Abstract: A system treats off gas from a waste incinerator to decrease potentially negative aspects of the off gas to the environment. The system includes a waste incinerator and a plasma oxidizer. The waste incinerator includes an incineration chamber to contain a waste material during at least a portion of an incineration process of the waste material. The waste incinerator also includes an exhaust outlet to exhaust an off gas from the incineration process of the waste material. The plasma oxidizer is coupled to the waste incinerator to receive and oxidize the off gas from the exhaust outlet of the waste incinerator. The plasma oxidizer includes a non-thermal gliding electric arc oxidation system to generate the plasma.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing the yield and purity of hydrogen when reforming hydrocarbons is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including receiving a hydrocarbon feedstock fuel (e.g., methane, vaporized methanol, natural gas, vaporized diesel, etc.) and steam at a reaction zone and reacting the hydrocarbon feedstock fuel and steam in the presence of a catalyst to produce hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is selectively removed from the reaction zone while the reaction is occurring by selectively diffusing the hydrogen gas through a porous ceramic membrane. The selective removal of hydrogen changes the equilibrium of the reaction and increases the amount of hydrogen that is extracted from the hydrocarbon feedstock fuel.

Abstract: An apparatus to produce high purity hydrogen and electricity is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a fuel cell configured to convert the chemical energy of a fuel to electricity and heat. An electrolyzer cell is placed in electrical and thermal communication with the fuel cell and is configured to electrolyze an oxygen-containing compound, such as steam or carbon dioxide, using the electricity and heat generated by the fuel cell. In selected embodiments, the fuel cell and electrolyzer cell are physically integrated into a single electrochemical cell stack.

Abstract: An electrolyzer cell is disclosed which includes a cathode to reduce an oxygen-containing molecule, such as H2O, CO2, or a combination thereof, to produce an oxygen ion and a fuel molecule, such as H2, CO, or a combination thereof. An electrolyte is coupled to the cathode to transport the oxygen ion to an anode. The anode is coupled to the electrolyte to receive the oxygen ion and produce oxygen gas therewith. In one embodiment, the anode may be fabricated to include an electron-conducting phase having a perovskite crystalline structure or structure similar thereto. This perovskite may have a chemical formula of substantially (Pr(1-x)Lax)(z-y)A?yBO(3-?), wherein 0?x?0.5, 0?y?0.5, and 0.8?z?1.1. In another embodiment, the cathode includes an electron-conducting phase that contains nickel oxide intermixed with magnesium oxide.

Abstract: A method is provided for synthesizing synthesis gas from carbon dioxide obtained from atmospheric air or other available carbon dioxide source and water using a sodium-conducting electrochemical cell. Synthesis gas is also produced by the coelectrolysis of carbon dioxide and steam in a solid oxide fuel cell or solid oxide electrolytic cell. The synthesis gas produced may then be further processed and eventually converted into a liquid fuel suitable for transportation or other applications.