Abstract: A method for carbon dioxide recycle stream processing with ethylene glycol dehydrating in an enhanced oil recovery process includes receiving a first carbon dioxide recycle stream from a hydrocarbon formation, adding ethylene glycol to the first carbon dioxide recycle stream to produce an ethylene glycol and carbon dioxide recycle stream, condensing the ethylene glycol and carbon dioxide stream to produce a multiphase stream, separating the multiphase stream into a water and ethylene glycol stream and a second carbon dioxide recycle stream, separating the water and ethylene glycol stream into a water stream and an ethylene glycol stream, and separating the second carbon dioxide recycle steam into a carbon dioxide reinjection stream and a natural gas liquids stream.

Abstract: A set of process equipment for use in an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process comprises first piping, a dehydrator, second piping, and a natural gas liquids recovery column. The first piping is configured to receive a wet carbon dioxide recycle stream from a recovery well. The dehydrator is configured to receive the wet carbon dioxide stream from the first piping and configured to dehydrate the wet carbon dioxide recycle stream using ethylene glycol to produce a dry carbon dioxide recycle stream. The second piping is configured to receive the dry carbon dioxide recycle stream from the dehydrator. The natural gas liquids recovery column is configured to receive the dry carbon dioxide recycle stream from the second piping and configured to separate the dry carbon dioxide recycle stream into a carbon dioxide reinjection stream and a natural gas liquids stream.

Abstract: A computer system for aging insurance policies stored in a policy records database may be configured to receive, via a policy extraction unit, one or more user-entered policy criteria, use the user-entered policy criteria to search, via the policy extraction unit, the policy records database, determine, via the policy extraction unit, a plurality of insurance policies that meet the user-entered policy criteria, receive, via a template population unit, an indication of an insurance transaction type, identify, via the template population unit, a template corresponding to the indicated insurance transaction type and including a field for specifying a date indicative of an insurance policy term, and age, via one or more processors, the plurality of insurance policies by modifying the date indicative of the insurance policy term in the field of the template to facilitate testing an implementation of one or more potential changes to the plurality of insurance policies.

Abstract: Diffusion media for fuel cell is made by preparing an aqueous dispersion comprising a powder resin, a binder material, and a fiber material comprising carbon fibers, of these; forming a layer of the dispersion on a support; removing water from the layer to form a fiber layer; molding the fiber layer; and carbonizing or graphitizing the molded layer.

Abstract: A improved method of managing feature sets associated with credit card account numbers includes (1) storing in a first database a plurality of credit card account numbers, wherein each credit card account number comprises a bank identification number (BIN), a sub-BIN, an account number and a verification or validation value, (2) storing in a second database a list of tracking numbers, wherein each tracking number represents a group of credit card account features, and wherein each feature is assigned a unique identification number, and (3) associating individual ones of the tracking numbers to individual ones of the credit card account numbers such that such individual credit card account numbers are each associated with a predetermined feature set.

Abstract: A multi-layer diffusion medium substrate having improved mechanical properties is disclosed. The diffusion medium substrate includes at least one stiff layer and at least one compressible layer. The at least one stiff layer has a greater stiffness in the x-y direction as compared to the at least one compressible layer. The at least one compressible layer has a greater compressibility in the z direction. A method of fabricating a multi-layer diffusion medium substrate is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas diffusion media for a fuel cell, such as a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, is provided. The gas diffusion media includes carbonizable acrylic pulp fibers instead of conventional phenolic resin as a binder material. The acrylic fibers are mixed with the carbon fiber dispersion during the papermaking step, thus eliminating the phenolic resin impregnation step typically associated with conventional gas diffusion media manufacturing processes. The mat is then cured and carbonized to produce gas diffusion media.

Abstract: Enabling and disabling login access to a web-based application by examining automatic number identification (ANI) information from a received telephone call, associating the ANI information with a user account, determining a current state of login access to a web-based application for the user account, the state of login access being one of enabled and disabled, and notifying the web-based application to change the state of login access to the other of enabled and disabled depending on the then-current state of login access. The methodology may further include examining dialed number identification service (DNIS) information of the received call to determine which of the enabling or disabling actions to take, and/or to determine which of a plurality of accounts is to be effected by the desired change in state of login access.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly is disclosed, the fuel cell assembly including a pair of terminal plates, one terminal plate disposed at each end of the fuel cell assembly, a fuel cell disposed between a pair of end fuel cells and the terminal plates, and a thermally insulating, electrically conductive layer formed between the fuel cell and one of the terminal plates adapted to mitigate thermal losses from the end plate, and fluid condensation and ice formation in an end fuel cell. The end fuel cells of the fuel cell assembly have a membrane and/or a cathode having a thickness greater than an average thickness of a membrane and/or a cathode disposed in the fuel cell that may be used in conjunction with, or instead of, the insulating layer to further mitigate thermal losses from the end plate, and fluid condensation and ice formation in the end fuel cells.

Abstract: A method of transmitting value via a telephone system, includes receiving a request from a Grantor to designate a predetermined number of minutes that are to be reserved to fund a telephone call between a telephone number associated with a Beneficiary and a telephone number belonging to the Grantor, receiving a request to establish the telephone call between the telephone number associated with the Beneficiary and the telephone number belonging to the Grantor, establishing the telephone call between the telephone number associated with the Beneficiary and the telephone number belonging to the Grantor, and deducting from the predetermined number of minutes a number of minutes corresponding to a length of time of the call between the telephone number associated with the Beneficiary and the telephone number belonging to the Grantor.

Abstract: Enabling and disabling login access to a web-based application by examining automatic number identification (ANI) information from a received telephone call, associating the ANI information with a user account, determining a current state of login access to a web-based application for the user account, the state of login access being one of enabled and disabled, and notifying the web-based application to change the state of login access to the other of enabled and disabled depending on the then-current state of login access. The methodology may further include examining dialed number identification service (DNIS) information of the received call to determine which of the enabling or disabling actions to take, and/or to determine which of a plurality of accounts is to be effected by the desired change in state of login access.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly is disclosed, the fuel cell assembly including a pair of terminal plates, one terminal plate disposed at each end of the fuel cell assembly, a fuel cell disposed between a pair of end fuel cells and the terminal plates, and a thermally insulating, electrically conductive layer formed between the fuel cell and one of the terminal plates adapted to mitigate thermal losses from the end plate, and fluid condensation and ice formation in an end fuel cell. The end fuel cells of the fuel cell assembly have a membrane and/or a cathode having a thickness greater than an average thickness of a membrane and/or a cathode disposed in the fuel cell that may be used in conjunction with, or instead of, the insulating layer to further mitigate thermal losses from the end plate, and fluid condensation and ice formation in the end fuel cells.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of transmitting and receiving packets containing data and positional information for a plurality of devices in a radio frequency network in combination with a global positioning system. The periodic position coordinates of each said device are determined using the global positioning system. The position coordinates are transmitted from each device at staggered points in time that are randomized, and the randomizing operation is performed in discrete steps, wherein the time period of each discrete step is of adequate duration for one device to transmit a positional update. A positional update table and proximity table is created and maintained for each device, and these tables are transmitted to every other device in the network at periodic intervals.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of transmitting and receiving packets containing data and positional information for a plurality of devices in a radio frequency network in combination with a global positioning system. The periodic position coordinates of each said device are determined using the global positioning system. The position coordinates are transmitted from each device at staggered points in time that are randomized, and the randomizing operation is performed in discrete steps, wherein the time period of each discrete step is of adequate duration for one device to transmit a positional update. A positional update table and proximity table is created and maintained for each device, and these tables are transmitted to every other device in the network at periodic intervals.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack that includes an actuating device or devices for selectively providing interdigitated reactant gas flow and straight reactant gas flow through reactant gas flow channels to reduce water accumulation in the diffusing media layers of the stack. In one embodiment, the fuel cell stack employs internal actuators that selectively close the inlet end of every other flow channel and the outlet end of every other opposite flow channel to provide the interdigitated flow. In another embodiment, the interdigitated flow is provided by external actuation where two inlet manifolds and two outlet manifolds are provided. One input manifold is closed to close the input ends of every other flow channel and one outlet manifold is closed to close the output ends of every other opposite flow channel.

Abstract: Enabling and disabling login access to a web-based application by examining automatic number identification (ANI) information from a received telephone call, associating the ANI information with a user account, determining a current state of login access to a web-based application for the user account, the state of login access being one of enabled and disabled, and notifying the web-based application to change the state of login access to the other of enabled and disabled depending on the then-current state of login access. The methodology may further include examining dialed number identification service (DNIS) information of the received call to determine which of the enabling or disabling actions to take, and/or to determine which of a plurality of accounts is to be effected by the desired change in state of login access.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that employs a diode electrically coupled between bipolar plates in a fuel cell of a fuel cell stack for preventing the fuel cell between the plates from reversing its polarity. The diode is a thin-sheet p-n diode including doped semiconductor layers and has a thickness relative to the thickness of the MEA in the fuel cell so that the overall stack thickness does not increase. When the fuel cell is operating properly the diode does not conduct and all of the current through the fuel cell goes through the MEA. If the electric load on the stack increases to a level beyond the capability of the fuel cell, where the potential across the fuel cell goes significantly below zero, the diode will begin to conduct so that any current that cannot travel through the MEA with the cell voltage less than one negative forward diode voltage drop is able to go around the MEA through the diode.

Abstract: A method for enabling consumers in a gaming context to push funds from a traditional open loop account to a closed loop account, and back. At the request of a consumer, funds are transferred to an open loop account of an intermediary payment system that holds or keeps track of virtual closed loop accounts for each consumer and virtual closed loop accounts for individual games, casinos or gaming establishments. The consumer may use an associated closed loop card to place a bet at the gaming establishment that will cause funds to be transferred from the consumer's virtual closed loop account to the gaming establishment's closed loop account. Thereafter, the funds are transferred from the intermediary payment system to an open loop account belonging to the gaming establishment.

Abstract: A gas diffusion layer for use in fuel cells includes a gas permeable diffusion structure and a microporous layer. The microporous layer incorporates a plurality of particles of anisotropic shape, simultaneously reducing the porosity of the microporous layer and increasing the tortuosity for gas transporting through the microporous layer. The anisotropic particles in the microporous layer are present in a first amount such that the gas diffusion layer has an increased gas transport resistance.

Abstract: A gas diffusion layer for use in fuel cells comprises a fiber and non-fiber material in a ratio such that the water vapor diffusion transport resistance is greater than 0.8 s/cm measured at 80 C and 150 kPa absolute gas pressure when the gas diffusion layer has a thickness less than or equal to 300 microns. Another gas diffusion layer comprises a fiber and non-fiber material in a ratio such that the water vapor diffusion transport resistance is lower than 0.4 s/cm measured at 80 C and 150 kPa absolute gas pressure when the gas diffusion layer has a thickness greater than or equal to 100 microns. Fuel cells incorporating the gas diffusion layers are also provided.