Abstract: The present invention discloses a pyrolysis unit that operates using a plasma pyrolysis reactor. Hydrocarbon material that is to be converted to syngas can be in gas, liquid and/or solid form including a slurry of very small powder particles. The hydrocarbons are subjected to very high levels of heat from one or more plasma torches in order to break the hydrocarbon chemical bonds. The residue from heating the hydrocarbon material drops into a pyrolysis unit quench section where the residue and molten ash are removed. Syngas that is extracted from the pyrolysis unit passes through syngas preparation processes that remove contaminants from the syngas. The syngas then passes through a syngas-to-liquid hydrocarbons process. Carbon dioxide that is removed from the syngas preparation and syngas-to-hydrocarbons processes is recycled to the pyrolysis unit.

Abstract: A device is provided for compressing a plasma stream flowing in a plasma flow direction and maintaining the plasma stream in the compressed state. The device has a plasma compression region; a plurality of first magnets positioned around the plasma compression region for compressing the plasma stream, each of the first magnets having a dominant magnetic force direction that is non-parallel to the plasma flow direction; a reaction region positioned down stream from the plasma compression region; and a plurality of second magnets positioned around the reaction region for maintaining the plasma stream in its compressed state.

Abstract: A method is provided for subjecting a material which is partially in a solid state and partially in a liquid state to explosive forces. The method includes containing the material in a vessel having a length in a first direction and a width in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the length being greater than the width; subjecting the material to the explosive forces in the vessel, the explosive forces being caused by introducing energy to the material by discharging a capacitor through a capacitor discharge electrode located within the material; and removing the material from the vessel after being subjected to the explosive forces.

Abstract: An array of active pixel sensor cells is operated to substantially reduce the gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) current component of the dark current. In addition, the array is tested to determine the number of cells in the array that are bad, and discards the array of active pixel sensor cells when the number of bad cells exceeds a predefined limit.

Abstract: A blast protection system is provided for protecting an asset from a blast force. The system has a shaft; a plurality of plates mounted on the shaft; a panel attached to a first plate of the plurality of plates and for receiving the blast force and transmitting a portion of the blast force to the first plate; and a base attached to a second plate of the plurality of the plates and for receiving a portion of the force transmitted to the first plate by the panel. The force received by the base is less than the blast force.

Abstract: A decoration structure, especially a decoration for a room, has a frame structure bounding an opening within which to present to view a background element bearing first subject matter, such as a scene or an abstract design, and a foreground element through or past which the background element can be viewed, the foreground element being spaced sufficiently from the background element to be clearly spaced to the viewer and so as to cause an apparent relative movement when there is relative movement with respect to the viewer. Illumination is provided for at least the background element. One or both of the elements may have small colored zones in a transparent or translucent sheet for change of transmitted color, to the viewer, as relative movement occurs.