Abstract: An ion transport membrane assembly comprising a pressure vessel, a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules having ceramic conduits, one or more gas manifolds having metal conduits, and multi-layer seals connecting the ceramic conduits to the metal conduits. The multi-layer seals comprise two or more compliant gasket layers and one or more shear gasket layers.

Abstract: Seal assembly comprising (a) two or more seal elements, each element having having a coefficient of thermal expansion; and (b) a clamping element having a first segment, a second segment, and a connecting segment between and attached to the first and second segments, wherein the two or more seal elements are disposed between the first and second segments of the clamping element. The connecting segment has a central portion extending between the first segment of the clamping element and the second segment of the clamping element, and the connecting segment is made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the connecting segment is intermediate the largest and smallest of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials of the two or more seal elements.

Abstract: Ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising an enclosure having an interior and an interior surface, inlet piping having an internal surface and adapted to introduce a heated feed gas into the interior of the enclosure, and outlet piping adapted to withdraw a product gas from the interior of the enclosure; one or more planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the enclosure, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide material; and a preheater adapted to heat a feed gas to provide the heated feed gas to the inlet piping, wherein the preheater comprises an interior surface. Any of the interior surfaces of the enclosure, the inlet piping, and the preheater may be lined with a copper-containing metal lining. Alternatively, any of the interior surfaces of the inlet piping and the preheater may be lined with a copper-containing metal lining and the enclosure may comprise copper.

Abstract: A composite seal is disclosed having first and second metal layers overlying one another in spaced relation. A mineral layer is positioned between the metal layers. The metal and mineral layers have inner and outer perimeters, the inner perimeters overlapping to define an aperture. The metal layers are joined at a perimeter, preferably the outer perimeter, by welding. The metal layers are preferably precious metal or high temperature alloy foil and the mineral layer may be formed of mica, vermiculite, or modifications of vermiculite.

Abstract: Seal assembly comprising (a) two or more seal elements, each element having having a coefficient of thermal expansion; and (b) a clamping element having a first segment, a second segment, and a connecting segment between and attached to the first and second segments, wherein the two or more seal elements are disposed between the first and second segments of the clamping element. The connecting segment has a central portion extending between the first segment of the clamping element and the second segment of the clamping element, and the connecting segment is made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the material of the connecting segment is intermediate the largest and smallest of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials of the two or more seal elements.

Abstract: Ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising an enclosure having an interior and an interior surface, inlet piping having an internal surface and adapted to introduce a heated feed gas into the interior of the enclosure, and outlet piping adapted to withdraw a product gas from the interior of the enclosure; one or more planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the enclosure, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide material; and a preheater adapted to heat a feed gas to provide the heated feed gas to the inlet piping, wherein the preheater comprises an interior surface. Any of the interior surfaces of the enclosure, the inlet piping, and the preheater may be lined with a copper-containing metal lining. Alternatively, any of the interior surfaces of the inlet piping and the preheater may be lined with a copper-containing metal lining and the enclosure may comprise copper.

Abstract: Method for processing an article comprising a mixed conducting metal oxide material, which method comprises (a) contacting the article with an oxygen-containing gas and reducing or increasing the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas; (b) when the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas is reduced, reducing the oxygen activity in the oxygen-containing gas; and (c) when the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas is increased, increasing the oxygen activity in the oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: Method for processing an article comprising a mixed conducting metal oxide material, which method comprises (a) contacting the article with an oxygen-containing gas and reducing or increasing the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas; (b) when the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas is reduced, reducing the oxygen activity in the oxygen-containing gas; and (c) when the temperature of the oxygen-containing gas is increased, increasing the oxygen activity in the oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: A high temperature, gas-tight seal is formed by utilizing one or more compliant metallic toroidal ring sealing elements, where the applied pressure serves to activate the seal, thus improving the quality of the seal. The compliant nature of the sealing element compensates for differences in thermal expansion between the materials to be sealed, and is particularly useful in sealing a metallic member and a ceramic tube art elevated temperatures. The performance of the seal may be improved by coating the sealing element with a soft or flowable coating such as silver or gold and/or by backing the sealing element with a bed of fine powder. The material of the sealing element is chosen such that the element responds to stress elastically, even at elevated temperatures, permitting the seal to operate through multiple thermal cycles.

Abstract: An electrochemical device is disclosed comprising a plurality of planar electrolytic cells connected in series, each cell having an oxygen ion-conducting electrolyte layer, an anode layer and a cathode layer associated with the electrolyte layer, electrically conductive interconnect layers having gas passages situated therein for transporting gaseous streams, which interconnect layers electrically connect the anode layer of each electrolytic cell to the cathode layer of an adjacent planar cell, and sealing means positioned between the interconnect layers and the electrolytic cells to provide a gas-tight seal therebetween. The configuration of the interconnect layer and the placement of the seal means provides a separation between the seal and the conductive pathway of electrons between the anode layer and cathode layer which prevents corrosion or deterioration of the seal.

Abstract: Planar solid-state membrane modules for separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing gaseous mixture which provide improved pneumatic and structural integrity and ease of manifolding. The modules are formed from a plurality of planar membrane units, each membrane unit which comprises a channel-free porous support having connected through porosity which is in contact with a contiguous dense mixed conducting oxide layer having no connected through porosity. The dense mixed conducting oxide layer is placed in flow communication with the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture to be separated and the channel-free porous support of each membrane unit is placed in flow communication with one or more manifolds or conduits for discharging oxygen which has been separated from the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture by permeation through the dense mixed conducting oxide layer of each membrane unit and passage into the manifolds or conduits via the channel-free porous support of each membrane unit.

Abstract: Tubular solid-state membrane modules for separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing gaseous mixture which provide improved pneumatic and structural integrity and ease of manifolding. The modules are formed from a plurality of tubular membrane units, each membrane unit which comprises a channel-free porous support having connected through porosity which is in contact with a contiguous dense mixed conducting oxide layer having no connected through porosity. The dense mixed conducting oxide layer is placed in flow communication with the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture to be separated and the channel-free porous support of each membrane unit is placed in flow communication with one or more manifolds or conduits for discharging oxygen which has been separated from the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture by permeation through the dense mixed conducting oxide layer of each membrane unit and passage into the manifolds or conduits via the channel-free porous support of each membrane unit.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a composite article is disclosed. A surface of a preconsolidated fiber reinforced glass matrix composite structure is pretreated to promote adhesion to the surface, a mass of fiber-containing uncured resin is molded in contact with the pretreated surface and the resin is cured to consolidate a fiber reinforced resin matrix composite structure and simultaneously bond the resin matrix composite structure to the glass matrix composite structure. A composite article fabricated by the above process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a composite article is disclosed. A surface of a preconsolidated fiber reinforced glass matrix composite structure is pretreated to promote adhesion to the surface, a mass of fiber-containing uncured resin is molded in contact with the pretreated surface and the resin is cured to consolidate a fiber reinforced resin matrix composite structure and simultaneously bond the resin matrix composite structure to the glass matrix composite structure. An external flap for a gas turbine engine fabricated by the above process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced glass matrix composite article and a process for fabricating a fiber reinforced glass matrix composite article are disclosed. The article has an outer layer with selectively oriented continuous fiber reinforcement and an inner core having randomly oriented discontinuous fiber reinforcement. The process utilizes the hydrostatic pressure provided by injection molding of the discontinuous fiber reinforced core to fully consolidate the continuous fiber reinforced outer layer.

Abstract: A chopped fiber reinforced glass or glass-ceramic matrix integral stgructure having no bond lines. The structure comprises a face plate, a back plate, and a grid array of chamber walls. The face plate connects to the back plate through the chamber walls forming a grid array of chambers. The back plate has an array of apertures that lead to the chambers. The structure is fabricated by disposing at least two mold inserts in a mold housing having a bottom and sides. The mold inserts are in contact and in an array that follows the surface contours of the mold. The mold inserts and mold insert array is not capable of lateral movement. Heated chopped glass or glass ceramic impregnated fibers are displaced into the mold under pressure to form a composite. The composite is cooled and the mold inserts are removed by chemical dissolution.

Abstract: A durable low weight compressor having improved performance is disclosed. The compressor includes a fiber reinforced resin matrix composite housing and a fiber reinforced glass marix composite compression chamber liner. An air conditioner including an improved compressor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A chopped fiber reinforced glass or glass-ceramic matrix integral structure having no bond lines. The structure comprises a face plate, a back plate, and a grid array of chamber walls. The face plate connects to the back plate through the chamber walls forming a grid array of chambers. The back plate has an array of apertures that lead to the chambers. The structure is fabricated by disposing at least two mold inserts in a mold housing having a bottom and sides. The mold inserts are in contact and in an array that follows the surface contours of the mold. The mold inserts and mold insert array is not capable of lateral movement. Heated chopped glass or glass ceramic impregnated fibers are displaced into the mold under pressure to form a composite. The composite is cooled and the mold inserts are removed by chemical dissolution.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a discontinuous fiber reinforced glass matrix composites by injection molding using an injection nozzle that separates substantially all of a multifilament yarn into individual fibers resulting in a composite having greater crack resistance. The method comprises impregnating continuous filament yarn with glass matrix powders comprising glass, glass-ceramic powders or a mixture thereof. The impregnated multifilament yarn is chopped into discontinuous lengths and exposed to a temperature sufficient so that the matrix material softens. Pressure is applied to the heated impregnated multifilament yarn sufficient to displace the yarn into a mold through an injection nozzle contoured such that sufficient die-wall shear forces are generated to separate substantially all of the multifilament yarn into individual filaments. A mold pressure is maintained sufficient to prevent relaxation of the composite until the strain point of the glass is reached.