Abstract: A portable solar battery charger comprises a photovoltaic array, a power regulator, a controller, and a battery. In one embodiment, the controller is configured to increase the charging current provided by the power regulator to the battery over time using discrete current levels. A comparator can compare the voltage of the photovoltaic array to a threshold, and provide the result to the controller. The controller can be configured to decrease the current to a previously selected level when the comparator indicates the voltage of the photovoltaic array is below a threshold, thereby improving the efficiency of the current delivery to the battery.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for current loss compensation in multi-junction photovoltaic cells. The use of direct electrical contact with the interconnect layers in a multi-junction PV cell can improve cell efficiency over variable lighting conditions. Electrical contact with some or all of the interconnect layers can advantageously permit disconnection of subcells operating at low current or voltage. The result is multi-junction PV cells that can adapt to variable lighting conditions and compensate for a decrease in current in certain subcells, thereby advantageously improving a multi-junction PV cell's total output current.

Abstract: An apparatus and method enabling safe removeal of the drum head of a coking drum. The invention provides an apparatus remotely placing a carriage under the drum head and the carriage is adapted to remotely engage the drum head, tightly support the head against the drum while workers are in the area, and to lower the head and carry it away. Included in the system is a safety feature wherein the carriage is normally supported by springs which in the event of excessive load automatically transfers the load carrier to an overhead beam designed to carry any excessive loads.

Abstract: An improved spliced conveyor belt and the method of making it to provide improved impact resistance which comprises laying abutted panels of covering material which contain weft reinforcing strands at a bias angle over the area of the splice so that the reinforcing strands are continuous across the full width of the belt throughout the area of the splice.

Abstract: An improved method for reducing misfires in large diameter unlined blastholes by fitting on the primer used in the blasthole a centering device comprised of a semi-conducting plastic material.

Abstract: Modified starch compositions and their use for flocculating mineral waste residues, particularly the red mud containing alumina liquors from bauxite residues, comprising the addition to an alumina liquor of a flocculating amount of a methylated starch which, optionally, may be hydrolyzed, or a methylated starch which is also sulfonated and, optionally, may be hydrolyzed. Preferably, the methylated starch compositions are potato and dasheen starch derivatives prepared at temperatures of about 50.degree. to about 85.degree. C.

Abstract: A guide mat for a slant service or drill rig. The guide mat comprises rearward and forward portions and an open area in the rearward portion which is used to allow access to a wellhead. Adjustable pedestals are provided which move in orthogonal planes to the plane of the guide mat and thereby allow for convenient pinning of the mast of the rig to the mat such that the mast is maintained in its correct operating position while the drilling and/or service operations are underway.

Abstract: Certain yam starches hydrolyzed in the presence of insoluble metal salts formed in situ are surprisingly effective flocculants for destabilizing dilute as well as thick sludge suspensions and are particularly effective when used in the treatment of bituminous tar sands tailings and in phosphate slimes.

Abstract: Cassava starch hydrolyzed in the presence of insoluble metal salts formed in situ is a surprisingly effective flocculant for destabilizing dilute as well as thick sludge suspensions and is particularly effective when used in the treatment of bituminous tar sands tailings and in phosphate slimes.

Abstract: Dasheen starch hydrolyzed in the presence of insoluble metal salts formed in situ is a surprisingly effective flocculant for destabilizing dilute as well as thick sludge suspensions and is particularly effective when used in the treatment of bituminous tar sands tailings and in phosphate slimes.

Abstract: The thermodynamic efficiency of a tar sands conditioning drum is improved by continuously and simultaneously discharging steam from all the nozzles of an array of a few relatively large nozzles distributed circumferentially around the inner drum periphery rather than selectively sparging the steam only from those nozzles beneath the tar sands pulp surface. As a result, the drum shell and components above the pulp are heated and thus heat the pulp by radiation and, after entering the pulp, by convection as well as by sparging. Hot water droplets formed continuously in the steam cloud rain onto the pulp surface to provide another highly important heat transfer mechanism. Coincidentally, mechanical reliability and economics are achieved by eliminating the sparge valve and multiplicity of smaller nozzles which characterize the prior art tar sands conditioning drums.

Abstract: A process for making an improved starch flocculant by heating an aqueous dispersion comprising about 4 to about 12% starch solids, lime and alum until maximum vicosity is obtained, adding a metal salt and finally effecting hydrolysis by additional heating.

Abstract: Certain yam starches hydrolyzed in the presence of insoluble metal salts formed in situ are surprisingly effective flocculants for destabilizing dilute as well as thick sludge suspensions and are particularly effective when used in the treatment of bituminous tar sands tailings and in phosphate slimes.

Abstract: Dasheen starch hydrolyzed in the presence of insoluble metal salts formed in situ is a surprisingly effective flocculant for destabilizing dilute as well as thick sludge suspensions and is particularly effective when used in the treatment of bituminous tar sands tailings and in phosphate slimes.

Abstract: Cassava starch hydrolyzed in the presence of insoluble metal salts formed in situ is a surprisingly effective flocculant for destabilizing dilute as well as thick sludge suspensions and is particularly effective when used in the treatment of bituminous tar sands tailings and in phosphate slimes.

Abstract: Bitumen recovery from a tar sands emulsion or other bituminous oil-in-water emulsion is increased by milling the emulsion for a time sufficient to cause a bitumen-rich liquid fraction to rise to the surface, and separating such fraction. Addition of water to the starting emulsion or during milling further enhances the recovery of bitumen.

Abstract: A method for estimating the content of clay or clay minerals in the tailings or sludge resulting from the extraction of bitumen from tar sands and similar materials by titrating the tailings or sludge with methylene blue.

Abstract: Tailings from an oil sands hot water process extraction plant are mixed with hydrolyzed starch flocculant and transferred to a settling pond. After a residence period on the order of one year, sludge from the lower region of the settling pond is withdrawn, mixed with a hydrolyzed starch dewatering agent and transferred to a collecting pond. After a residence period on the order of one week, partially dewatered sludge is withdrawn, mixed with sand, and deposited in a terminal disposal area, the sand in the mixture there effecting an internal surcharge to obtain further dewatering. The hydrolyzed starch additives are obtained by the aqueous hydrolysis of a starch in the presence of one or more metal salts.

Abstract: In order to assist ice chunks along preferred discharge paths in a large scale ice disaggregation system employing counter-rotating twin cutters, water is pumped tangentially across the trailing edges of the counter-rotating cutters against the direction of rotation to overcome the centrifugal action which tends to cause ice jamming. Secondary hydro-jets may be employed to further urge the ice chunks away from the vessel into the open region previously cut.