Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine engine includes a catalytic device for treating fuel to increase the usable cooling capability of an endothermic fuel. The catalytic device operates to treat and decompose components within in the fuel to render the fuel non-coking beyond 250° F. The catalytic device includes material that initiates reactions, and decomposition of coke forming components within the fuel to non-coke forming components within the fuel.

Abstract: A method that redistributes light from a light source. The controller can redistribute light to make an irradiance profile of the light source more uniform or make the irradiance profile match a fluid flow profile. The irradiance profile may be controlled by modifying light leakage from a plurality of waveguides or changing the light-directing properties of reflectors and/or lenses.

Abstract: A durable catalyst support/catalyst is capable of extended water gas shift operation under-conditions of high temperature, pressure, and sulfur levels. The support is a homogeneous, nanocrystalline, mixed metal oxide of at least three metals, the first being cerium, the second being Zr, and/or Hf, and the third importantly being Ti, the three metals comprising at least 80% of the metal constituents of the mixed metal oxide and the Ti being present in a range of 5% to 45% by metals-only atomic percent of the mixed metal oxide. The mixed metal oxide has an average crystallite size less than 6 nm and forms a skeletal structure with pores whose diameters are in the range of 4-9 nm and normally greater than the average crystallite size. The surface area of the skeletal structure per volume of the material of the structure is greater than about 240 m2/cm3. The method of making and use are also described.

Abstract: A durable Pd-based alloy is used for a H2-selective membrane in a hydrogen generator, as in the fuel processor of a fuel cell plant. The Pd-based alloy includes Cu as a binary element, and further includes “X”, where “X” comprises at least one metal from group “M” that is BCC and acts to stabilize the ? BCC phase for stability during operating temperatures. The metal from group “M” is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Cr, Nb, Ta, V, Mo, and W, with Nb and Ta being most preferred. “X” may further comprise at least one metal from a group “N” that is non-BCC, preferably FCC, that enhances other properties of the membrane, such as ductility. The metal from group “N” is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Re, Ru, Rh, Y, Ce, Ni, Ir, Pt, Co, La and In. The at. % of Pd in the binary Pd—Cu alloy ranges from about 35 at. % to about 55 at. %, and the at. % of “X” in the higher order alloy, based on said binary alloy, is in the range of about 1 at. % to about 15 at. %.

Abstract: The athermal sorbent bed regeneration system of the present invention includes a main fuel supply, at least one sorbent bed, a source of microwave energy, and a secondary fuel supply. The main fuel supply has a first concentration of an impurity and the secondary fuel supply has a second concentration of the impurity that is less than the first concentration of the impurity. The sorbent bed adsorbs the impurity. The microwave energy source regenerates the sorbent bed for reuse.

Abstract: A solar-powered hydrogen production system directly produces hydrogen. The solar-powered hydrogen production system includes at least one concentrator, a hydrogen-rich source, a catalytic layer, and a hydrogen separation membrane. The hydrogen-rich source is positioned to receive focused sunlight collected by the concentrator and is in direct contact with the catalytic layer. The catalytic layer produces hydrogen from the hydrogen-rich source. The hydrogen separation membrane subsequently separates the hydrogen produced at the catalytic layer.

Abstract: A homogeneous ceria-based mixed-metal oxide, useful as a catalyst support, a co-catalyst and/or a getter has a relatively large surface area per weight, typically exceeding 150 m2/g, a structure of nanocrystallites having diameters of less than 4 nm, and including pores larger than the nanocrystallites and having diameters in the range of 4 to about 9 nm. The ratio of pore volumes, VP, to skeletal structure volumes, VS, is typically less than about 2.5, and the surface area per unit volume of the oxide material is greater than 320 m2/cm3, for low internal mass transfer resistance and large effective surface area for reaction activity. The mixed metal oxide is ceria-based, includes Zr and or Hf, and is made by a novel co-precipitation process. A highly dispersed catalyst metal, typically a noble metal such as Pt, may be loaded on to the mixed metal oxide support from a catalyst metal-containing solution following a selected acid surface treatment of the oxide support.

Abstract: A homogeneous ceria-based mixed-metal oxide, useful as a catalyst support, a co-catalyst and/or a getter has a relatively large surface area per weight, typically exceeding 150 m2/g, a structure of nanocrystallites having diameters of less than 4 nm, and including pores larger than the nanocrystallites and having diameters in the range of 4 to about 9 nm. The ratio of pore volumes, VP, to skeletal structure volumes, VS, is typically less than about 2.5, and the surface area per unit volume of the oxide material is greater than 320 m2/cm3, for low internal mass transfer resistance and large effective surface area for reaction activity. The mixed metal oxide is ceria-based, includes Zr and or Hf, and is made by a novel co-precipitation process. A highly dispersed catalyst metal, typically a noble metal such as Pt, may be loaded on to the mixed metal oxide support from a catalyst metal-containing solution following a selected acid surface treatment of the oxide support.

Abstract: A doped, nanocrystalline, ceria-containing, mixed metal oxide supports a noble metal to provide a thermally-durable catalyst for processing carbonaceous fuels, particularly for the water gas shift reactions. The mixed metal oxide includes Zr and/or Hf and is normally susceptible to oxide ion vacancy ordering at elevated temperature reducing conditions. A dopant is selected to inhibit such oxide ion vacancy ordering. The dopant is preferably selected from the group consisting of W, Mo, Ta, and Nb, most preferably W, for providing a thermally-durable catalyst at operating temperatures exceeding 400° C. The noble metal is preferably Pt and/or Re. The doped ceria-containing mixed metal oxide is prepared from 2 or 3 aqueous solutions variously containing ceria, Zr and/or Hf, the dopant, and urea. The solutions are heated to below boiling, combined in a particular sequence and manner, and brought to boiling to crystallize and precipitate the doped ceria-containing mixed metal oxide.

Abstract: A fuel system for an energy conversion device includes a deoxygenator system with a reducing system and an active metal catalyst system downstream thereof. The reducing system injects a reducing agent such as hydrogen into the liquid hydrocarbon fuel which contains the dissolved oxygen. The liquid hydrocarbon fuel with the dissolved oxygen is thereby enriched with the reducing agent prior to communication to the active catalyst system which reactively consumes the free oxygen dissolved within the liquid hydrocarbon fuel.

Abstract: A system and method that redistributes light from a light source. The controller can redistribute light to make an irradiance profile of the light source more uniform or make the irradiance profile match a fluid flow profile. The irradiance profile may be controlled by modifying light leakage from a plurality of waveguides or changing the light-directing properties of reflectors and/or lenses.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine engine includes a catalytic device for treating fuel to increase the usable cooling capability of an endothermic fuel. The catalytic device operates to treat and decompose components within in the fuel to render the fuel non-coking beyond 250° F. The catalytic device includes material that initiates reactions, and decomposition of coke forming components within the fuel to non-coke forming components within the fuel.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system for an energy conversion device includes a fuel deoxygenator and an oxygen scavenger module for removing dissolved oxygen and increasing the usable cooling capability of a fuel. Fuel emerging from the fuel-deoxygenating device flows into the oxygen-scavenging module where a second portion, smaller than the first portion of oxygen is removed from the fuel. The combination of the oxygen scavenger and the fuel deoxygenator provides an increase in removal of dissolved oxygen relative to the use of either device alone. The combination provides the desired increase in deoxygenation of fuel without the corresponding increase in device size.

Abstract: A layered photocatalytic/thermocatalytic coating oxidizes contaminants that adsorb onto the coating into water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. The layered coating includes a photocatalytic outer layer of titanium dioxide that oxides volatile organic compounds. The coating further includes an intermediate layer of Group VIII noble metal doped titanium dioxide that oxidizes low polarity organic molecules. An inner layer of gold on titanium dioxide oxidizes carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. When photons of the ultraviolet light are absorbed by the coating, reactive hydroxyl radicals are formed. When a contaminant is adsorbed onto the coating, the hydroxyl radical oxidizes the contaminant to produce water, carbon dioxide, and other substances.

Abstract: A photocatalytic/thermocatalytic coating includes an inner layer of metal/titanium dioxide or metal oxide/titanium dioxide that is applied on a honeycomb and an outer layer of titanium dioxide or metal oxide doped titanium dioxide applied on the inner layer. The inner layer of can be gold/titanium dioxide, platinum/titanium dioxide, or manganese oxide/titanium dioxide. The outer layer of titanium dioxide or metal oxide doped titanium dioxide oxides volatile organic compounds to carbon dioxide, water, and other substances. As the outer layer is thin and porous, the contaminants in the air can diffuse through the outer layer and adsorb onto the inner layer. When photons of the ultraviolet light are absorbed by the coating, reactive hydroxyl radicals are formed that oxidize the contaminant to produce water, carbon dioxide, and other substances.