is less than 2000 ppm and is particularly effective where the oxides of nitrogen content is about 50 to 1000 ppm. The composition and process is especially useful in removal of oxides of nitrogen from combustion gas effluents such as from furnaces and vehicles.

Abstract: A method is provided for storing fuel gas by pumping the fuel gas into the lower portion of a storage vessel and automatically forming a solid fuel gas hydrate due to the vessel being positioned beneath the surface of a body of water and providing a lower zone having higher pressure relative to the atmosphere, sufficient to cause solid hydrate formation of the fuel gas and water, the vessel extending vertically toward the surface of the water and providing an upper zone having lower pressure, relative to the lower zone, sufficient to cause decomposition of the solid hydrate to fuel gas and water, and removing fuel gas for the desired use from the upper portion of the storage vessel. The method of this invention for storing fuel gas provides large, energy conserving, safe and low cost fuel storage areas beneath oceans and lakes, geographically close to the site of desired use.

Abstract: A process for petroleum recovery from an underground deposit by injecting hydrogen-rich gas in the absence of added hydrogenation catalysts into the underground deposit, the gas and deposit being at temperatures of less than 300.degree. F., maintaining the hydrogen-rich gas in contact with the petroleum at temperatures of less than 300.degree. F. for a time sufficient to reduce to desired levels viscosity and sulfur content of the petroleum by reaction with the hydrogen followed by recovery of the petroleum from the underground deposit. One embodiment is specifically set forth injecting carbon dioxide into the underground deposit after the reaction of the petroleum and hydrogen to increase the petroleum mobility ratio and to utilize both the hydrogen and carbon dioxide produced by partial oxidation of produced petroleum at the well site and resulting in as low as down to about 20 percent of the original oil in place remaining in the reservoir.

Abstract: A solid adsorption air conditioning apparatus and process using water or ammonia refrigerant in a generator-condenser-evaporator-adsorber cycle wherein the refrigerant is adsorbed on a solid adsorbent coated on the interior of a combination adsorber-generator module and then generated from said adsorbent, the adsorber-generator modules alternately performing each of these functions. The apparatus and process may be used for cooling and heating functions by simple adjustment of dampers. The apparatus and process provides an air conditioning apparatus which may utilize solar heat for a substantial portion of its energy input requirements and does not require any liquid pumping.

Abstract: A solid adsorption air conditioning apparatus and process for cooling and heating which is compact in size and particularly adapted to low capacity and which may be at least partially solar powered and air cooled. The apparatus and process utilizes water vapor as refrigerant working within a hermetically sealed module. The hermetically sealed module has opposing thermally conductive walls which are internally coated with water vapor adsorbent material and thermally insulated from each other.

Abstract: A process for recovering underground fossil fuel deposits retained in an inorganic matrix wherein the deposit is contacted with an aqueous medium of anaerobic microorganisms for a time sufficient to produce particles of the deposit containing both the organic fossil fuel and inorganic matrix of a size capable of forming a slurry with the aqueous medium for pumping to the ground surface. At the ground surface, the particulates are separated from the aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms, the particulates further processed by efficient surface techniques to separate the organic carbon and hydrocarbon component from the inorganic matrix. The aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms is recycled to the underground fossil fuel deposit for further production of the slurry forming particles of the deposit. Spent inorganic matrix may be added to the aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms to provide solid support and nutrient for the organisms and to maintain the desired pH.

Abstract: A process for production of lead from lead sulfide containing material wherein the lead sulfide containing material and oxygen containing gas is introduced into the headspace of a reactor. The formed lead drops to a pool in the bottom portion of the reactor and unreacted lead sulfide and formed lead oxide float in the slag on the surface of the lead pool. Droplets of lead and slag from the pool are maintained throughout the headspace by droplet generating wheels or nozzles.

Abstract: A hybrid physical-chemical absorbent process using the interrelation between a physical solvent and a H.sub.2 S selective chemical solvent for removal of CO.sub.2 and sulfur containing compounds, principally H.sub.2 S from a mixed gas stream. This process is especially useful in processes such as coal gasification where the incoming stream to the acid gas removal process is at about 1100 psia, 70.degree. F., contains about 15 to 40 mole percent CO.sub.2 at a mole ratio of CO.sub.2 /H.sub.2 S of about 25 to 50. In such cases the product stream contains less than 1 ppm sulfur and less than 3 mole percent CO.sub.2 which is suitable for production of substitute natural gas while the CO.sub.2 atmospheric effluent contains less than 7 ppm sulfur.

Abstract: An improved molten carbonate fuel cell electrolyte wherein the inert support matrix is predominately LiAl0.sub.2 having crystalline structure with an average L/D greater than about 3 and surface area greater than about 5 sq. meters/gram and the carbonates composition is a ternary lithium-potassium-sodium or binary lithium-potassium or lithium-sodium carbonates composition having a thermal expansion of about 1.5 to about 3.5 .times. 10.sup.-5 inch/inch .degree. C. The improved molten carbonate fuel cell electrolyte of this invention provides fuel cell electrolytes capable of containing 50 to 70 wt. percent carbonate components to provide high power densities while providing a thin electrolyte which is resistant to physical damage on thermal cycling of the fuel cell. The electrolyte of this invention may also be reinforced with metallic alloys to provide additional strength characteristics.

Abstract: A high pressure pulsed water jet apparatus and process operable in a vertical position especially suitable for automated pavement and rock fracture. The apparatus and process of this invention is used in combination with a thrust generator providing a substantially flat power stroke output thereby providing a pulsed water jet operating on the principle of pressure extrusion to generate repetitive water jet pulses of high velocity and at high repetitive frequency. The apparatus and process of this invention is especially suitable for providing an apparatus and process for fracturing pavement on a single self-contained vehicle which may be operated by a pre-programmed program means.