Abstract: A method of continuously providing a pressurized slurry of a solid material and liquid carbon dioxide is disclosed. The method comprises mixing particles of the solid material and particles of solid carbon dioxide in a mixing container and feeding the mixture of the solid material and the solid carbon dioxide to a pump to form a slurry of the solid material and liquified carbon dioxide. Within the pump, the solid carbon dioxide sublimates, forming a gaseous carbon dioxide that subsequently liquefies due to an increase in pressure. The liquid carbon dioxide and the solid material then mix to form the slurry of the solid material and the liquid carbon dioxide. In some embodiments, the pressurized slurry may be used for pipeline transportation of the solid material. A system of producing a continuous pressurized slurry of solid material and liquid carbon dioxide is also disclosed. A method of producing hydrogen is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of continuously providing a pressurized slurry of a solid material and liquid carbon dioxide is disclosed. The method comprises mixing particles of the solid material and particles of solid carbon dioxide in a mixing container and feeding the mixture of the solid material and the solid carbon dioxide to a pump to form a slurry of the solid material and liquified carbon dioxide. Within the pump, the solid carbon dioxide sublimates, forming a gaseous carbon dioxide which subsequently liquefies due to an increase in pressure. The liquid carbon dioxide and the solid material then mix to form the slurry of the solid material and the liquid carbon dioxide. In some embodiments, the pressurized slurry may be used for pipeline transportation of the solid material. A system of producing a continuous pressurized slurry of solid material and liquid carbon dioxide is also disclosed. A method of producing hydrogen is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method assists a user in selecting a product from multiple products, grouped into categories. Information about the product is received and stored. Attributes about the products of each category, and questions related to the attributes are received and stored. Possible responses to the questions and weights associated with each possible response are also received and stored. Evaluation ratings for each of the attributes of each of the products are received and stored. The user selects a category and is provided with questions corresponding to the attributes of the products in the category selected. For each product in the category, a product score is calculated by summing the product of the weights of the responses by the evaluation ratings for that product. The results are displayed, organized into rows and columns in the order of the product scores and weights.

Abstract: A method and apparatus accepts a proposed order for products and/or services directed toward a vendor and identifies one or more additional orders that can be combined with the proposed order to obtain a higher volume discount than would be obtained submitting the proposed order by itself. One or more additional orders may contain a quantity of one product available from the vendor that, when combined with the proposed order, will qualify for the next discount higher than would be obtained by the proposed order alone and costs lower than cost of achieving the same discount using another product available from the vendor. One or more additional order may contain a quantity of one product in the proposed order that, when combined with the proposed order, will qualify for the next discount higher than would be obtained by the proposed order alone and costs lower than the cost of achieving the same discount using another product in the proposed order.