Patents by Inventor Theodore M. Besmann
Theodore M. Besmann has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20210319919Abstract: Described herein are Uranium silicide materials as advanced nuclear fuel replacements for uranium dioxide fuel in light water reactors (LWRs) that have advantages over currently used uranium dioxide (UO2) via a substantially higher thermal conductivity and, thus, are capable of operating in a reactor at significantly lower temperatures for the same level of power production, plus the heat capacity of a silicide is lower than that of an oxide so that less heat is stored in the fuel that would need to be removed under accident conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Applicant: University of South CarolinaInventors: Theodore M. Besmann, Emily E. Moore
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Patent number: 8925497Abstract: A waste gas combustion method that includes providing a combustible fuel source, in which the combustible fuel source is composed of at least methane and siloxane gas. A sodium source or magnesium source is mixed with the combustible fuel source. Combustion of the siloxane gas of the combustible fuel source produces a silicon containing product. The sodium source or magnesium source reacts with the silicon containing product to provide a sodium containing glass or sodium containing silicate, or a magnesium containing silicate. By producing the sodium containing glass or sodium containing silicate, or the magnesium containing silicate, or magnesium source for precipitating particulate silica instead of hard coating, the method may reduce or eliminate the formation of silica deposits within the combustion chamber and the exhaust components of the internal combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventor: Theodore M. Besmann
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Publication number: 20140090617Abstract: A waste gas combustion method that includes providing a combustible fuel source, in which the combustible fuel source is composed of at least methane and siloxane gas. A sodium source or magnesium source is mixed with the combustible fuel source. Combustion of the siloxane gas of the combustible fuel source produces a silicon containing product. The sodium source or magnesium source reacts with the silicon containing product to provide a sodium containing glass or sodium containing silicate, or a magnesium containing silicate. By producing the sodium containing glass or sodium containing silicate, or the magnesium containing silicate, or magnesium source for precipitating particulate silica instead of hard coating, the method may reduce or eliminate the formation of silica deposits within the combustion chamber and the exhaust components of the internal combustion engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: UT-BATTELLE, LLCInventor: Theodore M. Besmann
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Patent number: 8631770Abstract: A waste gas combustion method that includes providing a combustible fuel source, in which the combustible fuel source is composed of at least methane and siloxane gas. A sodium source or magnesium source is mixed with the combustible fuel source. Combustion of the siloxane gas of the combustible fuel source produces a silicon containing product. The sodium source or magnesium source reacts with the silicon containing product to provide a sodium containing glass or sodium containing silicate, or a magnesium containing silicate. By producing the sodium containing glass or sodium containing silicate, or the magnesium containing silicate, or magnesium source for precipitating particulate silica instead of hard coating, the method may reduce or eliminate the formation of silica deposits within the combustion chamber and the exhaust components of the internal combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2011Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventor: Theodore M. Besmann
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Publication number: 20130081679Abstract: A low-cost method is provided for forming a photovoltaic device, which is a high-performance nanostructured multijunction cell. The multiple P-N junctions or P-I-N junctions are contiguously joined to form a single contiguous P-N junction or a single contiguous P-I-N junction. The photovoltaic device integrates vertically-aligned semiconductor nanowires including a doped semiconductor material with a thin silicon layer having an opposite type of doping. This novel hybrid cell can provide a higher efficiency than conventional photovoltaic devices through the combination of the enhanced photon absorptance, reduced contact resistance, and short carrier transport paths in the nanowires. Room temperature processes or low temperature processes such as plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and electrochemical processes can be employed for fabrication of this photovoltaic device in a low-cost, scalable, and energy-efficient manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2011Publication date: April 4, 2013Applicant: UT-BATTELLE, LLCInventors: Jun Qu, Theodore M. Besmann, Sheng Dai, Xiaoguang Zhang
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Publication number: 20120199083Abstract: A waste gas combustion method that includes providing a combustible fuel source, in which the combustible fuel source is composed of at least methane and siloxane gas. A sodium source or magnesium source is mixed with the combustible fuel source. Combustion of the siloxane gas of the combustible fuel source produces a silicon containing product. The sodium source or magnesium source reacts with the silicon containing product to provide a sodium containing glass or sodium containing silicate, or a magnesium containing silicate. By producing the sodium containing glass or sodium containing silicate, or the magnesium containing silicate, or magnesium source for precipitating particulate silica instead of hard coating, the method may reduce or eliminate the formation of silica deposits within the combustion chamber and the exhaust components of the internal combustion engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2011Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: UT-BATTELLE, LLCInventor: Theodore M. Besmann
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Publication number: 20120183116Abstract: A composite nuclear fuel pellet comprises a composite body including a UO2 matrix and a plurality of high aspect ratio particies dispersed therein, where the high aspect ratio particies have a thermal conductivity higher than that of the UO2 matrix. A method of making a composite nuclear fuel pellet includes combining UO2 powder with a predetermined amount of high aspect ratio particles to form a combined powder, the high aspect ratio particles having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the UO2 powder; mixing the combined powder in a solvent to disperse the high aspect ratio particles in the UO2 powder; evaporating the solvent to form a dry mixture comprising the high aspect ratio particles dispersed in the UO2 powder; pressing the dry mixture to form a green body; and sintering the green body to form the composite fuel pellet.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2010Publication date: July 19, 2012Inventors: Daniel F. Hollenbach, Larry J. Ott, James W. Klett, Theodore M. Besmann, Beth L. Armstrong
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Patent number: 6809304Abstract: An article and method of producing an article for converting energy from one form to another having a pitch-derived graphitic foam carbon foam substrate and a single layer coating applied to all exposed surfaces wherein the coating is either silicon carbide or carbides formed from a Group IVA metal. The article is used as fully coated carbon foam susceptors that more effectively absorb radio frequency (RF) band energy and more effectively convert the RF energy into thermal band energy or sensible heat. The essentially non-permeable coatings also serve as corrosion or oxidation resistant barriers.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2004Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventors: Theodore M. Besmann, James W. Klett
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Publication number: 20040188425Abstract: An article and method of producing an article for converting energy from one form to another having a pitch-derived graphitic foam carbon foam substrate and a single layer coating applied to all exposed surfaces wherein the coating is either silicon carbide or carbides formed from a Group IVA metal. The article is used as fully coated carbon foam susceptors that more effectively absorb radio frequency (RF) band energy and more effectively convert the RF energy into thermal band energy or sensible heat. The essentially non-permeable coatings also serve as corrosion or oxidation resistant barriers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2004Publication date: September 30, 2004Inventors: Theodore M. Besmann, James W. Klett
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Publication number: 20030160044Abstract: An article and method of producing an article for converting energy from one form to another having a pitch-derived graphitic foam carbon foam substrate and a single layer coating applied to all exposed surfaces wherein said coating is either silicon carbide or carbides formed from a Group IVA metal. The article is used as fully coated carbon foam susceptors that more effectively absorb radio frequency (RF) band energy and more effectively convert the RF energy into thermal band energy or sensible heat. The essentially non-permeable coatings also serve as corrosion or oxidation resistant barriers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2002Publication date: August 28, 2003Inventor: Theodore M. Besmann
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Patent number: 6171720Abstract: A combination bipolar plate/diffuser fuel cell component includes an electrically conducting solid material having: a porous region having a porous surface; and a hermetic region, the hermetic region defining at least a portion of at least one coolant channel, the porous region defining at least a portion of at least one reactant channel, the porous region defining a flow field medium for diffusing the reactant to the porous surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventors: Theodore M. Besmann, Timothy D. Burchell
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Patent number: 6037073Abstract: A combination bipolar plate/diffuser fuel cell component includes an electrically conducting solid material having:a porous region having a porous surface; anda hermetic region,the hermetic region defining at least a portion of at least one coolant channel, the porous region defining at least a portion of at least one reactant channel, the porous region defining a flow field medium for diffusing the reactant to the porous surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1996Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Research CorporationInventors: Theodore M. Besmann, Timothy D. Burchell
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Patent number: 5843533Abstract: An article having a multiphase composite lubricant coating of a hard refractory matrix phase of titanium nitride dispersed with particles of a solid lubricating phase of molybdenum disulfide is prepared by heating the article to temperatures between 350.degree. and 850.degree. C. in a reaction vessel at a reduced pressure and passing a gaseous mixture of Ti((CH.sub.3).sub.2 N).sub.4, MoF.sub.6, H.sub.2 S and NH.sub.3 over the heated article forming a multiphase composite lubricant coating on the article.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1995Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Theodore M. Besmann, Peter J. Blau, Woo Y. Lee, Yong W. Bae
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Patent number: 5709936Abstract: An article having a multiphase composite lubricant coating of a hard refractory matrix phase of titanium nitride dispersed with particles of a solid lubricating phase of molybdenum disulfide is prepared by heating the article to temperatures between 350.degree. and 850.degree. C. in a reaction vessel at a reduced pressure and passing a gaseous mixture of Ti((CH.sub.3).sub.2 N).sub.4, MoF.sub.6, H.sub.2 S and NH.sub.3 over the heated article forming a multiphase composite lubricant coating on the article.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1996Date of Patent: January 20, 1998Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Theodore M. Besmann, Peter J. Blau, Woo Y. Lee, Yong W. Bae
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Patent number: 4929328Abstract: An improved cathode structure for Hall-Heroult cells for the electrolytic production of aluminum metal. This cathode structure is a preform fiber base material that is infiltrated with electrically conductive titanium diboride using chemical vapor infiltration techniques. The structure exhibits good fracture toughness, and is sufficiently resistant to attack by molten aluminum. Typically, the base can be made from a mat of high purity silicon carbide fibers. Other ceramic or carbon fibers that do not degrade at temperatures below about 1000 deg. C can be used.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1989Date of Patent: May 29, 1990Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Theodore M. Besmann, Richard A. Lowden