Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for hydrogen production as well as apparatuses useful in such systems and methods, including steam generation systems and methods. Hydrogen is produced by reforming of a hydrocarbon in a plurality of reformers to achieve improved reforming efficiency. A CO2 convective reformer (CCR) and an oxygen secondary reformer (OSR) are used in series to convert hydrocarbon and steam to synthesis gas with substantially complete carbon capture. Steam generation is provided along separate pathways to provide separate steam streams of different composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for mass producing hydrogen by reforming plastic waste by means of an electromagnetic plasma torch and, more specifically, to an apparatus and method for mass producing hydrogen by injecting steam or carbon dioxide to an electromagnetic plasma torch system to reform, with high efficiency, a plastic waste compound in a high-temperature reforming chamber by means of active particles which may be generated in a torch flame such as oxygen atoms, hydrogen oxide molecules, hydrogen atoms, carbon monoxide molecules and the like. Synthesis gases generated by reforming in the reforming chamber are mainly carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Carbon monoxide is converted to hydrogen by a water gas reaction, and hydrogen is refined by pressure swing adsorption (PSA). Therefore, vinyl waste and plastic waste which are most fatal to the Earth's environment are eliminated while hydrogen, which is one of the most environment-friendly energy sources, is produced.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include liquid purification with pressure vessels. Access to a set of at least two pressure vessels is obtained. The pressure vessels are interconnected using piping and computer-controlled switching valves. A first pressure vessel of the set is filled with a liquid. A second pressure vessel of the set is filled with a pressurized gas. The pressurized gas is sharp interface immiscible with the liquid. Switching valves are controlled to enable the pressurized gas in the second pressure vessel to force the liquid from the first pressure vessel into a purification chamber. Additional switching valves are controlled to enable a third pressure vessel to fill with liquid while a fourth pressure vessel is filled with purification chamber retentate. The liquid is prepurified prior to filling the first pressure vessel. The prepurifying is enabled by compressed air. The purification chamber includes a reverse osmosis chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mannanase variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mannanase variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include enabling controlled refrigeration and liquefaction and energy management. A liquid is pumped into a closed chamber to compress a vapor. Pressure is increased in the closed chamber by pumping additional liquid into the closed chamber. The increasing pressure enables assimilation of the vapor into the liquid. The heat of compression is removed from the vapor simultaneously with compression. The liquid containing the vapor that was assimilated is withdrawn from the chamber. It is flashed to release at least a portion of the vapor that was assimilated. The flashing results in absorbing a latent heat of vaporization from surfaces in thermal contact with the liquid. A first and second heating/cooling circuit are controlled. Gas within the first heating/cooling circuit is cooled and compressed using a liquid piston. A gas is warmed within the second heating/cooling circuit, and expansion is accomplished using a liquid piston.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include controlled liquefaction and energy management. A gas within a first pressure containment vessel is pressurized using a column of liquid. The gas that is being pressurized is cooled using a liquid spray, wherein the liquid spray is introduced into the first pressure containment vessel in a region occupied by the gas. The liquid spray keeps the pressurizing to be isothermal. The gas that was pressurized is metered into a second pressure containment vessel, wherein the metering enables liquefaction of the gas. The gas that was pressurized is stored in a gas capacitor prior to the metering. The gas that was liquefied in the second pressure containment vessel is pushed into a holding tank, wherein the holding tank stores a liquefied state of the gas, and wherein the pushing is accomplished by the pressure of the gas that was metered into the second pressure containment vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include working fluid exergy recovery using hybrid processing. A supply of working fluid at a first pressure and a first temperature is accessed. The working fluid is compressed. The compressing yields the working fluid at a second pressure. The second pressure is greater than the first pressure. The working fluid at the second pressure and a second temperature is warmed using a first heat exchanger. The second temperature is greater than the first temperature. The working fluid at the second temperature is in a gaseous state. The working fluid is expanded in a gaseous state to a third pressure. The expanding is accomplished using a first liquid piston expander. An engine is driven to recover work from the working fluid in a gaseous state. The engine is powered by liquid from the first liquid piston expander.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mannanase variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include liquid purification with pressure vessels. Access to a set of at least two pressure vessels is obtained. The pressure vessels are interconnected using piping and computer-controlled switching valves. A first pressure vessel of the set is filled with a liquid. A second pressure vessel of the set is filled with a pressurized gas. The pressurized gas is sharp interface immiscible with the liquid. Switching valves are controlled to enable the pressurized gas in the second pressure vessel to force the liquid from the first pressure vessel into a purification chamber. Additional switching valves are controlled to enable a third pressure vessel to fill with liquid while a fourth pressure vessel is filled with purification chamber retentate. The liquid is prepurified prior to filling the first pressure vessel. The prepurifying is enabled by compressed air. The purification chamber includes a reverse osmosis chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include gas liquefaction using hybrid processing. A gas is compressed adiabatically to produce a compressed gas at a first pressure. The compressing a gas adiabatically is accomplished using one or more compressing stages. Heat is extracted from the compressed gas at a first pressure. The heat that is extracted is collected in a thermal store. The compressed gas at a first pressure is further compressed. The further compressing is accomplished using a first liquid piston compressor. The further compressing produces a compressed gas at a second pressure. The first liquid piston compressor is cooled using a liquid spray. The compressed gas at a second pressure is cooled using a heat exchanger. The cooling accomplishes liquefaction of the compressed gas at a second pressure. The gas that was liquefied is stored for future use. The gas that was liquefied is used to perform work.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include desalination using pressure vessels. Access to a set of at least three pressure vessels is obtained. The pressure vessels are interconnected using piping and computer-controlled switching valves. A first pressure vessel of the set is filled with a prepurified liquid. A second pressure vessel of the set is filled with a pressurized gas. The pressurized gas is sharp interface immiscible with the prepurified liquid. The switching valves are controlled to enable the pressurized gas in the second pressure vessel to force the prepurified liquid from the first pressure vessel into a reverse osmosis chamber. The switching valves are controlled to enable a third pressure vessel of the set to fill with additional prepurified liquid. The switching valves are controlled to enable the pressurized gas that entered the first pressure vessel to force the additional prepurified liquid from the third pressure vessel into the reverse osmosis chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include enabling controlled refrigeration and liquefaction and energy management. A liquid is pumped into a closed chamber to compress a vapor. Pressure is increased in the closed chamber by pumping additional liquid into the closed chamber. The increasing pressure enables assimilation of the vapor into the liquid. The heat of compression is removed from the vapor simultaneously with compression. The liquid containing the vapor that was assimilated is withdrawn from the chamber. It is flashed to release at least a portion of the vapor that was assimilated. The flashing results in absorbing a latent heat of vaporization from surfaces in thermal contact with the liquid. A first and second heating/cooling circuit are controlled. Gas within the first heating/cooling circuit is cooled and compressed using a liquid piston. A gas is warmed within the second heating/cooling circuit, and expansion is accomplished using a liquid piston.

Abstract: Reactive diluent fluid (22) is introduced into a stream of synthesis gas (or “syngas”) produced in a heat-generating unit such as a partial oxidation (“POX”) reactor (12) to cool the syngas and form a mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid. Carbon dioxide and/or carbon components and/or hydrogen in the mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid is reacted (26) with at least a portion of the reactive diluent fluid in the mixture to produce carbon monoxide-enriched and/or solid carbon depleted syngas which is fed into a secondary reformer unit (30) such as an enhanced heat transfer reformer in a heat exchange reformer process. An advantage of the invention is that problems with the mechanical integrity of the secondary unit arising from the high temperature of the syngas from the heat-generating unit are avoided.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include controlled liquefaction and energy management. A gas within a first pressure containment vessel is pressurized using a column of liquid. The gas that is being pressurized is cooled using a liquid spray, wherein the liquid spray is introduced into the first pressure containment vessel in a region occupied by the gas. The liquid spray keeps the pressurizing to be isothermal. The gas that was pressurized is metered into a second pressure containment vessel, wherein the metering enables liquefaction of the gas. The gas that was pressurized is stored in a gas capacitor prior to the metering. The gas that was liquefied in the second pressure containment vessel is pushed into a holding tank, wherein the holding tank stores a liquefied state of the gas, and wherein the pushing is accomplished by the pressure of the gas that was metered into the second pressure containment vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mannanase variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mannanase variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include desalination using pressure vessels. Access to a set of at least three pressure vessels is obtained. The pressure vessels are interconnected using piping and computer-controlled switching valves. A first pressure vessel of the set is filled with a prepurified liquid. A second pressure vessel of the set is filled with a pressurized gas. The pressurized gas is sharp interface immiscible with the prepurified liquid. The switching valves are controlled to enable the pressurized gas in the second pressure vessel to force the prepurified liquid from the first pressure vessel into a reverse osmosis chamber. The switching valves are controlled to enable a third pressure vessel of the set to fill with additional prepurified liquid. The switching valves are controlled to enable the pressurized gas that entered the first pressure vessel to force the additional prepurified liquid from the third pressure vessel into the reverse osmosis chamber.

Abstract: Reactive diluent fluid (22) is introduced into a stream of synthesis gas (or “syngas”) produced in a heat-generating unit such as a partial oxidation (“POX”) reactor (12) to cool the syngas and form a mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid. Carbon dioxide and/or carbon components and/or hydrogen in the mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid is reacted (26) with at least a portion of the reactive diluent fluid in the mixture to produce carbon monoxide-enriched and/or solid carbon depleted syngas which is fed into a secondary reformer unit (30) such as an enhanced heat transfer reformer in a heat exchange reformer process. An advantage of the invention is that problems with the mechanical integrity of the secondary unit arising from the high temperature of the syngas from the heat-generating unit are avoided.

Abstract: Reactive diluent fluid (22) is introduced into a stream of synthesis gas (or “syngas”) produced in a heat-generating unit such as a partial oxidation (“PDX”) reactor (12) to cool the syngas and form a mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid. Carbon dioxide and/or carbon components and/or hydrogen in the mixture of cooled syngas and reactive diluent fluid is reacted (26) with at least a portion of the reactive diluent fluid in the mixture to produce carbon monoxide-enriched and/or solid carbon depleted syngas which is fed into a secondary reformer unit (30) such as an enhanced heat transfer reformer in a heat exchange reformer process. An advantage of the invention is that problems with the mechanical integrity of the secondary unit arising from the high temperature of the syngas from the heat-generating unit are avoided.