Abstract: Hydrocarbon-containing fluids are provided for use during solvent-assisted hydroprocessing of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar. The hydrocarbon-containing fluids can be used at any convenient time, such as during start-up of a pyrolysis process when recycled liquid pyrolysis product is not available; when the amount of liquid pyrolysis product available for recycle is not sufficient to maintain desired hydroprocessing conditions; and/or when the changes to the quality of the liquid pyrolysis product reduce the suitability of the recycle stream for use as a utility fluid.

Abstract: According to one aspect, an autonomous vehicle that includes a lidar unit collects lidar point cloud data that includes false returns or false positives, and characterizes the data associated with the false returns or false positives as drivable or not drivable. The false returns or false positives may be phantom points that are not associated with actual objects which may pose collision risks. Analyzing lidar point cloud data to characterize false returns or false positives as either drivable or not drivable enables an autonomous vehicle to operate efficiently by not having to avoid non-existent collision risks. False positives may be indicated when a wet or icy road surface acts as a mirror which reflects objects, and when precipitation such as raindrops appear as objects. Characterizing such false positives as drivable facilitates the efficient operation of an autonomous vehicle as the autonomous vehicle may drive over a mirror and/or through precipitation.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for decreasing reactor fouling in a steam cracking process is provided. The method includes steam cracking a hydrocarbon feed to obtain a quench oil composition comprising a concentration of donatable hydrogen of 0.5 wt. % or more based on a total weight percent of the quench oil composition; exposing a steam cracker effluent flowing from a pyrolysis furnace to the quench oil composition to form a mixture; and fractionating the mixture in a separation apparatus to obtain a steam cracker tar. In another embodiment, a hydrocarbon mixture is provided. The hydrocarbon mixture includes a mid-cut composition.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon-containing fluids are provided for use during solvent-assisted hydroprocessing of pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar. The hydrocarbon-containing fluids can be used at any convenient time, such as during start-up of a pyrolysis process when recycled liquid pyrolysis product is not available; when the amount of liquid pyrolysis product available for recycle is not sufficient to maintain desired hydroprocessing conditions; and/or when the changes to the quality of the liquid pyrolysis product reduce the suitability of the recycle stream for use as a utility fluid.

Abstract: According to one aspect, an autonomous vehicle that includes a lidar unit collects lidar point cloud data that includes false returns or false positives, and characterizes the data associated with the false returns or false positives as drivable or not drivable. The false returns or false positives may be phantom points that are not associated with actual objects which may pose collision risks. Analyzing lidar point cloud data to characterize false returns or false positives as either drivable or not drivable enables an autonomous vehicle to operate efficiently by not having to avoid non-existent collision risks. False positives may be indicated when a wet or icy road surface acts as a mirror which reflects objects, and when precipitation such as raindrops appear as objects. Characterizing such false positives as drivable facilitates the efficient operation of an autonomous vehicle as the autonomous vehicle may drive over a mirror and/or through precipitation.

Abstract: Processes for improving hydrocarbon feedstock compatibility are provided. More specifically, a process for preparing a liquid hydrocarbon product includes heat soaking a tar stream to produce a reduced reactivity tar and blending the reduced reactivity tar with a utility fluid comprising recycle solvent to produce a lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar. The process also includes hydroprocessing the lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar at a temperature of greater than 350° C. to produce a total liquids product containing the liquid hydrocarbon product and the recycle solvent. The process further includes separating the recycle solvent from the total liquids product, where the recycle solvent has the SBN of greater than 110, and flowing the recycle solvent to the reduced reactivity tar for blending to produce the lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to scanning of objects. A device enabling scanning of objects includes an imaging unit to scan objects and a supporting unit to support the imaging unit on an electronic device. The supporting unit includes a supporting leg that forms a rotatable joint with the imaging unit to enable the imaging unit to fold over the supporting leg. The supporting unit also includes a coupling unit to detachably couple the device to the electronic device.

Abstract: Processes for preparing a low particulate liquid hydrocarbon product are provided and include blending a tar stream containing particles with a fluid and heating to a temperature of 250° C. or greater to produce a fluid-feed mixture that contains tar, the particles, and the fluid. The fluid-feed mixture contains about 20 wt % or greater of the fluid, based on a combined weight of the tar stream and the fluid. Also, about 25 wt % to about 99 wt % of the particles in the tar stream are dissolved or decomposed when producing the fluid-feed mixture.

Abstract: Processes for preparing a low particulate liquid hydrocarbon product are provided and include blending a tar stream containing particles with a fluid and heating to a temperature of 250° C. or greater to produce a fluid-feed mixture that contains tar, the particles, and the fluid. The fluid-feed mixture contains about 20 wt % or greater of the fluid, based on a combined weight of the tar stream and the fluid. Also, about 25 wt % to about 99 wt % of the particles in the tar stream are dissolved or decomposed when producing the fluid-feed mixture.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to scanning of objects. A device enabling scanning of objects includes an imaging unit to scan objects and a supporting unit to support the imaging unit on an electronic device. The supporting unit includes a supporting leg that forms a rotatable joint with the imaging unit to enable the imaging unit to fold over the supporting leg. The supporting unit also includes a coupling unit to detachably couple the device to the electronic device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for decreasing reactor fouling in a steam cracking process is provided. The method includes steam cracking a hydrocarbon feed to obtain a quench oil composition comprising a concentration of donatable hydrogen of 0.5 wt. % or more based on a total weight percent of the quench oil composition; exposing a steam cracker effluent flowing from a pyrolysis furnace to the quench oil composition to form a mixture; and fractionating the mixture in a separation apparatus to obtain a steam cracker tar. In another embodiment, a hydrocarbon mixture is provided. The hydrocarbon mixture includes a mid-cut composition.

Abstract: An apparatus measures a speaker impedance. A DAC converts a known digital input signal to an audio frequency first analog voltage signal. Resistors with known resistance attenuate the first analog voltage signal to generate a current. The known resistance effectively determines the current because the known resistance is high relative to the speaker impedance. The current is sourced into the speaker to generate a second analog voltage signal. The known resistance is sufficiently high to cause the second analog voltage signal to be inaudible as transduced by the speaker. An amplifier amplifies the second analog voltage signal with a known gain to generate a third analog voltage signal. An ADC converts the third analog voltage signal to a digital output signal. A processing element calculates the impedance of the speaker proportional to the digital output signal based on the known digital input signal, the known resistance, and the known gain.

Abstract: An apparatus measures a speaker impedance. A DAC converts a known digital input signal to an audio frequency first analog voltage signal. Resistors with known resistance attenuate the first analog voltage signal to generate a current. The known resistance effectively determines the current because the known resistance is high relative to the speaker impedance. The current is sourced into the speaker to generate a second analog voltage signal. The known resistance is sufficiently high to cause the second analog voltage signal to be inaudible as transduced by the speaker. An amplifier amplifies the second analog voltage signal with a known gain to generate a third analog voltage signal. An ADC converts the third analog voltage signal to a digital output signal. A processing element calculates the impedance of the speaker proportional to the digital output signal based on the known digital input signal, the known resistance, and the known gain.

Abstract: A process is described for upgrading pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, by hydroprocessing in the presence of a utility fluid. The hydroprocessing conditions comprise a pressure >8 MPa and a weight hourly space velocity of combined pyrolysis tar and utility fluid >0.3 hr?1 and are selected so that the hydrogen consumption rate is in the range of 270 to 445 standard cubic meters/cubic meter (S m3/m3) of pyrolysis tar.

Abstract: Processes for improving hydrocarbon feedstock compatibility are provided. More specifically, a process for preparing a liquid hydrocarbon product includes heat soaking a tar stream to produce a reduced reactivity tar and blending the reduced reactivity tar with a utility fluid comprising recycle solvent to produce a lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar. The process also includes hydroprocessing the lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar at a temperature of greater than 350° C. to produce a total liquids product containing the liquid hydrocarbon product and the recycle solvent. The process further includes separating the recycle solvent from the total liquids product, where the recycle solvent has the SBN of greater than 110, and flowing the recycle solvent to the reduced reactivity tar for blending to produce the lower viscosity, reduced reactivity tar.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can acquire a set of media content items. A mood indication can be acquired. A soundtrack can be identified based on the mood indication. A video content item can be dynamically generated in real-time based on the set of media content items and the mood indication. The video content item can include the soundtrack.

Abstract: Novel compounds are described, being alkylated diphenylamine derivatives of triazole, wherein the alkyl group on at least one of the phenyl groups is C8 or higher, in an amount ranging from 0.001 to 5.0% by weight of the lubricating composition. In particular, the derivatives may be 1-[di-(4-octylphenyl)aminomethyl]triazole; 1-[di-(4-nonylphenyl)aminomethyl]triazole; 1-[(4-octylphenyl)(4-butylphenyl)aminomethyl]triazole; and 1-[(4-octylphenyl)(phenyl)aminomethyl]triazole. A lubricating composition comprising the novel derivatives is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved Class-D amplifier may include a digital PWM modulator that receives a digital audio signal and that provides a PWM signal as an input to an analog PWM modulator of the Class-D amplifier. A digital PWM modulator may be configured to receive a digital signal and to generate a first PWM signal based on the digital signal. A digital PWM driver may be coupled to the digital PWM modulator. The digital PWM driver may be configured to receive the first PWM signal and to generate a reference PWM signal based on the first PWM signal. An analog PWM modulator may be coupled to the digital PWM driver. The analog PWM modulator may be configured to receive the reference PWM signal and to generate an output PWM signal based on the reference PWM signal.

Abstract: Methods to generate a model of composition for a petroleum sample can include providing a petroleum sample to a two-dimensional gas chromatograph coupled with at least one detector. The chromatograph can have first and second columns. The chromatograph can be adapted to output data for each detector representing first and second dimension retention times corresponding to the first and second columns, respectively. The data representing the first and second dimension retention times for each detector based on the petroleum sample can be obtained from the chromatograph. Molecular components of the petroleum sample can be identified based at least in part on the first and second dimension retention times for each detector. The identified molecular components of the petroleum sample can be quantified based at least in part on integrated peaks of the first and second dimension retention times for each detector to generate a model of composition of the petroleum sample.

Abstract: A process is described for upgrading pyrolysis tar, such as steam cracker tar, by hydroprocessing in the presence of a utility fluid. The hydroprocessing conditions comprise a pressure >8 MPa and a weight hourly space velocity of combined pyrolysis tar and utility fluid >0.3 hr?1 and are selected so that the hydrogen consumption rate is in the range of 270 to 445 standard cubic meters/cubic meter (S m3/m3) of pyrolysis tar.