Abstract: Electrostatic chuck (ESC) apparatuses and systems are provided. An ESC may have one or more chucking electrodes and a blocking electrode that surrounds the chucking electrodes. The blocking electrode may reduce non-uniformities in semiconductor processing operations performed with the ESC. In some implementations, the blocking electrode is positioned beneath the chucking electrodes.

Abstract: Porous media containing undesired substances, e.g., perfluoroalkylated substances, are treated by mixing the porous media with a solid fuel comprising organic material. The mixture is heated to 200° C. to 400° C. to initiate smoldering combustion and an oxidizer gas is forced through the heated mixture such that the smoldering combustion is self-sustaining until the mixture reaches a PFAS destructive temperature and the perfluoroalkylated substances are thermally destroyed. A system is provided for conducting the treatment. The system includes a source of wax, wood chips, sawdust, tire scraps, waste rubber compounds, coal, granular activated carbon, solid fat, and combinations thereof as solid fuel. A mixer is provided for mixing the porous media with the solid fuel. An ignition system including static heating elements and a gas blower are provided for forcing heated oxidizer gas through the mixture such that self-sustaining smoldering combustion of the mixture is initiated and sustained.

Abstract: Porous media containing undesired substances, e.g., perfluoroalkylated substances, are treated by mixing the porous media with a solid fuel comprising organic material. The mixture is heated to 200° C. to 400° C. to initiate smoldering combustion and an oxidizer gas is forced through the heated mixture such that the smoldering combustion is self-sustaining until the mixture reaches a PFAS destructive temperature and the perfluoroalkylated substances are thermally destroyed. A system is provided for conducting the treatment. The system includes a source of wax, wood chips, sawdust, tire scraps, waste rubber compounds, coal, granular activated carbon, solid fat, and combinations thereof as solid fuel. A mixer is provided for mixing the porous media with the solid fuel. An ignition system including static heating elements and a gas blower are provided for forcing heated oxidizer gas through the mixture such that self-sustaining smoldering combustion of the mixture is initiated and sustained.

Abstract: Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for removing contaminant ions from water within an aquifer. The devices, systems, methods employ an elecrokinetic driving force to induce the migration of charged species towards electrodes, where they can be concentrated and removed from the aquifer. In this way, the devices, systems, methods described herein can be used to economically remediate groundwater contaminated with charged species.

Abstract: Porous media containing undesired substances, e.g., perfluoroalkylated substances, are treated by mixing the porous media with a solid fuel comprising organic material. The mixture is heated to 200° C. to 400° C. to initiate smoldering combustion and an oxidizer gas is forced through the heated mixture such that the smoldering combustion is self-sustaining until the mixture reaches a PFAS destructive temperature and the perfluoroalkylated substances are thermally destroyed. A system is provided for conducting the treatment. The system includes a source of wax, wood chips, sawdust, tire scraps, waste rubber compounds, coal, granular activated carbon, solid fat, and combinations thereof as solid fuel. A mixer is provided for mixing the porous media with the solid fuel. An ignition system including static heating elements and a gas blower are provided for forcing heated oxidizer gas through the mixture such that self-sustaining smoldering combustion of the mixture is initiated and sustained.

Abstract: Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for removing contaminant ions from water within an aquifer. The devices, systems, methods employ an elecrokinetic driving force to induce the migration of charged species towards electrodes, where they can be concentrated and removed from the aquifer. In this way, the devices, systems, methods described herein can be used to economically remediate groundwater contaminated with charged species.

Abstract: Porous media containing undesired substances, e.g., perfluoroalkylated substances, are treated by mixing the porous media with a solid fuel comprising organic material. The mixture is heated to 200° C. to 400° C. to initiate smoldering combustion and an oxidizer gas is forced through the heated mixture such that the smoldering combustion is self-sustaining until the mixture reaches a PFAS destructive temperature and the perfluoroalkylated substances are thermally destroyed. A system is provided for conducting the treatment. The system includes a source of wax, wood chips, sawdust, tire scraps, waste rubber compounds, coal, granular activated carbon, solid fat, and combinations thereof as solid fuel. A mixer is provided for mixing the porous media with the solid fuel. An ignition system including static heating elements and a gas blower are provided for forcing heated oxidizer gas through the mixture such that self-sustaining smoldering combustion of the mixture is initiated and sustained.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a motor control system includes a rectifier module enclosed in a first flame-proof enclosure, and having a first input and one or more rectifier circuits configured to convert a first AC voltage at the first input to a DC voltage to be output to a DC bus, and one or more variable-frequency drive (VFD) modules, each VFD module being enclosed in a respective second flame-proof enclosure and having a second input coupled to the DC bus, where each VFD module includes one or more inverter circuits configured to convert the DC voltage on the DC bus to a second AC voltage to be output to one or more motors.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, an accessible indirect entry cable gland has a collar having a first end, an opposite, second end, and a first bore adapted for receiving a cable having one or more electrical conductors from the first end thereof and passing the cable through the second end thereof into a flameproof enclosure, a flame-resistant bushing filling a first part of the first bore of the collar at the second end thereof and adapted for passing the cable therethrough and holding the cable in place, and a cap having a first end and an opposite, second end, and a second bore adapted for receiving the cable from the first end thereof and passing the cable having one or more electrical conductors through the second end thereof into the collar.

Abstract: A method of delivering a treatment substance to a target substance in a treatment zone is disclosed. The method comprises providing a treatment substance responsive to an electric or magnetic field such that the treatment substance experiences a kinetic force when disposed in said field, providing an electric or magnetic field extending through a treatment zone, and disposing the treatment substance in the electric or magnetic field such that the treatment substance moves towards the treatment zone and contributes to a reaction with the target substance. A corresponding system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of delivering a treatment substance to a target substance in a treatment zone is disclosed. The method comprises providing a treatment substance responsive to an electric or magnetic field such that the treatment substance experiences a kinetic force when disposed in said field, providing an electric or magnetic field extending through a treatment zone, and disposing the treatment substance in the electric or magnetic field such that the treatment substance moves towards the treatment zone and contributes to a reaction with the target substance. A corresponding system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cable gland assembly adapted to receive a cable and to pass through an opening in a sparking enclosure wall, the cable gland assembly including a cable-receiving gland, a stuffing box, a grommet, an insulator and a cable. The stuffing box has an opening there through, and a grommet-receiving portion having the grommet therein. The grommet-receiving portion is adjacent the cable-receiving gland. The stuffing box also includes a gas terminal portion filled with gas and adjacent the grommet-receiving portion, and an insulator portion having the insulator therein and being adjacent the gas terminal portion.

Abstract: A device for sealing incisions in the body of a patient wherein the device includes a bioabsorbable sealing member having an elongate shaft member and an elastomeric and flexible balloon member. The device may also include a preformed or injectable collagenous material associated therewith to hemostatically seal the incision in the body of the patient. The shaft member may include one or more lumens extending therethrough in flow communication with one or more balloon members thereon to provide a relatively simple device which effectively seals an incision in the body of a patient.

Abstract: A device for sealing incisions in the body of a patient wherein the device includes a bioabsorbable sealing member having an elongate shaft member and an elastomeric and flexible balloon member. The device may also include a preformed or injectable collagenous material associated therewith to hemostatically seal the incision in the body of the patient. The shaft member may include one or more lumens extending therethrough in flow communication with one or more balloon members thereon to provide a relatively simple device which effectively seals an incision in the body of a patient.

Abstract: A device for sealing incisions in the body of a patient wherein the device includes a bioabsorbable sealing member having an elongate shaft member and an elastomeric and flexible balloon member. The device may also include a preformed or injectable collagenous material associated therewith to hemostatically seal the incision in the body of the patient. The shaft member may include one or more lumens extending therethrough in flow communication with one or more balloon members thereon to provide a relatively simple device which effectively seals an incision in the body of a patient.

Abstract: Flow measuring apparatus includes a support loop having strain gages mounted thereon and a drag means which is attached to one end of the support loop and which bends the sides of the support loop and induces strains in the strain gages when a flow stream impacts thereon.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a floating platform for supporting nuclear reactors and the like at selected offshore sites. The platform is provided with a stabilizer mechanism which significantly reduces the effects of wave action upon the platform and which comprises a pair of relatively small floats attached by rigid booms to the platform at locations spaced therefrom for reducing wave pitch, acceleration, and the resonance period of the wave.

Abstract: This invention involves an improved process for softening hard water which comprises selectively precipitaing CaCO.sub.3 to form a thin layer thereof, increasing the pH of said water to precipitate magnesium as magnesium hydroxide and then filtering the resultant slurry through said layer. The CaCO.sub.3 layer serves as a thin permeable layer which has particularly useful application in cross-flow filtration applications.