Abstract: A thermoelectric reformer unit-for dissociating fossil-based hydrocarbons, renewable hydrocarbons or hydrogen-containing inorganic compounds to produce hydrogen in a reactor using thermoelectric technology with thermoelectric materials to achieve very high conversion efficiencies. Thermoelectric reforming occurs in a reactor core containing a number of energy sources. These energy sources generate extremely high temperature heat that reacts with the fuels in its local surrounding areas. Since the heat is locally generated, it will not penetrate far within the reactor core that is surrounded by walls that act as a casing for the reformer. Synthetic gas produced in the reformer can be fed into internal combustion engines certain, types of fuel cells, or other energy conversion equipment without or with only limited levels of purification. Ancillary components are needed to produce high-purity hydrogen fuel for other types of fuel cells.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrogen for direct use as a fuel or for input to a fuel cell from dissociating H2O in a plasma reformer with hydrocarbon fuel acting as an initiator. The molar ratio of water to hydrocarbon fuel in the input mixture for reactions, and therefore the production of hydrogen from water, increases with the carbon number of the hydrocarbon fuel. Steps in the process include: mixing and vaporizing an H2O and hydrocarbon fuel mixture in an atomization/evaporation chamber, further heating the mixture in a rotating-flow buffer chamber, dissociating H2O and hydrocarbon fuel in a plasma reformer, converting carbon monoxide and H2O to hydrogen and carbon dioxide in a water shift reactor and optionally conditioning the reformate stream by removing carbon dioxide and by purifying hydrogen.

Abstract: A plasma reformer for the chemical reforming of gaseous mixtures of water and hydrocarbon fuels for producing hydrogen. The reformer contains a reaction chamber with outer lateral walls containing emitter electrodes and inner lateral walls containing collector electrodes. The emitter electrodes and collector electrodes form an electric circuit. There are a multiplicity of thin needle-like extrusions on the emitter electrode from which a profusion of high energy electrons are emitted. These high-energy electrons dissociate the hydrocarbon fuel through absorption and ionization emitting low energy electrons in the process. These low energy electrons cause dissociation of water. Thus, dissociation of hydrocarbon fuel acts to initiate dissociation of water. The molar ratio of water to hydrocarbon fuel in the input mixture for reactions, and therefor the production of hydrogen from water, increases with carbon number of the hydrocarbon fuel.

Abstract: An integrated process and system for producing electricity for stationary purposes or for electric-powered vehicle using any of multiple hydrocarbon input fuels, a fuel cell, and a thermoelectric reformer that allows quick response to transient loads. Optional high-temperature and low-temperature water-gas shift reactors are used to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide in the reformate stream; a hydrogen separator is used to remove carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and trace hydrocarbons; and a condenser is used to remove moisture from the reformate stream. Hydrogen gas not consumed in the fuel cell is stored or recycled for subsequent input to the fuel cell. H2O produced in the fuel cell is recycled for use in the reformer and water-gas shift reactors and is heated with waste heat from the fuel cell and carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons from the hydrogen separator. A mixer is used to vaporize the input fuel prior to entering the thermoelectric reformer.

Abstract: A photocatalytic reactor to recover precious metals, useful metals, and toxic metals from industrial waste streams using visible or ultraviolet light and semiconductor material as the photocatalyst. Seeds of metal in the same metal group as the metals being recovered are implanted in the reactor to create nucleation sites for the deposition, agglomeration, and growth of the metals being recovered. The reactor may have internally reflective surfaces to effectively multiply the light sources. The input waste stream may be mixed with reaction acceptor materials that reduce electron-hole recombination and that increase reaction rates.

Abstract: A process using high-temperature thermal dissociation to recover hydrogen and salable sulfur from industrial waste streams containing hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2 S) is disclosed. Thermal dissociation occurs in a thermoelectric reactor at temperatures up to 1900.degree. C. Waste energy from the high-temperature reactor is recovered and used to preheat the H.sub.2 S-laden stream before entering the high-temperature reactor. Sulfur is separated out in a condenser. The process also includes a scrubber to eliminate the carryover of liquid sulfur mists or aerosols, and a membrane to separate the hydrogen from the dissociated product stream. Trace amounts of unconverted H.sub.2 S are recycled through the process for further dissociation.

Abstract: A reactor that can be attached to the exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine to oxidize and burn carbon soot particles, carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbons, and to dissociate nitrogen and sulfur oxides. The reactor has a reaction zone that contains porous heat-retaining foam cells and that is bounded by a porous heat-retaining zone, which in turn is surrounded by ceramic insulation materials to minimize energy losses. Engine exhaust at elevated temperatures and containing some oxygen (air) enters the reaction chamber. By means of impinging heat transfer, thermal radiation enhancement, energy trapping and combustion of engine emissions, temperatures sufficient to oxidize carbon soot particles, carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbons are attained. Steam or atomized water droplets are introduced to improve the efficiency of the reactor through gasification, regasification, water shift reactions, methanation, and hydrocracking reactions. Harmless product of the oxidation reactions, H.sub.

Abstract: A thermoelectric reactor for the chemical destruction of heavy-molecule volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds, or hydrogen sulfide contained in a gaseous feed. The reactor contains a hollow core containing energy sources. This reactor core surrounded by several ceramic walls and insulating zones. Uniform, high temperatures, up to at least 1900.degree. C., are obtained in the reactor core not only from direct radiant heat from the energy sources, but also from energy reflected and emitted from the surrounding zones. Reaction rates are enhanced by non-equilibrium conditions caused by electromagnetic threes derived from the energy sources. Further chemical destruction is accomplished in a porous energy retaining zone after passage through the reactor core. Ionizing gases and ionization seed material may be added to the gaseous feed material to increase electric conductivity and promote dissociation and ionization in the reactor core.

Abstract: A programmable motion estimator includes one dual ported memory for storing an image block, the prediction error, and a temporary block used in interpolation, and a pixel-group random access dual ported memory for storing a search window. The two ports of the two memories are selectively applied to an arithmetic logic unit, or ALU, through a multiplexer. One output of the ALU provides an absolute difference, which is furnished to a tree adder. Another output of the ALU provides an average value or a difference value, as selected, which is routed to the inputs of the image memory and the search memory. In motion vector searching, the ALU performs pixel absolute difference arithmetic using the pixel groups from the image memory and from the search memory, and determines a sum of absolute differences in the tree adder. In half pixel interpolation, the ALU performs pixel averaging arithmetic using pixel groups from the search memory, and writes back to the search memory.

Abstract: A vision processor includes a control section, a motion estimation section, and a discrete cosine transform ("DCT") section. The motion estimation section includes two memories, an image memory with two read ports and a write port, and a search memory with two read ports and a write port. The DCT section includes a DCT memory configurable as a two read, two write port memory and as a four read, four write port memory. The ports of these memories are selectively applied to various elements in the motion estimation path and the DCT path. In motion vector searching, the ALU performs averaging and difference operations on pixels in the frame and search memories. Data from the search memory is shifted for certain operations, before arithmetic operations in the ALU are performed.