Patents Assigned to NPL Associates, Inc.
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Patent number: 8603405Abstract: A distributed energy system includes a gas-loaded heat generator capable of producing a thermal energy. The system includes a gas source to provide one or more isotopes of hydrogen, a plurality of metallic micro-structures, a gas loading chamber containing the plurality of metallic micro-structures. The gas loading chamber is structured to receive the one or more isotopes of hydrogen from the gas source. The system also includes a gas loading system capable of providing a gas loading pressure to the gas loading chamber containing the plurality of metallic micro-structures with an amount of one or more isotopes of hydrogen to form hydrogen clusters. In one form, the system further includes a thermal transducer capable of converting a first portion of the thermal energy. In still another form, the system additionally includes a waste heat recovery device capable of applying a second portion of the thermal energy.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2013Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: NPL Associates, Inc.Inventors: George H. Miley, Xiaoling Yang
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Publication number: 20130295512Abstract: A distributed energy system includes a gas-loaded heat generator capable of producing a thermal energy. The system includes a gas source to provide one or more isotopes of hydrogen, a plurality of metallic micro-structures, a gas loading chamber containing the plurality of metallic micro-structures. The gas loading chamber is structured to receive the one or more isotopes of hydrogen from the gas source. The system also includes a gas loading system capable of providing a gas loading pressure to the gas loading chamber containing the plurality of metallic micro-structures with an amount of one or more isotopes of hydrogen to form hydrogen clusters. In one form, the system further includes a thermal transducer capable of converting a first portion of the thermal energy. In still another form, the system additionally includes a waste heat recovery device capable of applying a second portion of the thermal energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: NPL ASSOCIATES, INC.Inventors: George H. Miley, Xiaoling Yang
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Patent number: 8526560Abstract: A method is provided for producing neutrons, comprising: providing a converter foil comprising deuterium clusters; focusing a laser on the foil with power and energy sufficient to cause deuteron ions to separate from the foil; and striking a surface of a target with the deuteron ions from the converter foil with energy sufficient to cause neutron production by a reaction selected from the group consisting of D-D fusion, D-T fusion, D-metal nuclear spallation, and p-metal. A further method is provided for assembling a plurality of target assemblies for a target injector to be used in the previously mentioned manner. A further method is provided for producing neutrons, comprising: splitting a laser beam into a first beam and a second beam; striking a first surface of a target with the first beam, and an opposite second surface of the target with the second beam with energy sufficient to cause neutron production.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2012Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: NPL Associates, Inc.Inventors: George H. Miley, Xiaoling Yang
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Patent number: 8440165Abstract: A method includes operating a gas loading system with a source of one or more isotopes of hydrogen, a gas loading chamber containing a number of metallic nanoparticles, the metallic nanoparticles being selected to provide for a predetermined hydrogen cluster formation density, a vacuum system, and a valve system in communication with the gas loading chamber, the source of one or more isotopes of hydrogen and the vacuum system; providing the gas loading chamber with a first quantity of the one or more isotopes of hydrogen from the source of one or more isotopes of hydrogen; monitoring an operating temperature; and cycling a loading pressure of the gas loading chamber using the source of one or more isotopes of hydrogen in response to providing the gas loading chamber and monitoring the operating temperature.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2012Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: NPL Associates, Inc.Inventors: George H. Miley, Xiaoling Yang
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Publication number: 20130064339Abstract: A method is provided for producing neutrons, comprising: providing a converter foil comprising deuterium clusters; focusing a laser on the foil with power and energy sufficient to cause deuteron ions to separate from the foil; and striking a surface of a target with the deuteron ions from the converter foil with energy sufficient to cause neutron production by a reaction selected from the group consisting of D-D fusion, D-T fusion, D-metal nuclear spallation, and p-metal. A further method is provided for assembling a plurality of target assemblies for a target injector to be used in the previously mentioned manner. A further method is provided for producing neutrons, comprising: splitting a laser beam into a first beam and a second beam; striking a first surface of a target with the first beam, and an opposite second surface of the target with the second beam with energy sufficient to cause neutron production.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: NPL ASSOCIATES, INC.Inventor: NPL ASSOCIATES, INC.
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Patent number: 8227020Abstract: Techniques to form dislocation cores along an interface of a multilayer thin film structure are described. The loading and/or deloading of isotopes of hydrogen are also described in association with core formation. The described techniques can provide be applied to superconductive structure formation, x-ray and charged particle generation, nuclear reaction processes, and/or inertial confinement fusion targets.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2008Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: NPL Associates, Inc.Inventor: George H. Miley
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Patent number: 7781083Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a technique of performing a catalytic oxidation reaction at an anode to provide hydrogen ions from molecular hydrogen and a catalytic reduction reaction at a cathode to provide hydroxyl ions from liquid hydrogen peroxide. Passage of the molecular hydrogen to a reaction region is impeded with a proton exchange membrane and passage of the hydrogen peroxide to the reaction region is impeded with an ion-selective arrangement. Electric potential is generated between the anode and the cathode to provide electric power from a reaction of the hydrogen ions and the hydroxyl ions in the reaction region. In one variation, a regeneration technique is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2007Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: NPL Associates, Inc.Inventors: Nie Luo, George H. Miley
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Patent number: 7241521Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a technique of performing a catalytic oxidation reaction at an anode to provide hydrogen ions from molecular hydrogen and a catalytic reduction reaction at a cathode to provide hydroxyl ions from liquid hydrogen peroxide. Passage of the molecular hydrogen to a reaction region is impeded with a proton exchange membrane and passage of the hydrogen peroxide to the reaction region is impeded with an ion-selective arrangement. Electric potential is generated between the anode and the cathode to provide electric power from a reaction of the hydrogen ions and the hydroxyl ions in the reaction region. In one variation, a regeneration technique is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2004Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: NPL Associates, Inc.Inventors: Nie Luo, George Miley