Abstract: A solid oxide electrochemical device includes: a porous support structure having a porous outer surface and a tubular porous inner surface; a first electrode layer disposed radially inside the tubular porous inner surface and supported by the porous support structure; a dense electrolyte layer disposed radially inside and supported by the first electrode composition; and a second electrode layer disposed radially inside and supported by the dense electrolyte.

Abstract: A water filter includes a porous support characterized by a mean porosity in the range of 20 to 50% and a mean pore size of 2 to 5 ?m; and a carbon filter medium membrane disposed thereon which is characterized by a mean particle size of no more than 50 ?m and a mean pore size of no more than 7.2 ?m.

Abstract: A method for treating a porous item constructed of metal powder, such as a powder made of Series 400 stainless steel, involves a step of preheating the porous item to a temperature of between about 700 and 900° C. degrees in an oxidizing atmosphere and then sintering the body in an inert or reducing atmosphere at a temperature which is slightly below the melting temperature of the metal which comprises the porous item. The thermal stability of the resulting item is enhanced by this method so that the item retains its porosity and metallic characteristics, such as ductility, at higher (e.g. near-melting) temperatures.

Abstract: A method for converting fuel energy to electricity includes the steps of converting a higher molecular weight gas into at least one mixed gas stream of lower average molecular weight including at least a first lower molecular weight gas and a second gas, the first and second gases being different gases, wherein the first lower molecular weight gas comprises H2 and the second gas comprises CO. The mixed gas is supplied to at least one turbine to produce electricity. The mixed gas stream is divided after the turbine into a first gas stream mainly comprising H2 and a second gas stream mainly comprising CO. The first and second gas streams are then electrochemically oxidized in separate fuel cells to produce electricity. A nuclear reactor can be used to supply at least a portion of the heat the required for the chemical conversion process.

Abstract: In fuel cell feed processing systems, reformate gas comprising primarily hydrogen and water vapor is produced from a mixture of gaseous fuel and air using a carbon foam heat exchanger and carbon fiber composite molecular sieve scrubber instead of conventional desulfurizers, shift reactors, and partial oxidation reactors.