Abstract: A system includes a pump configured to transfer a granular material out of a hopper into a transfer pipe. The pump includes an upstream portion having an upstream helical flight and a downstream portion having a downstream helical flight. The downstream portion includes a tailpiece. An outer diameter of the downstream helical flight is less than an outer diameter of the upstream helical flight, a gap between the outer diameter of the downstream helical flight and an auger housing is greater than a gap between the outer diameter of the upstream helical flight and the auger housing, a thickness of the downstream helical flight is less than a thickness of the upstream helical flight, a surface of the downstream portion has a lesser coefficient of friction than a surface of the upstream portion, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A system includes a base configured to be positioned on a ground. The base includes a funnel configured to be positioned under a knife gate. The base also includes a first conveyor positioned under the funnel. The funnel is configured to direct a material from the knife gate onto a middle portion of the first conveyor. The system also includes a derrick having a first end that is coupled to the base. The derrick includes a second conveyor configured to receive the material from the first conveyor and to convey the material upward when the system is in an unfolded state. The derrick also includes a drum motor positioned proximate to an end of the derrick and configured to provide power to the second conveyor. The system also includes a first arm having a first end that is coupled to the end of the derrick.

Abstract: A storage container for storing quantities of acids and other volatile liquids is described having a recirculation system that can include a recirculation pump and a recirculation line that goes from a bottom end of the container toward a top end of the container, where the recirculation line has a plurality of pressure relief valves spaced along its length. The storage container may also include a leak detection system and a high level warning system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems for storing large quantities of chemicals at a remote site. A controlled blending system balances the inflow of dry material and liquids into the blender based on a predetermined solid/fluid ratio. The blending system further balances the inflow and outflow of material from the blender.

Abstract: A system includes a base configured to be positioned on a ground. The base includes a first conveyor configured to convey a granular material. The system also includes a derrick coupled to the base. The derrick is configured to be oriented substantially horizontally when the system is in a folded state. The derrick is configured to be oriented substantially vertically when the system is in an unfolded state. The derrick includes a second conveyor configured to receive the granular material from the first conveyor and to convey the granular material. The system also includes a first arm coupled to the derrick. The first arm includes a third conveyor configured to receive the granular material from the second conveyor and to convey the granular material.

Abstract: A thin aluminum film substrate and microarrays thereof including a substrate and a thin film of aluminum deposited on the substrate for surface plasmon resonance analysis. Methods of forming the thin aluminum film substrate and microarrays including providing a substrate, using electron-beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD) to deposit a thin film of Al on a surface of the substrate. Also disclosed are methods of detecting an analyte, wherein a functionalized surface of the thin aluminum film includes a biomolecule and the methods include applying a sample including the analyte to the thin aluminum film substrate, and using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy to detect molecular interactions between the biomolecule and the analyte at a surface of the thin aluminum film substrate. In some examples, an unmodified Al film with an Al2O3 layer is effective in enriching phosphorylated peptides. In some examples, a coating of an ionic polymer is used to analyze charged-based interactions of biomolecules.

Abstract: Modular bag system having one or more base bags and a plurality of attachable gear sets. In some configurations, a base bag or a gear set includes a pocket flap that easily moves from an external orientation to an internal orientation to permit access to the pocket. In some configurations, a bag has a strap arrangement that converts from a two-strap arrangement to a single-strap arrangement.

Abstract: A system includes a pump configured to transfer a granular material out of a hopper into a transfer pipe. The pump includes an upstream portion having an upstream helical flight and a downstream portion having a downstream helical flight. The downstream portion includes a tailpiece. An outer diameter of the downstream helical flight is less than an outer diameter of the upstream helical flight, a gap between the outer diameter of the downstream helical flight and an auger housing is greater than a gap between the outer diameter of the upstream helical flight and the auger housing, a thickness of the downstream helical flight is less than a thickness of the upstream helical flight, a surface of the downstream portion has a lesser coefficient of friction than a surface of the upstream portion, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Modular bag system having one or more base bags and a plurality of attachable gear sets. In some configurations, a base bag or a gear set includes a pocket flap that easily moves from an external orientation to an internal orientation to permit access to the pocket. In some configurations, a bag has a strap arrangement that converts from a two-strap arrangement to a single-strap arrangement.

Abstract: A storage container for storing quantities of acids and other volatile liquids is described having a recirculation system that can include a recirculation pump and a recirculation line that goes from a bottom end of the container toward a top end of the container, where the recirculation line has a plurality of pressure relief valves spaced along its length. The storage container may also include a leak detection system and a high level warning system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a blending system that delivers granular material directly from designated storage containers into a blender based on the liquid flow rate into the blender and the blender slurry flow rate exiting the blender. The blending system utilizes a blender controller system in communication with a blender slurry flow meter, a blender liquid flow meter, a conveyor load cell, a conveyor motor, and a conveyor speed sensor, wherein the blender control system is configured to regulate the amount of granular material entering the hopper based on the entrance rate of liquid into the blender and the exit rate of the fracturing fluid slurry from the blender.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for controlling the flow rate of materials into and out of the blender. The system includes the control and management of an on-site storage system for each component of a mixture, regulating the delivery rate of a blend mixture into a blender hopper, regulating the exit rate of the blended mixture from the blender hopper, and coordinating the flow of materials into and out of the blender.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems for storing large quantities of chemicals at a remote site. A controlled blending system balances the inflow of dry material and liquids into the blender based on a predetermined solid/fluid ratio. The blending system further balances the inflow and outflow of material from the blender.

Abstract: Modular bag system having one or more base bags and a plurality of attachable gear sets. In some configurations, a base bag or a gear set includes a pocket flap that easily moves from an external orientation to an internal orientation to permit access to the pocket. In some configurations, a bag has a strap arrangement that converts from a two-strap arrangement to a single-strap arrangement.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for controlling the flow rate of materials into and out of the blender. The system includes the control and management of an on-site storage system for each component of a mixture, regulating the delivery rate of a blend mixture into a blender hopper, regulating the exit rate of the blended mixture from the blender hopper, and coordinating the flow of materials into and out of the blender.

Abstract: An accumulator assembly for a pump system at a well site is arranged to fluidically connect to a flow line between a blender and a fracturing pump of the pump system. The accumulator assembly includes a pressurizable tank configured to contain pressurized fluid; and, a control valve fluidically connected between a discharge end of the tank and the flow line. The control valve opens and fluidically connects the tank to the flow line when a pressure on the flow line is less than a target pressure, and the control valve closes and fluidically blocks communication between the tank and the flow line when the pressure on the flow line is greater than or substantially same as the target pressure.

Abstract: A rotation locking device for use in a row-level sun tracking solar energy collection system includes a housing, a first locking member, a second locking member, and an actuator. The housing is configured to be mounted to a pile and configured to permit a torque tube to extend through the housing. The first locking member has a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections attached to and rotatable with the torque tube. The second locking member is connected to the housing and has a plurality of mating elements for engaging projections of the first locking member. The actuator is configured to relatively move the first and second locking members between an unlocked position in which the mating elements are disengaged from the projections and a locked position in which the mating elements are engaged with the projections to inhibit rotation of the torque tube with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A dilution system for a hydraulic fracturing fluid includes a dilution manifold, a hydration unit configured to provide a source of liquid, a diluent line connecting the hydration unit to the dilution manifold, a diluent flow control valve on the diluent line, a hydration tank configured to hydrate a mixed additive, a gravity-driven viscous fluid line connecting an exit of the hydration tank to the dilution manifold, a viscous fluid flow meter on the viscous fluid line, and a viscous fluid control valve on the viscous fluid line.

Abstract: A cable tray and support system facilitates cable management in a solar energy collector system at reduced cost relative to previous cable tray and support systems. The cable tray and support system comprises cables trays, mounting brackets, and vertically-oriented piles. The mounting brackets are coupled to the cables trays and vertically-oriented piles. The mounting brackets include one or more stress relief features (e.g., notches) to allow the mounting bracket to provide cantilevered deflection in response to thermal expansion or contraction-of the cable tray. The cable tray and support system also provides a ground path from a cable tray, to the mounting bracket, to the pile, and then to the ground to dissipate transient voltages in the solar energy collection system.