Abstract: Systems and method for curing cementitious products are provided herein. In an example, a pressurized water saturator is used to create a CO2/H2O stream. The pressurized water saturator includes a carbon dioxide injection line disposed below a water level in the pressurized water saturator, an exit line disposed above the water level in the pressurized water saturator, and a pressure controller configured to hold a positive pressure of carbon dioxide in the pressurized water saturator.

Abstract: A vehicle CO2 capture and utilization system includes a concrete mixer vehicle and a vehicle exhaust capture system. The concrete mixer vehicle comprises a vehicle exhaust and a mixer tank. The vehicle exhaust capture system is located onboard the concrete mixer vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle exhaust capture system includes one or more fluid pathways that fluidly couple the vehicle exhaust and the mixer tank.

Abstract: A method for curing cementitious articles includes flowing dry steam and carbon dioxide (CO2) simultaneously into a curing chamber containing a cementitious article. A relative humidity within the curing chamber may be between about 50% and about 70% and a temperature within the curing chamber may be between about 50° C. and about 70° C. A dry steam and CO2 mixture with a CO2 concentration between 2.5 vol % and 40 vol % is provided in the curing chamber and the cementitious article is cured for a duration between about 4 hours and 16 hours. Cementitious products cured with the method may have a CO2 uptake of greater than 15 wt % and a mechanical strength at least 10% greater than a cementitious product cured only in dry steam or CO2.

Abstract: Systems for accelerated carbonation curing of a pre-cast cementitious structure may include an ejector and a curing chamber downstream of the ejector. The ejector may be operable to combine a lesser-pressure carbon dioxide containing stream from a carbon dioxide source with a greater-pressure steam to produce a mixed stream including at least steam and carbon dioxide. The mixed stream may have a pressure greater than the pressure of the lesser-pressure carbon dioxide containing stream. The curing chamber may be operable to receive the mixed stream from the ejector and contact the mixed stream with the pre-cast cementitious structure to cure the pre-cast cementitious structure. Processes for accelerated carbonation curing of pre-cast cementitious structures using the systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems for treating a viscous medium are illustrated. The systems may comprise a primary source of pressurized treatment fluid, a fluidic transfer assembly, and a helical mixing element. The fluidic transfer assembly comprises a fluidic transfer chamber and a fluid outlet. The primary source of pressurized treatment fluid is in fluidic communication with the fluid outlet of the fluidic transfer assembly via the fluidic transfer chamber. The primary source of pressurized treatment fluid is in fluidic communication with the fluid outlet of the fluidic transfer assembly via the fluidic transfer chamber. The helical mixing element comprises an interior treatment fluid passage and external injection ports. The fluid outlet of the fluidic transfer assembly is in fluidic communication with the external injection ports of the helical mixing element via the interior treatment fluid passage of the helical mixing element. The systems may be incorporated into methods for treating a viscous medium.

Abstract: A vehicle CO2 capture and utilization system includes a concrete mixer vehicle and a vehicle exhaust capture system. The concrete mixer vehicle comprises a vehicle exhaust and a mixer tank. The vehicle exhaust capture system is located onboard the concrete mixer vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle exhaust capture system includes one or more fluid pathways that fluidly couple the vehicle exhaust and the mixer tank.

Abstract: A vehicle CO2 capture and utilization system includes a concrete mixer vehicle and a vehicle exhaust capture system. The concrete mixer vehicle comprises a vehicle exhaust and a mixer tank. The vehicle exhaust capture system is located onboard the concrete mixer vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle exhaust capture system includes one or more fluid pathways that fluidly couple the vehicle exhaust and the mixer tank.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure are directed to a parking indicator comprising a vehicle contact body, a pivoting contact body support, an elongated visibility indicator, an indicator actuating mechanism, and an indicator retracting mechanism. The pivoting contact body support is attached to the vehicle contact body and is configured to permit the vehicle contact body to pivot to a horizontally-oriented position when the vehicle contact body is grounded via the pivoting contact body support and is contacted by a vehicle entering a parking space occupied by the parking indicator. The elongated visibility indicator is mechanically coupled to the vehicle contact body via the indicator actuating mechanism such that the indicator actuating mechanism upholds the elongated visibility indicator in an extended position.

Abstract: A method for curing cementitious articles includes flowing dry steam and carbon dioxide (CO2) simultaneously into a curing chamber containing a cementitious article. A relative humidity within the curing chamber may be between about 50% and about 70% and a temperature within the curing chamber may be between about 50° C. and about 70° C. A dry steam and CO2 mixture with a CO2 concentration between 2.5 vol % and 40 vol % is provided in the curing chamber and the cementitious article is cured for a duration between about 4 hours and 16 hours. Cementitious products cured with the method may have a CO2 uptake of greater than 15 wt % and a mechanical strength at least 10% greater than a cementitious product cured only in dry steam or CO2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dry reforming catalyst in which an active material is impregnated on the surface of a metal oxide support and the active material is surrounded by a surfactant, a method of preparing the same, and a method of producing a synthetic gas using the catalyst. Since the surfactant on the surface of the active material prevents the active material from being sintered and the active material surface from being covered with carbon, the dry reforming catalyst exhibits high activity at high temperature for a long period of time without having to use a precious metal, and thus is useful for the production of a synthetic gas.

Abstract: A vehicle CO2 capture and utilization system includes a concrete mixer vehicle and a vehicle exhaust capture system. The concrete mixer vehicle comprises a vehicle exhaust and a mixer tank. The vehicle exhaust capture system is located onboard the concrete mixer vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle exhaust capture system includes one or more fluid pathways that fluidly couple the vehicle exhaust and the mixer tank.

Abstract: A process for producing black powder oxygen carriers for use in a chemical looping combustion unit includes the steps of: (a) removing and collecting the black powder waste material that was formed in a gas pipeline; (b) pre-treating the collected black powder to adjust its spherical shape to avoid attrition and fines production; and (c) activating the black powder to increase its reactivity rate and produce the black powder oxygen carrier that is suitable for use in the chemical looping combustion process as an oxygen carrier.

Abstract: Embodiments of a self-sustainable solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system for powering a gas well comprise a first SOFC comprising a first cathode, a first anode, and a first solid electrolyte; a second SOFC comprising a second cathode, a second anode, and a second solid electrolyte; SO2 removal equipment; a combustion circuit comprising a combustor and a circulating heat carrier in thermal connection with the combustor, the first SOFC, and the second SOFC; and one or more external electric circuits. The first anode comprises a first oxidation region configured to produce SO2 and electrons. The second anode comprises a second oxidation region configured to electrochemically oxidize CH4 to produce syngas and electrons and electrochemically oxidize H2 to produce H2O and electrons. The external electric circuits are configured to generate power from the electrons produced in both the first SOFC and the second SOFC.

Abstract: A process for producing black powder oxygen carriers for use in a chemical looping combustion unit includes the steps of: (a) removing and collecting the black powder waste material that was formed in a gas pipeline; (b) pre-treating the collected black powder to adjust its spherical shape to avoid attrition and fines production; and (c) activating the black powder to increase its reactivity rate and produce the black powder oxygen carrier that is suitable for use in the chemical looping combustion process as an oxygen carrier.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for making completely biodegradable, hydrophobic, oleophilic plant based materials which are useful in adsorption of petroleum products. The materials have an average diameter of from 1 to 5 mm, and an ash content of from 10% to 30%. The non-paraffin coating is an animal fat product, preferably produced by dissolving a pure animal fat and using this as the coating material.

Abstract: Methods for recovering organic heteroatom compounds from a hydrocarbon feedstock include feeding into a contactor a hydrocarbon feedstock and an aqueous solvent to form an extraction mixture of the aqueous solvent with the hydrocarbon feedstock. The hydrocarbon feedstock includes a hydrocarbon and an organic heteroatom compound. The aqueous solvent includes an ionic liquid formed from pressurized carbon dioxide and water. A pressure and temperature of the extraction mixture may be established that together tune the aqueous solvent to selectively form a solvent complex with the at least one organic heteroatom compound. Then, the solvent complex is extracted to a recovery vessel from the extraction mixture in the contactor. By adjustment of a recovery temperature of the recovery vessel, a recovery pressure of the recovery vessel, or both, the solvent complex decomposes into carbon dioxide and the organic heteroatom compound. The organic heteroatom compound is then recovered from the recovery vessel.

Abstract: A process for converting carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon fuels using solar energy harnessed with a solar thermal power system to create thermal energy and electricity, using the thermal energy to heat a fuel feed stream, the heated fuel feed stream comprising carbon dioxide and water, the carbon dioxide captured from a flue gas stream, converting the carbon dioxide and water in a syngas production cell, the syngas production cell comprising a solid oxide electrolyte, to create carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and converting the carbon monoxide and hydrogen to hydrocarbon fuels in a catalytic reactor. In at least one embodiment, the syngas production cell is a solid oxide fuel cell. In at least one embodiment, the syngas production cell is a solid oxide electrolyzer cell.

Abstract: A process for converting carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon fuels using solar energy harnessed with a solar thermal power system to create thermal energy and electricity, using the thermal energy to heat a fuel feed stream, the heated fuel feed stream comprising carbon dioxide and water, the carbon dioxide captured from a flue gas stream, converting the carbon dioxide and water in a syngas production cell, the syngas production cell comprising a solid oxide electrolyte, to create carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and converting the carbon monoxide and hydrogen to hydrocarbon fuels in a catalytic reactor. In at least one embodiment, the syngas production cell is a solid oxide fuel cell. In at least one embodiment, the syngas production cell is a solid oxide electrolyzer cell.

Abstract: A process for producing black powder oxygen carriers for use in a chemical looping combustion unit includes the steps of: (a) removing and collecting the black powder waste material that was formed in a gas pipeline; (b) pre-treating the collected black powder to adjust its spherical shape to avoid attrition and fines production; and (c) activating the black powder to increase its reactivity rate and produce the black powder oxygen carrier that is suitable for use in the chemical looping combustion process as an oxygen carrier.

Abstract: Methods for demulsifying an emulsified petroleum source having a predetermined resin-to-asphaltene ratio without substantial aggregation or precipitation of asphaltenes may include adding a resin supplement to the emulsified petroleum source to form a resin-supplemented emulsion having a resin-to-asphaltene ratio above a predetermined critical value. An acidic-to-basic ratio of acidic functional groups to basic functional groups in the supplemented emulsion may be adjusted to be from about 0.25 to about 4.0. The resin-supplemented emulsion may be contacted with carbon dioxide to form an initial mixture having an emulsified oil phase and an emulsified aqueous phase. The initial mixture may be stabilized to facilitate rupture of the resin-supplemented emulsion, to cause phase separation, and to allow removal of a separated oil phase.