Abstract: Wellbore synthesis techniques are disclosed suitable for use in geothermal applications. Embodiments are provided where open hole drilled wellbores are sealed while drilling in sequenced operations with utilization of phase change materials to form an impervious layer at the wellbore/formation interface in high temperature applications. The techniques may be chemical, thermal, mechanical, biological and are fully intended to irreversibly damage the formation in terms of the permeability thereof. With the permeability negated, the wellbore may be used to create a closed loop surface to surface geothermal well operable in the absence of well casing for heat transfer surfaces for maximizing thermal transfer to a circulating working fluid. Formulations for the working and drilling fluids are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coking coal blends to produce foundry coke products are disclosed herein. Methods for producing coke products can include charging a coal blend into a coke oven; and heating the charged coal blend such that a crown temperature of the coke oven is greater than a lower bound coking temperature. The pyrolysis duration begins when the crown temperature of the oven is greater than the lower bound coking temperature, and ends when the crown temperature of the oven is less than the lower bound coking temperature.

Abstract: A low-sulfur granulated metallic unit having a mass fraction of sulfur between 0.0001 wt. % and 0.08 wt. % is disclosed herein. Additionally or alternatively, the granulated metallic unit can comprise a mass fraction of phosphorous of at least 0.025 wt. %, a mass fraction of silicon between 0.25 wt. % and 1.5 wt. %, a mass fraction of manganese of at least 0.2 wt. %, a mass fraction of carbon of at least 0.8 wt. %, and/or a mass fraction of iron of at least 94.0 wt. %.

Abstract: Torpedo cars for use with granulated iron production, and associated systems, devices, and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments of the present technology, a torpedo car includes a tilting mechanism, a body rotatably coupled to the tilting mechanism, and a controller operably coupled to the tilting mechanism to control tilting of the body. The body can include (i) an inner surface defining a cavity and a channel, and (ii) an outer surface defining an opening to the cavity and a channel outlet of the channel spaced apart from the opening. The channel can extend between the channel outlet and a channel inlet interfacing the cavity. The inner surface can include a slag dam configured to prevent slag from exiting the opening while the torpedo car tilts. The controller can control the tilting mechanism to control molten metal flow out of the cavity through the channel.

Abstract: A low-carbon granulated metallic unit having a mass fraction of carbon between 0.1 wt. % and 4.0 wt. % is disclosed herein. Additionally or alternatively, the granulated metallic unit can comprise a mass fraction of phosphorous of at least 0.025 wt. %, a mass fraction of silicon between 0.25 wt. % and 1.5 wt. %, a mass fraction of manganese of at least 0.2 wt. %, a mass fraction of sulfur of at least 0.0001 wt. %, and/or a mass fraction of iron of at least 94.0 wt. %.

Abstract: Reduced-waste systems and methods for granulated metallic units (GMUs) production are disclosed herein. A representative method can include receiving a first supply of molten iron and producing GMUs by granulating the molten iron poured onto a target material of a reactor. The method can include removing residual fines of the GMUs via a classifier based on a threshold particle size and mixing the residual fines with a second supply of molten iron to produce additional GMUs.

Abstract: Loading granulated metallic units (GMUs) into railcars, and associated systems, devices, and methods, are disclosed here. In some embodiments, an apparatus for loading GMUs into a railcar comprises a housing unit, a weigh bin, a weigh bin gate, a hopper, and an articulating chute. GMUs in the weigh bin are discharged via gravity through the weigh bin gate when the weigh bin gate opens. The hopper is configured to guide GMUs received from the weigh bin to the articulating chute. The articulating chute is angled and rotatable about an axis of the hopper such that, when rotated, the end of the chute is closer to the floor of a railcar. In some embodiments, the chute includes telescoping segments.

Abstract: Processing granulated metallic units within electric arc furnaces (EAFs) and associated systems, devices, and methods are disclosed herein. A representative method can include receiving granulated metallic units in an EAF, wherein the granulated metallic units comprise no more than 0.05 wt. % of sulfur and at least 50% of particles in the granulated iron material have a particle size of at least 6 millimeters. The method can include applying electrical energy to the granulated iron via electrodes and melting the granulated iron material to form a molten steel product. The method can also include tapping the EAF to remove the molten steel product from the EAF.

Abstract: Systems for continuous granulated metallic unit (GMU) production, and associated devices and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a continuous GMU production system includes a furnace unit, a desulfurization unit, a plurality of granulator units, and a cooling system. The furnace unit can receive input materials such as iron ore and output molten metal. The desulfurization unit can reduce a sulfur content of the molten metallics received from the furnace unit. Each of the plurality of granulator units can include a tundish that can control the flow of molten metallics and a reactor that can granulate the molten metallics to form GMUs. The cooling system can provide cooled water to the reactor. Continuous GMU production systems configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can produce GMUs under continuous operations cycles for, e.g., at least 6 hours.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using a liquid hot metal processing unit to produce granulated metallic units (GMUs) are disclosed herein. In some embodiments of the present technology, a liquid hot metal processing system for producing GMUs comprises a liquid hot metal processing unit including a granulator unit. The granulator unit can include a tilter positioned to receive and tilt a ladle, a controller operably coupled to the tilter to control tilting of the ladle, a tundish positioned to receive the molten metallics from the ladle, and a reactor positioned to receive the molten metallics from the tundish. The reactor can be configured to cool the molten metallics to form granulated metallic units (GMUs).

Abstract: Treating cooling water in industrial production facilities and associated systems, devices, and methods are disclosed herein. The system can comprise a cooling tower with a first and second cell, each having a housing to receive return water and a sump below to maintain supply water configured to directly contact molten metal. The system includes an inlet and an inlet line to provide return water to the cooling tower and an outlet and an outlet line to direct supply water back to the industrial production facility. The inlet, outlet, and cooling tower form a closed-loop network. Additionally, a blowdown line is fluidically coupled to the outlet to divert a portion of the supply water away from the closed-loop network.

Abstract: Railcars for transporting granulated metallic units, and associated systems, devices, and methods are disclosed herein. For example, a reinforced railcar apparatus includes a container envelope and a reinforcement liner. The container envelope includes side walls and end walls extending from a floor of the railcar. The side walls are a first length and the end walls are a second length less than the first length. Top portions of the rigid side walls and end walls define an opening of the container envelope through which granulated metallic units are discharged into the railcar assembly. The railcar assembly includes angled interior walls coupled to the bottom surface and extending from a top portion of the end walls to the bottom surface. The reinforcement liner is disposed over a portion of the bottom surface and the angled interior walls. In some embodiments, the railcar assembly includes an open-topped box layered with impact-absorbing material.

Abstract: Operational protocol sequences for recovering energy from a thermally productive formation are disclosed. Sealing, drilling, multiranging, power production and distribution techniques in predetermined sequences for well formation are utilized to recover energy regardless of thermal gradient variation, formation depth and permeability and other anomalies or impedances.

Abstract: Wellbore synthesis techniques are disclosed suitable for use in geothermal applications. Embodiments are provided where open hole drilled wellbores are sealed while drilling in sequenced operations with utilization of phase change materials to form an impervious layer at the wellbore/formation interface in high temperature applications. The techniques may be chemical, thermal, mechanical, biological and are fully intended to irreversibly damage the formation in terms of the permeability thereof. With the permeability negated, the wellbore may be used to create a closed loop surface to surface geothermal well operable in the absence of well casing for heat transfer surfaces for maximizing thermal transfer to a circulating working fluid. Formulations for the working and drilling fluids are disclosed.

Abstract: A coke product configured to be used in foundry cupolas to melt iron and produce cast iron products is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the coke product has a Coke Reactivity Index (CRI) of at least 30% and an ash fusion temperature (AFT) less than 1316° C. Additionally or alternatively, the coke product can comprise a fixed carbon content of at least 80% and/or a volatile matter content of no more than 1.0%.

Abstract: A package is provided. The package includes a first semiconductor device having a first functional layer. The first functional layer includes a first functional component. The package also includes a second semiconductor device over the first semiconductor device. The second semiconductor device includes a second functional layer having a second functional component. The second functional layer is over a base layer. The base layer is coupled to the second functional layer on a first surface, and is coupled to the first functional layer on a second surface. The first surface and the second surface are on opposite sides of the base layer.

Abstract: Coal blends used to produce foundry coke products are disclosed herein. Coal blends can include first coals having a first volatile matter mass fraction less than or equal to a first threshold, and second coals having a second volatile mass fraction greater than or equal to a second threshold that is less than the second threshold. The coal blend can have an ash fusion temperature less than 2600° F. and an aggregated volatile matter mass fraction between 15% and 25%.

Abstract: Wellbore synthesis techniques are disclosed suitable for use in geothermal applications. Embodiments are provided where open hole drilled wellbores are sealed while drilling to form an impervious layer at the wellbore/formation interface. The techniques may be chemical, thermal, mechanical, biological and are fully intended to irreversibly damage the formation in terms of the permeability thereof. With the permeability negated, the wellbore may be used to create a closed loop surface to surface geothermal well operable in the absence of well casing for maximizing thermal transfer to a circulating working fluid. Formulations for the working and drilling fluids are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein are soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) inhibitors and uses thereof. In one aspect, provided herein are compounds of Formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, solvates, polymorphs, co-crystals, tautomers, stereoisomers, isotopically labeled derivatives, and prodrugs thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The compounds provided herein are soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) inhibitors and are therefore useful for the treatment and/or prevention of various diseases and conditions (e.g., ocular conditions (e.g., ocular hypotony), liver diseases (e.g., non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)), inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases (e.g., psoriasis)). Compounds provided herein are also useful as contraceptive agents (e.g., for male and female contraception).

Abstract: A coke product configured to be used in foundry cupolas to melt iron and produce cast iron products is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the coke product has a Coke Reactivity Index (CRI) of at least 30% and an ash fusion temperature (AFT) less than 1316° C. Additionally or alternatively, the coke product can comprise (i) an ash content of at least 8.0%, (ii) a volatile matter content of no more than 1.0%, (iii) a Coke Strength After Reaction (CSR) of no more than 40%, (iv) a 2-inch drop shatter of at least 90%, and/or (v) a fixed carbon content of at least 85%.