Abstract: An auction service is provided that stimulates competition between energy suppliers (i.e., electric power or natural gas). A bidding moderator receives offers from competing suppliers specifying the economic terms each is willing to offer to end users or resellers for estimated quantities of electric power or gas supply (separate auctions). Suppliers receive feedback from the moderator based on competitors' offers and have the opportunity to adjust their own offers down or up, depending on whether they want to encourage or discourage additional energy delivery commitments in a particular geographic area or to a particular customer group. Each supplier's offers can also be changed to reflect each supplier's capacity utilization. The moderator selects one or more suppliers to provide electric power or natural gas to each end user or reseller, with each supplier providing at least a portion of the electric power or natural gas needed by each end user or reseller during a specific future time interval.

Abstract: A test system and method for scheduling and running multiple tests on a single system residing in a single test environment. The test system comprises a processor operable to receive a request to run a selected test on the system at a selected start time, and determine a time slot for the selected test. The test system is also operable to identify any scheduled tests to be run on the system within the time slot, and identify any conflicts between the selected test and any scheduled tests. If no scheduled tests are identified or if no conflicts are identified, the processor is operable to schedule the selected test to run on the system at the selected start time. If conflicts are identified, the processor is preferably operable to determine an alternative start time for the selected test that avoids any conflicts. Various exemplary embodiments of the test system and associated method are provided.

Abstract: Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis using a cobalt catalyst is used to produce waxy fuel and lubricant oil hydrocarbons from synthesis gas derived from natural gas. The waxy hydrocarbons are hydrodewaxed, with reduced conversion to lower boiling hydrocarbons, by contacting the waxy hydrocarbons, in the presence of hydrogen, with an unsulfided 10-ring, 1-dimensional zeolite catalyst that has been reduced and then treated by contacting it with the synthesized hydrocarbons containing one or more oxygenates, including indigenous oxygenate. Tail gas from the hydrodewaxing reactor can be used for the hydrocarbon synthesis.

Abstract: The invention provides low metal content molecular sieve catalyst compositions, processes for making such catalysts, and processes for using such catalysts in the conversion of an oxygenate into one or more light olefins. Preferably, the catalyst composition comprises a matrix material having a low metal content. By utilizing matrix materials having low metal contents, the amount of metal-catalyzed side reaction byproducts formed in a reaction system, particularly in an oxygenate-to-olefin reaction system, can be advantageously reduced.

Abstract: A method for forming a component (210) for a vehicle includes providing a substrate (230) that includes a relatively rigid material and providing a skin (222) adjacent at least a portion of the substrate such that a cavity is formed between the substrate and the skin. The method also includes coupling at least a portion of the skin to the substrate and introducing a material (240) into the cavity after securing at least a portion of the skin to the substrate. The skin and the material introduced into the cavity form a cushioned region for the vehicle component.

Abstract: An infrared temperature sensing device is provided for sensing temperature of a target object. The sensing device includes a semiconductor substrate, a thermopile infrared sensor mounted to the substrate for sensing temperature of a remote target object, and temperature sensing circuitry mounted to the substrate. The temperature sensing circuitry generates a temperature dependent signal substantially linearly related to ambient temperature of the substrate. The sensing device further includes summing circuitry for generating a signal indicative of infrared sensed temperature as a function of the ambient temperature.

Abstract: Heavy fractions of paraffinic lubes produced over dewaxing catalysts are effective as wax crystal modifiers for being hydrocarbons notwithstanding that such heavy fractions have pour points above that of the liquid hydrocarbon.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved method for refining cellulose that produces a highly refined cellulosic material. The method comprises soaking raw material in a mild NaOH using reduced temperatures and pressures, and refining the material with a plate refiner so that a waste water stream is reduced in volume and has a pH within a range of 8 to 9. The present invention also comprises a HRC gel having a lignin concentration of at least about one (1)% by weight, and a water retention capacity of about 25 to at least about 56 g H2O/g dry HRC.

Abstract: An apparatus for pivoting a screed assembly during screeding of placed and/or poured, uncured concrete or like loose, spreadable materials to maintain proper screeding contact by the screeding assembly with the concrete or like material by maintaining the predetermined levels of concrete or other like material acting against the screed assembly as it is moved along the concrete. The apparatus requires a support preferably of the self-propelled type, having a boom and a boom mount. The axis of the pivot extends generally perpendicularly to the screeding direction in which the screed assembly is moved. A power source, such as a fluid cylinder rotates the screed about the pivot axis, preferably in response to a leveling sensor mounted on the screed. The lateral incline of the screed perpendicular to the screeding direction may also be separately controlled. A power operated elevation control is preferably responsive to a fixed laser beam reference plane positioned externally of the screed assembly.

Abstract: The present invention includes a fuel cell system and a method to operate a fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a source of a fuel and water emulsion, receiving the emulsion and a reformer for receiving the emulsion and producing hydrogen, a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell connected to the reformer and able to receive hydrogen from the reformer. The method for operating a fuel cell system including a hydrogen gas oxygen fuel cell includes producing the hydrogen gas from a fuel and water emulsion.

Abstract: A strain gauge for sensing strain is provided and includes a support substrate, and first and second electrodes supported on the substrate. The first and second electrodes include first and second capacitive plates, respectively. The first capacitive plates are movable relative to the second capacitive plates responsive to strain. The strain gauge further has an input electrically coupled to one of the first and second electrodes for receiving an input signal, and an output electrically coupled to the other of the first and second electrodes for providing an output signal which varies as a function of the capacitive coupling and is indicative of sensed strain.

Abstract: Extra heavy lube base stocks are separated from heavy lube oils with a polar solvent in an amount sufficient to form a first light phase and a second heavy phase. The phases are then separated and the solvent is removed from the second heavy phase to yield an extra heavy lube.

Abstract: High viscosity lube base oils are produced from syngas by converting syngas under Fischer-Tropsch reaction conditions which are sufficient to produce hydrocarbon products containing greater than 20 lbs of 700° F.+(371° C.+) product per 100 lbs of CO converted. A 450° F.+(232° C.+) cut is separated from the hydrocarbon products and catalytically hydroisomerized and distilled to provide high viscosity lube base oils.

Abstract: A heavy hydrocarbon composition with utility as a heavy hydrocarbon base stock comprising at least 95 wt % paraffin molecules, of which at least 90 wt % are isoparaffin, containing hydrocarbon molecules having consecutive numbers of carbon atoms, is a liquid at 100° C., at which temperature its kinematic viscosity, as measured by ASTM D-445, is above 8 cSt, has an initial boiling point of least 850° F. (454° C.) and an end boiling point of at least 1000° F. (538° C.), wherein the branching index (BI), as measured by the percentage of methyl hydrogens, and the branching proximity (CH2>4), as measured by the percentage of recurring methylene carbons which are four or more carbon atoms removed from an end group or branch, of said isoparaffinic hydrocarbon molecules, are such that: (a) BI?0.5(CH2>4)<15; and (b) BI+0.85(CH2>4)<45; as measured over the heavy hydrocarbon composition as a whole.

Abstract: This invention relates to supported activators comprising the product of the combination of an ion-exchange layered silicate, an organoaluminum compound, and a heterocyclic compound, which may be substituted or unsubstituted. This invention further relates to catalyst systems comprising catalyst compounds and such activators, as well as processes to polymerize unsaturated monomers using the supported activators. For the purposes of this patent specification and the claims thereto, the term “activator” is used interchangeably with the term “co-catalyst”, the term “catalyst” refers to a metal compound that when combined with an activator polymerizes olefins, and the term “catalyst system” refers to the combination of a catalyst and an activator with or without a support. The terms “support” or “carrier”, for purposes of this patent specification, are used interchangeably and are any ion-exchange layered silicates.

Abstract: The invention provides low metal content molecular sieve catalyst compositions, processes for making such catalysts, and processes for using such catalysts in the conversion of an oxygenate into one or more light olefins. Preferably, the catalyst composition comprises a matrix material having a low metal content. By utilizing matrix materials having low metal contents, the amount of metal-catalyzed side reaction byproducts formed in a reaction system, particularly in an oxygenate-to-olefin reaction system, can be advantageously reduced.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a natural product litter composition as well as methods of preparing and using a natural product litter as a sorbent for liquids. The sorbent contains 1% to 50% by weight wood particles and 50% to 99% by weight ground grain. The sorbency of a ground grain litter can be improved by pelletization and crumbling. Addition of up to 50% of wood particles to a ground grain litter further enhances the sorbency while maintaining suitable swelling and clumping characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method for the automated testing of a telecommunications system. In operation, the automated test system may be used to test the functionality of telephony applications residing on telecommunications equipment and to validate the data contained within related databases. In an exemplary embodiment, the automated test system is used to test the functionality of an automated messaging system and the accuracy of associated call detail records (CDR) located within a CDR database. A capture/playback tool is preferably used to emulate the interaction of a test person on a workstation of the test system to thereby automate the testing process.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a natural product litter composition as well as methods of preparing and using a natural product litter as a sorbent for liquids. The sorbent contains 1% to 50% by weight wood particles and 50% to 99% by weight ground grain. The sorbency of a ground grain litter can be improved by pelletization and crumbling. Addition of up to 50% of wood particles to a ground grain litter further enhances the sorbency while maintaining suitable swelling and clumping characteristics.

Abstract: A method of auctioning data services in a network environment including an exchange system including a supplier list having at least one supplier and a buyer list having at least one includes receiving in the exchange system a service request from a buyer for data services and incentive data from a supplier to supply the data services. The method further includes determining a selected supplier from the supplier list based on the incentive data, creating routing data for the data services to be routed through the selected supplier, and routing the data services through the selected supplier using the routing data.