Abstract: A method is provided for recovering mercury from a crude oil into an alkaline ammonium sulfide contacting solution. Soluble mercury complexes in the contacting solution are converted to particulate mercury. The particulate mercury can be recovered by filtering, and the ammonium sulfide in the contacting solution recycled to the aqueous contacting solution.

Abstract: The mechanical energy of an actuator is used for producing vibration alerts in a portable electronic device. The same mechanical energy is also utilized to control the flow of fuel or to mix the fuel in a fuel cell of the portable electronic device. Thus, the flow of fuel into a reaction area of a fuel cell is controlled or fuel is mixed in a fuel storage area of a fuel cell assembly. Such fuel flow control and mixing is performed passively whenever a vibration alert occurs, or is performed actively in response to monitoring the status of the fuel cell assembly.

Abstract: A system and process for producing synthetic crude oil from produced fluids of an oil well is disclosed. The system comprises a separation plant for producing an associated gas stream from produced fluids a membrane unit comprising a plurality of polymer membranes to provide a CO2 enriched permeate stream and a CO2 depleted product gas stream, a gas conversion plant for converting the CO2 depleted product gas stream into a synthetic crude oil and a heat exchanger adding heat to the associated gas stream so that the membrane unit operates at a temperature of at least 80° C. during separation of the associated gas stream using the membrane unit. A process using the aforementioned components, including separation of the associated gas stream using the membrane unit at a temperature >80° C., into a CO2 enriched stream and a CO2 depleted product stream, is also described.

Abstract: A crude oil which contains at least 0.1 wt % unstable sulfur compounds is treated in a reaction zone at low temperature to convert at least 50 wt % of the unstable sulfur compounds contained therein. The reaction and removal of sulfur from the crude may be facilitated by contacting the crude oil with a catalytic material in the presence of a stripping fluid.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for an electrode assembly for a stacked-cell battery. The electrode assembly comprises a first active material layer; a first current collector layer adjacent to and in electrical contact with an outer surface of the first active material layer; a tab element having an end lead portion and a second lead portion, the end lead portion being in electrical contact with at least one of the first active material layer and the first current collector layer, and the second lead portion extending away from the end lead portion and being substantially adjacent to a surface of at least one of the first active material layer and the first current collector layer and is adapted to provide an electrical connection to the electrode assembly; and an insulative layer covering an inner contact area of the second lead portion to electrically insulate this portion of the tab element.

Abstract: A method (and system) of automatically legalizing a circuit layout with layout objects in a presence of a plurality of non-uniform grids is disclosed. The method comprises generating a set of layout constraints comprising design rule constraints and gridding requirements based on the plurality of non-uniform grids. In addition, the method comprises processing the set of layout constraints to a feasible form using Boolean variables by determining infeasibility of the set of layout constraints, identifying infeasible layout constraints from the set of layout constraints, and resolving the infeasibility by a constraint relaxation process. Additionally, the method comprises generating an output circuit layout, for display to a user, by solving the set of layout constraints in the feasible form with standard linear program solvers.

Abstract: A wireless charging system having a battery with at least one cell, a receiving coil wrapped around the at least one cell and a charger having a transmitting field designed to couple with the receiving coil of the battery. A battery is further described having at least one cell and having a receiving coil wrapped around at least one cell.

Abstract: A crude oil which contains at least 0.1 wt % unstable sulfur compounds is treated in a reaction zone at low temperature to convert at least 50 wt % of the unstable sulfur compounds contained therein. The reaction and removal of sulfur from the crude may be facilitated by contacting the crude oil with a catalytic material in the presence of a stripping fluid.

Abstract: A synthesis gas conversion process and system are disclosed. Fresh syngas from a methane reformer is used as a sweep zone gas feed which is caused to flow across a water permselective membrane in a membrane reactor. The water permselective membrane is adjacent a synthesis gas conversion reaction zone in which synthesis gas is contacted with a catalyst and converted to effluent including water. Water is removed from the reaction zone through the membrane and passes out of the reactor with the sweep zone gas. The water is then removed from the sweep zone gas forming a modified gas feed which is fed to the reaction zone. The modified gas feed has a preferred H2/CO ratio to feed into the reaction zone.

Abstract: In a method for legalizing a multi-patterning integrated circuit layout including a plurality of islands, a set of multi-patterning constraints is generated on the basis of multi-patterning conflicts identified between the plurality of islands. Based on general design rule constraints and the multi-patterning constraints a combined set of layout constraints is generated. Feasibility of the set of layout constraints is checked, which then is provided to a Linear Program solver for generating an output circuit layout.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a method and apparatus for controlling fuel cell operating conditions. The apparatus includes a set of sensors for monitoring the fuel cell operating conditions and a processing unit, in communication with the set of sensors for determining when the fuel cell operating conditions are outside of an acceptable range. When it is determined that the fuel cell operating conditions are outside of the acceptable range, an electrolyzer is activated to electrolyze waste liquid water or water vapor to assist in controlling the fuel cell operating conditions.

Abstract: A synthesis gas conversion process and system are disclosed. Fresh syngas from a methane reformer is used as a sweep zone gas feed which is caused to flow across a water permselective membrane in a membrane reactor. The water permselective membrane is adjacent a synthesis gas conversion reaction zone in which synthesis gas is contacted with a catalyst and converted to effluent including water. Water is removed from the reaction zone through the membrane and passes out of the reactor with the sweep zone gas. The water is then removed from the sweep zone gas forming a modified gas feed which is fed to the reaction zone. The modified gas feed has a preferred H2/CO ratio to feed into the reaction zone.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a power management module measures an electromagnetic radiation spectrum or a voltage response of a battery module. The measured electromagnetic radiation spectrum or voltage response of the battery is compared to a plurality of reference electromagnetic radiation spectrums or voltage responses, respectively, which may be determined for authentic batteries, for example. A relative condition of the battery, such as an age or state of health, may be estimated based on the measured electromagnetic radiation spectrum or voltage response of the battery module, and stored in a memory store. The rate of change of the relative condition of the battery over a period of time may be determined to identify potential defects in the battery.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a power management module measures an electromagnetic radiation spectrum or a voltage response of a battery module. The measured electromagnetic radiation spectrum or voltage response of the battery is compared to a plurality of reference electromagnetic radiation spectrums or voltage responses, respectively, which may be determined for authentic batteries, for example. A relative condition of the battery, such as an age or state of health, may be estimated based on the measured electromagnetic radiation spectrum or voltage response of the battery module, and stored in a memory store. The rate of change of the relative condition of the battery over a period of time may be determined to identify potential defects in the battery.

Abstract: A method and system for programming rechargeable battery characteristics is provided. The system having: a memory component for storing user profiles; a power management integrated circuit; and a processor for retrieving the user profiles and directing power from the battery to the power management integrated circuit in accordance with the user profiles. The method consists of: determining the type of battery; retrieving user profiles stored in a memory component; and adjusting the battery characteristics according to the user profiles.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a power management module measures different observable quantities of a battery, such as terminal voltage or current, and measures a voltage response of the battery based upon the measurements. The measured voltage response of the battery is compared to a plurality of reference voltage responses, which may be determined for authentic batteries, for example. If the measured voltage response corresponds to each of the reference voltage responses, the battery is authenticated for use with an electronic device. If necessary, additional voltage responses may be measured and compared against corresponding reference voltage responses until the battery is authenticated by a sufficient number of corresponding responses. A relative condition of the battery, such as an age or state of health, may also be estimated based on the measured voltage response of the battery.

Abstract: Diagnostic use of physical and electrical battery parameters is made to enhance battery authentication and security. A power management module measures an electromagnetic radiation spectrum of a battery module based on signal strengths of the electromagnetic radiation detected at one or more antennas. The measured electromagnetic radiation spectrum of the battery is compared to a reference electromagnetic radiation spectrum, which may be specified for authentic batteries, for example. If the measured electromagnetic radiation spectrum corresponds to the reference electromagnetic radiation spectrum, the battery is authenticated for use with the mobile communication device. A relative condition of the battery, such as an age or state of health, may also be estimated based on the measured electromagnetic radiation spectrum of the battery module.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments relating to a process for reducing the total acid number of a hydrocarbon feed by contacting the feed with a metal titanate catalyst having an MTiO3 structure wherein M is a metal having a valence of 2+, resulting in a hydrocarbon product having a final total acid number lower than the initial total acid number of the feed. The process is useful for pretreating high acid crudes prior to further processing thus avoiding corrosion of equipment used in refining operations. The process can be integrated into conventional refining operations in order to treat various refinery streams. In one embodiment, a process is provided for refining a low acid crude oil and a high acid crude oil by separately introducing a relatively low acid crude oil feed and a relatively high acid crude oil feed to an atmospheric distillation column, wherein the relatively high acid crude oil feed is contacted with a metal titanate catalyst prior to introduction to the atmospheric distillation column.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for preparing a crosslinked hollow fiber membrane. The method involves spinning a one phase solution comprising a monoesterified polyimide polymer, acetone as a volatile solvent, a spinning solvent, a spinning non-solvent, and optionally an organic and/or inorganic additive, wherein the volatile solvent is present in an amount of greater than 25 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, based on the total weight of the solution.

Abstract: A method includes: receiving a temperature indication, the temperature indication being a function of a temperature of a power pack of a portable electronic device; determining, as a function of the temperature indication, whether the temperature is within an elevated operating temperature range; and reducing a charge termination voltage and a charging current when the temperature is within the elevated operating temperature range.