Abstract: A fuel cell power plant, generally, has a fuel cell stack for electrochemically converting a hydrocarbon fuel into electricity. In order for the hydrocarbon fuel to be used by the fuel cell stack, it must be steam reformed into a hydrogen-rich process gas. This process gas has a carbon monoxide level that would be detrimental to the fuel cell stack, so the process gas is passed through a shift converter to decrease the carbon monoxide level therein prior to feeding the process gas to the fuel cell stack. In order to decrease the level of carbon monoxide without the need to increase the size of the shift converter catalyst bed, or lower the temperature of the process gas as it enters the shift converter to an undesirably low temperature, the shift converter design that utilizes an upstream adiabatic zone and a downstream actively cooled zone. The actively cooled zone is cooled by a pressurized water coolant which boils as it cools the process gas stream.

Abstract: A compact and efficient fuel reformer which is operable to produce a hydrogen-enriched process fuel from a raw fuel such as natural gas, or the like includes a compact array of catalyst tubes which are contained in a heat-insulated housing. The catalyst tube array preferably includes a multitude of catalyst tubes that are arranged in a hexagonal array. The housing includes internal hexagonal thermal insulation so as to ensure even heating of the catalyst tubes. The diameter of the tubes is sized so that spacing between adjacent tubes in the array can be minimized for efficient heat transfer. The interior of each of the catalyst tubes includes a hollow dead-ended central tube which serves as a fines trap for collecting catalyst fines that may become entrained in the fuel stream. The catalyst tubes are also provided with an upper frusto-conical portion which serves to extend the catalyst bed and provide a catalyst reserve.

Abstract: A process gas selective oxidizer assemblage for use in a fuel cell power plant includes one or more catalyzed selective oxidizer process gas flow fields and one or more adjacent non-catalyzed heat exchanger process gas flow fields. The catalyzed selective oxidizer process gas flow fields may be formed with catalyzed pellets or with a monolithic catalyzed open cell foam component. The heat exchanger process gas flow fields are formed by non-catalyzed monolithic open cell foam components which have coolant fluid passages disposed therein. Planar metal sheets form a common wall between the selective oxidizer process gas flow fields and the heat exchanger process gas flow fields. The use of the open cell foam to form the heat exchanger process gas flow fields provides enhanced heat transfer between the reformate gas and the coolant fluid.

Abstract: A system (10) and method for packet telephony power management of a cable distribution network (20), i.e., a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) communication system, for internet protocol (IP) packet telephony information between multiple cable modem subscriber units (16,18) communicated over a public switch telephone network (PSTN) (32) with at least one router (28), e.g., a cable modem termination system (CMTS) on a communication network backbone. Power management is provided to minimize power consumption on the IP telephony distribution system (10) supporting line-powered cable-modem subscriber units (16). The power saving techniques are supported using a virtual broadcast channel (VBC) (62) provided in the packet telephony system using an alert queue (60). The alert queue (60) is established and segmented into a plurality of phases for selective activation, each phase having memory buffers for buffering packet telephony information communicated via the CMTSs (28).

Abstract: A method for assigning communication resources includes assigning communication resources (216, 218, 220) in the nature of bandwidth according to various selection schemes based upon the type of communication service being provided, and based upon the nature of the service area (128, 130) and subscriber premises (132, 134).

Abstract: A fuel gas processing system is operable to remove substantially all of the sulfur present in a hydrocarbon fuel supply used to power a fuel cell power plant in a mobile vehicular environment. The power plant fuel can be gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, natural gas, or another fuel which contains relatively high levels of organic sulfur compounds such as mercaptans, sulfides, disulfides, and the like. The hydrocarbon fuel supply is passed through a nickel reactant desulfurizer bed wherein essentially all of the sulfur in the organic sulfur compounds react with the nickel reactant, and are converted to nickel sulfide while the desulfurized fuel continues through the remainder of the fuel processing system. The fuel cell power plant and the processing system can be used to power a mobile vehicle, such an automobile, truck, bus, or the like. An auxiliary supply of hydrogen is provided in order to power the fuel cell power plant during start up of the fuel processing system.

Abstract: A fuel gas reformer assemblage for use in a fuel cell power plant is formed from a composite plate assembly which includes spaced-apart divider plates with interposed monolithic open cell sponge-like members which form gas passages. The monolithic members have a lattice of internal open cells which are both laterally and longitudinally interconnected so as to provide for a diffuse gas flow. The entire surface area of the monolithic components is wash coated with a porous alumina layer, and selected areas of the wash coat are also catalyzed. The reformer assemblage is constructed from a series of repeating sub-assemblies, each of which includes a core of separate regenerator/heat exchanger gas passages. The core in each sub-assembly is sandwiched between a pair of reformer gas passage skins, which complete the subassembly. Adjacent reformer gas/regenerator/reformer gas passage sub-assemblies in the composite plate assembly are separated from each other by burner gas passages.

Abstract: A cable communication system (100) where a control unit (110) sends operation parameters to subscriber units (130) and the subscriber units (130) respond by modifying the method of communication. Also, the subscriber units (130) send messages which include information on the subscriber unit (130) and the capabilities of the subscriber unit (130). Furthermore, the control unit (110) efficiently manages the system 100 by monitoring the capabilities and instructing the subscriber units (130) on-how to communicate on the system (100). Such management allows for the migration of subscriber units (170) from one service area (140) to another (190) without the disruption of service. In addition, initialization of subscriber units (130) may be accomplished over the cable and does not require an operator at the subscriber location.

Abstract: A fuel gas catalyst bed for use in a fuel cell power plant is formed from a monolithic open cell foam component, the open cell lattice of which forms gas passages through the catalyst bed. The monolithic component has a lattice of internal open cells which are both laterally and longitudinally interconnected so as to produce a diffuse gas flow pattern through the catalyst bed. All areas of the monolithic component which form the gas flow pattern are provided with an underlying high porosity wash coat layer. The porous surface of the wash coat layer is provided with a nickel catalyst layer, or a noble metal catalyst layer, such as platinum, rhodium, palladium, or the like, over which the gas stream being treated flows. The base foam lattice can be a metal such as aluminum, stainless steel, a steel-aluminum alloy, a nickel alloy, a ceramic, or the like material which can be wash coated.

Abstract: The present invention is a photographic element which includes a support, and at least one light-sensitive silver halide layer on a front side of the support. The photographic element has on the backside of the support an antistatic layer; a transparent magnetic recording layer; and a lubricating overcoat layer. The lubricating overcoat layer is farthest from the support and includes a lubricant of the general formula:R--CONH.sub.2where R is a long chain hydrocarbon between 12 and 30 carbons, preferably between 16 and 22.The present invention also provides a method of producing an imaging support which includes, providing a support, and simultaneously coating on the support; a transparent magnetic recording layer including magnetic particles, a polymeric binder and an organic solvent, and a lubricating overcoat layer, the lubricating overcoat layer comprising a lubricant of the general formula:R--CONH.sub.

Abstract: A fuel cell system, generally, has a fuel processing apparatus for steam reforming a hydrocarbon fuel and steam into a product gas, and a fuel cell stack for converting the product gas into electricity. The fuel processing apparatus is a catalytic reaction apparatus having a furnace and a catalytic reactor. In an effort to increase the efficiency of the catalytic reaction apparatus and decrease the size and/or number of catalytic reactors, the present invention relates to a furnace that utilizes air and fuel pre-heat chambers to increase the flame temperature within the furnace.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a communication system (100) for allocating and controlling data transmissions to and from communications unit (134) in communications system (100). The communication systems (100) includes a cable distribution network (106) with a base communications unit (102) and a number of downstream communications units (134) all connected to the cable distribution network (106). A plurality of channels are used to transmit data transmissions between the base communications unit (100) and the downstream communications unit (134). Uplink and downlink channels are monitored to determine channel quality for each of the channels in communications system (100). The determined channel quality is used to both initiate transfers of communications links to other frequencies and for assigning channels to various communications units (134).

Abstract: A reaction mixture for manufacturing polyol fatty acid polyesters comprises a polyol, a fatty acid lower alkyl ester, a base initiator and a phase transfer catalyst. The phase transfer catalyst can be a quaternary ammonium compound, a crown ether, a polyethylene glycol, a polyethylene glycol ether, a polyethylene glycol ester or mixtures thereof. The process of making polyol fatty acid polyesters is carried out at low temperatures and essentially in the absence of a solvent or emulsifier. The polyol fatty acid polyester product stream produced by the foregoing process and reaction mixture has a lower concentration of reaction by-products such as di-fatty ketones and beta-ketoesters and of caramelized by-product which results from the breakdown of the polyol reactant.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing an imaging support which includes providing a support, simultaneously coating on a side of the support; a transparent magnetic recording layer including magnetic particles, a polymeric binder and an organic solvent, and a lubricating overcoat layer farthest from the support, the lubricating overcoat layer including a lubricant selected form the general formulas I, II or III:wherein general formula I comprises: ##STR1## wherein X is selected from the group consisting of esters, amides, ethers, or methylene, a is from 10 to 500, and b is from 4 to 3000, and the general formula I has a molecular weight at least 800;wherein general formula II comprises: ##STR2## wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of, --C-- and --N--, Z is selected from the group consisting of esters, amides, and a carbon-carbon bond, R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, and hydrogen or may be absent if Y equals nitrogen, c is from 1 to 2, d is from 4 to 3000, e is from 10 t

Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing an imaging support which includes providing a support, simultaneously coating on a side of the support; a transparent magnetic recording layer comprising magnetic particles, a polymeric binder and an organic solvent, and a lubricating overcoat layer farthest from the support, the lubricating overcoat layer comprising wax particles having a size from 0.01 .mu.m to 0.5 .mu.m, and an organic solvent; and drying the magnetic recording layer and the lubricating overcoat layer.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing foamable compositions includes a first module comprising a first housing, a fluid flow fitting in the first housing, a shutoff valve in the first housing and in fluid communication with the fluid flow fitting. The dispenser further includes a second module comprising: a second housing, a valving chamber in the second housing for receiving fluid from the shutoff valve and the fluid flow fitting; and an attachment for securing the first and second modules to one another with the valving chamber in fluid communication with the shutoff valve and the fluid flow fitting so that foam precursors can travel from the foam fittings to the valving chamber, and be dispensed from the chamber to form foam.

Abstract: A method for detecting fraudulent use of a communication system (10) includes the steps of determining a system parameter associated with a subscriber unit (32). The system then compares the system parameter to a previous system parameter for the subscriber unit (32). An alarm is set when the system parameter differs more than a predetermined amount from the previous system parameter.

Abstract: Sulfur and sulfur compounds are removed from a gas stream, such as a hydrocarbon fuel gas stream so as to render the gas stream suitable for use in a fuel cell power plant. Natural gas and recycled hydrogen enters the hydrodesulfurizer assembly at a temperature of about 120.degree. F. The gas stream is heated to a temperature of about 625.degree. F. whereupon it enters a desulfurizing bed formed from a mixture of platinum catalyst deposited on alumina pellets, and a pelletized zinc oxide hydrogen sulfide absorbent. The gas is cooled to an exit temperature of about 525.degree.F. as it passes through the desulfurizer bed. The desulfurizer bed is combined with a shift converter which reduces carbon monoxide in the desulfurized gas stream after the latter has passed through a steam reformer bed.

Abstract: A method of updating a software code in a cable communication system (10) involves the steps of receiving a notification (100) by a cable access unit (30). Next, the cable access unit (30) receives (110) the software code. After receiving (110) the software code the CAU (30) resets (114) and reboots using the software code.

Abstract: The present invention is a photographic element which includes a support, and at least one light-sensitive silver halide layer on a front side of the support. The photographic element has on the backside of the support an antistatic layer; a transparent magnetic recording layer; and a lubricating overcoat layer. The lubricating overcoat layer is farthest from the support and includes a lubricant of the general formula:R--CONH.sub.2where R is a long chain hydrocarbon between 12 and 30 carbons, preferably between 16 and 22.The present invention also provides a method of producing an imaging support which includes, providing a support, and simultaneously coating on the support; a transparent magnetic recording layer including magnetic particles, a polymeric binder and an organic solvent, and a lubricating overcoat layer, the lubricating overcoat layer comprising a lubricant of the general formula:R--CONH.sub.