Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a process of producing ammonia from methane extracted from methane-hydrate at the site of methane-hydrate extraction. The method and the process comprise coupled chemical reactions. During the first reaction, carbon dioxide reacts methane-hydrate to produce carbon-dioxide-hydrate and methane: carbon dioxide+methane-hydrate?carbon-dioxide-hydrate+methane (CO2+CH4-hydrate?CO2-hydrate+CH4). The produced methane is reacted with water to produced carbon dioxide and hydrogen via the second reaction: methane+water?carbon dioxide+hydrogen (CH4+2H2O?CO2+4H2). One embodiment of the second reaction is a combination of the methane steam reforming reaction (CH4+H2O?CO+3H2) and the water-gas shift reaction (CO+H2O?CO2+H2), both are widely known in the art. The carbon dioxide produced in the second reaction is recycled and used for the first reaction.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention comprise a coolant-free hollow valve with a cavity and a vacuum being enclosed in the cavity. The valve is used for an engine and one example of an engine is an internal combustion engine. The valve comprises a coolant-free hollow vacuum cavity to reduce the heat conduction such that the combustion heat is used to perform useful work to improve the efficiency of the engine. One embodiment of the present invention is a coolant-free valve with a hollow vacuum cavity and a thermal barrier coating being deposited onto part of the external surface of the valve that comes into contact with the combustion chamber of the engine.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a process of producing ammonia from methane extracted from methane-hydrate at the site of methane-hydrate extraction. The method and the process comprise coupled chemical reactions. During the first reaction, carbon dioxide reacts methane-hydrate to produce carbon-dioxide-hydrate and methane: carbon dioxide+methane-hydrate?carbon-dioxide-hydrate+methane (CO2+CH4-hydrate?CO2-hydrate+CH4). The produced methane is reacted with water to produced carbon dioxide and hydrogen via the second reaction: methane+water?carbon dioxide+hydrogen (CH4+2H2O?CO2+4H2). One embodiment of the second reaction is a combination of the methane steam reforming reaction (CH4+H2O?CO+3H2) and the water-gas shift reaction (CO+H2O?CO2+H2), both are widely known in the art. The carbon dioxide produced in the second reaction is recycled and used for the first reaction.

Abstract: A primary aluminum hydride cell and a battery formed with a plurality of the cells is described herein. The cells are constructed of an anode, a cathode and an aqueous electrolyte, and the anode comprises aluminum hydride and a conductive material. In some embodiments, the cathode comprises an air diffusion cathode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming a refractory metal-intermetallic composite. The method includes providing a first powder comprising a refractory metal suitable for forming a metal phase; providing a second powder comprising a silicide precursor suitable for forming an intermetallic phase; blending the first powder and the second powder to form a powder blend; consolidating and mechanically deforming the powder blend at a first temperature; and reacting the powder blend at a second temperature to form the metal phase and the intermetallic phase of the refractory metal-intermetallic composite, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for preparing magnesium borohydride. The method includes the step of reacting a metal borohydride with a metal salt composition in a solvent, to form a reaction mixture. The metal salt composition comprises at least one magnesium salt. The metal borohydride and the metal salt composition are insoluble in the solvent. The method further includes the step of grinding the reaction mixture to produce a composition that includes magnesium borohydride; and removing the solvent from the composition. Another embodiment of this invention relates to a new material. The material is an orthorhombic crystal phase of magnesium borohydride.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hydrogen storage material comprising a metal hydride and an organic hydrogen carrier. Also disclosed herein is a hydrogen storage/fuel cell system which employs the hydrogen storage material.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and material for storing and retrieving hydrogen are presented. The apparatus comprises a storage component, and this component comprises a hydrogen storage medium. The hydrogen storage medium comprises gallium. The method for storing and retrieving hydrogen comprises providing a source of hydrogen; providing a storage component, the component comprising a hydrogen storage medium, wherein the hydrogen storage medium comprises gallium; and exposing the medium to hydrogen from the source. The material comprises at least about 10 atom percent gallium, with the balance comprising at least one of aluminum and boron. The material is a metallic alloy.

Abstract: A nickel-containing alloy is disclosed. The alloy contains about 1.5 to about 4.5 weight percent aluminum; about 1.5 to about 4.5 weight percent titanium; about 0.8 to about 3 weight percent niobium; about 14 to about 28 weight percent chromium; up to about 0.2 weight percent zirconium; about 10 to about 23 weight percent cobalt; about 1 to about 3 weight percent tungsten; about 0.05 to about 0.2 weight percent carbon, about 0.002 to about 0.012 weight percent boron; and about 40 to about 70 weight percent nickel. The atomic ratio of aluminum to titanium is at least about 0.5. The alloy is also substantially free of tantalum. Related processes and articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for repairing an article comprises providing an article, providing a repair material, and joining said repair material to said article. The repair material comprises, in atom percent, at least about 50% rhodium; up to about 49% of a first material, said first material comprising at least one of palladium, platinum, iridium, and combinations thereof; from about 1% to about 15% of a second material, said second material comprising at least one of tungsten, rhenium, and combinations thereof; and up to about 10% of a third material, said third material comprising at least one of ruthenium, chromium, and combinations thereof. The repair material comprises an A1-structured phase at temperatures greater than about 1000° C., in an amount of at least about 90% by volume.

Abstract: A diffusion barrier coating includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a composition selected from the group consisting of a solid-solution alloy comprising rhenium and ruthenium wherein the ruthenium comprises about 50 atom % or less of the composition and where a total amount of rhenium and ruthenium is greater than 70 atom %; an intermetallic compound including at least one of Ru(TaAl) and Ru2TaAl, where Ru(TaAl) has a B2 structure and Ru2TaAl has a Heusler structure; and an oxide dispersed in a metallic matrix wherein greater than about 50 volume percent of the matrix comprises the oxide.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the thermal exposure of a selected metal component which has been exposed to changing temperature conditions is described. The voltage distribution on a surface of the metal component, or on a metallic layer which lies over the component, is first obtained. The voltage distribution usually results from a compositional change in the metal component. The voltage distribution is then compared to a thermal exposure-voltage model which expresses voltage distribution as a function of exposure time and exposure temperature for a reference standard corresponding to the metal component. In this manner, the thermal exposure of the selected component can be obtained. A related device for evaluating the thermal exposure of a selected metal component is also described.

Abstract: A primary aluminum hydride cell and a battery formed with a plurality of the cells is described herein.. In some embodiments, the cells are constructed of: (a) an anode comprising aluminum hydride and a conductive material; (b) a cathode; and (c) an aqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: An environmentally resistant coating comprising silicon, titanium, chromium, and a balance of niobium and molybdenum for turbine components formed from molybdenum silicide-based composites. The turbine component may further include a thermal barrier coating disposed upon an outer surface of the environmentally resistant coating comprising zirconia, stabilized zirconia, zircon, mullite, and combinations thereof. The molybdenum silicide-based composite turbine component coated with the environmentally resistant coating and thermal barrier coating is resistant to oxidation at temperatures in the range from about 2000° F. to about 2600° F. and to pesting at temperatures in the range from about 1000° F. to about 1800° F.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hydrogen storage material comprising a metal hydride and an organic hydrogen carrier. Also disclosed herein is a hydrogen storage/fuel cell system which employs the hydrogen storage material.

Abstract: A method for repairing an article comprises providing an article, providing a repair material, and joining said repair material to said article. The repair material comprises, in atom percent, at least about 50% rhodium; up to about 49% of a first material, said first material comprising at least one of palladium, platinum, iridium, and combinations thereof; from about 1% to about 15% of a second material, said second material comprising at least one of tungsten, rhenium, and combinations thereof; and up to about 10% of a third material, said third material comprising at least one of ruthenium, chromium, and combinations thereof. The repair material comprises an A1-structured phase at temperatures greater than about 1000° C., in an amount of at least about 90% by volume.

Abstract: An alloy, an article comprising the alloy, and methods for manufacturing and repairing an article that employ the alloy are presented. The alloy comprises, in atom percent, at least about 50% rhodium, up to about 49% of a first material, from about 1% to about 15% of a second material, and up to about 10% of a third material. The first material comprises at least one of palladium, platinum, iridium, and combinations thereof. The second material comprises at least one of tungsten, rhenium, and combinations thereof. The third material comprises at least one of ruthenium, chromium, and combinations thereof. The alloy comprises an A1-structured phase at temperatures greater than about 1000° C., in an amount of at least about 90% by volume.

Abstract: A method for identification and evaluation of the hydrogen storage capacity of materials is presented, the method comprising providing a plurality of materials, wherein the plurality of materials comprise an array of synthesized hydrides and analyzing hydrogen content in the plurality of materials.

Abstract: An electrochemical energy conversion system comprises an electrochemical energy conversion device, in fluid communication with a source of liquid carrier of hydrogen and an oxidant, for receiving, catalyzing and electrochemically oxidizing at least a portion of said hydrogen to generate electricity, a hydrogen depleted liquid, and water; and a recharging component for connecting said electrochemical conversion system to a source of electricity for rehydrogenating the hydrogen depleted liquid across said electrochemical energy conversion device.

Abstract: An electrochemical energy conversion system comprises an electrochemical energy conversion device, in fluid communication with a source of liquid carrier of hydrogen and an oxidant, for receiving, catalyzing and electrochemically oxidizing at least a portion of the hydrogen to generate electricity, a hydrogen depleted liquid, and water. A method of electrochemical energy conversion includes the steps of directing a liquid carrier of hydrogen to an electrochemical conversion device and electrochemically dehydrogenating the liquid carrier of hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to produce electricity.