Abstract: A power source is provided for a resistive heating element that heats a catalyst bed of a reactor that receives a monopropellant fuel and reacts the fuel in the presence of the catalyst bed to provide hot gas driving a turbine. The power source is a capacitor that discharges its charge across the resistive heating element so that its temperature is elevated to a point where the reaction of the monopropellant fuel occurs. The power source may be used in airborne applications, such as emergency power systems for aircraft, where it is desirable to minimize the weight of the unit and to allow the unit to use safer monopropellant fuels.

Abstract: An air quality system comprising at least one air cleaner unit in communication with an interior air space. In one embodiment, an air quality system for an aircraft comprises a first set of air cleaner units in communication with a lower plenum of the aircraft recirculation system and a second set of air cleaner units in communication with an upper plenum of the aircraft recirculation system. Each air cleaner unit comprises at least one adsorbent unit in combination with at least one photocatalytic oxidation unit. In one embodiment, an air cleaner unit comprises a relatively weak adsorbent material upstream from a photocatalytic oxidation unit, and a relatively strong adsorbent material downstream from the photocatalytic oxidation unit. Methods for removing a pollutant from an air stream and for making an air cleaner unit are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for purifying breathing air using a carbon-based monolith structure impregnated with copper, silver, zinc, and molybdenum species and triethylenediamine, wherein the monolith structure is impregnated by a multiple step process. The method of impregnation results in a carbon-based monolith structure that purifies nuclear, biological, or chemical contaminants under conditions of high flow rate and low pressure drop.

Abstract: In a hydrogen gas fuel cell a polymer electrolyte membrane, or “PEM,” is located between two layers composed of a catalyst material such that a sandwich-like assembly is formed. An anode electrode and a cathode electrode, each composed of a thin sheet of porous material that is permeable to liquid and gas, are situated on either side of the sandwich-like assembly such that one surface of each electrode abuts a catalyst layer. The remaining surface of each electrode abuts a conductive nonporous bipolar plate having grooves cut therein. Wicking strands composed of a trilobed fiber are located in between each catalyst layer and the adjacent PEM, and arranged in a repetitive pattern such that the strands do not cross over each other. Each wicking strand abutting the PEM surface facing the anode electrode has one end situated in a reservoir of liquid water. Each wicking strand abutting the PEM surface facing the cathode electrode drains into an exhaust reservoir.

Abstract: A cutout fuse tube assembly installation tool includes a body member having first and second ends. A longitudinal axis passes through the body member. A protrusion extends outward from the first end of the body member and includes a head end spaced apart from the body member. The second end of the body member includes a bracket that has first and second arms spaced apart by an opening. A bracket axis passes through the opening. The bracket, the bracket axis and the protrusion are configured such that the bracket axis passes between the head end of the protrusion and the body member. A movable gate device is mounted on one or both of the first and second arms. The gate device facilitates opening and closing of an access to the opening through the ends of the first and second arms.

Abstract: In an electrochemical device, such as a fuel cell or electrocatalytic oxidation cell, a catalyst electrode is comprised of a catalytic structure having multiple layers of varied densities to enhance gas diffusion throughout the electrode. A first catalyst layer has a first density, and a second catalyst has a second density that is about 33 to 50% of the first density and any additional layers having a density which are less than the previous layer. A gas diffusion layer is adjacent the second catalyst layer.

Abstract: This invention discloses regeneration methods to remove carbon monoxide (CO) from reformate fuel using an adsorption and electro-catalytic oxidation (ECO) approach. One method of the invention comprises a first ECO cell and a second ECO cell, and the other method comprises a first ECO cell and a first charge storage device. Both methods eliminate the requirement of an external power supply that leads to higher cost, additional power consumption and more processor complexity for the CO removal processor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus removes carbon monoxide from hydrogen rich fuel by means of a catalytic material that preferentially adsorbs with carbon monoxide. The catalytic material is regenerated by an oxidizing agent that reacts with the carbon monoxide absorbed by the catalytic material. The reaction is initiated by an electrical current is generated either galvanically or electrolytically through the catalytic material.

Abstract: An improved process for the vapor phase fluorination, especially fluorination of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-chloroethane (CFC-133a) with HF to produce 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) employs a catalyst which preferably consists essentially of boehmite and Cr(OH)Cl.sub.2.2H.sub.2 O, combined and extruded to form particulates and then heated in nitrogen.

Abstract: Natural gas is stored in a closed vessel under a pressure of about 1400 to 4500 kPa using a carbon molecular sieve adsorbent. The deliverable volume of natural gas from a vessel packed with carbon molecular sieve particles is increased by impregnating a polymer precursor of the carbon molecular sieve with additional monomers and polymerizing the monomers before carbonizing the precursor.