Control Element Directly Mechanically Linked To Separate Sensor Patents (Class 422/107)
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Patent number: 7537735Abstract: Aspirator systems include an aspirator body member having a fluid passageway extending therein and a first and second optical conductor configured to receive and/or transmit light therethrough. A drive mechanism may be coupled to the aspirator body member and configured to move the aspirator body member between an advanced position and a retracted position. An aspirator tip is coupled to the aspirator body member at an end of the fluid passageway and having a fluid passageway therein extending from the end of the fluid passageway of the aspirator body member when coupled to the aspirator body member, the aspirator tip being coupled to the first and second optical conductors and comprising an optically transmissive material.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2004Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Biomerieux, Inc.Inventors: Todd Hiemer, Paul Ratke
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Publication number: 20090123342Abstract: The present invention increases the amount of hydrogen produced or released from reactions between a metal hydride fuel and liquid reactant. The present invention also decreases the volume of a hydrogen generating cartridge by reducing the pH of the liquid reactant.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2006Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: Societe BICInventors: Anthony Sgroi, Jr., Constance R. Stepan, Andrew J. Curello, Michael Curello
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Patent number: 7531135Abstract: In a process and system for recovering sulfur from a process gas stream initially comprising a hydrogen sulfide containing gas and an oxygen containing gas, a control process and system respectively are provided. The sulfur recovery process includes a thermal step having a beginning followed by a catalytic step having an end. The control process includes first analyzing a composition of the process gas stream at a first location between the beginning of the thermal step and the end of the catalytic step, first controlling the oxygen containing gas having regard to that first composition, second analyzing the composition of the process gas stream at a second location downstream of the end of the catalytic step, and second controlling the oxygen containing gas having regard to that second composition. The sulfur recovery system and control system therefor are provided for performing the steps of the sulfur recovery process and control process respectively.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2004Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Inventors: Paul E. d'Haêne, Peter S. Schermann
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Publication number: 20090084734Abstract: An Ultraviolet-C (UVC) based portable water purification system employing a novel array of baffles increases the efficiency per unit energy of irradiating UVC light in the eradication of pathogens in the water. Closed loop feedback allows monitoring the application of UVC light power to ensure high levels of pathogen eradication. This system is capable of eradicating a wide range of waterborne bacteria, viruses, protozoa, helminthes, yeast, and mold found in natural freshwater sources worldwide. By adding pre- or post-filters, the system can remove harmful organic compounds, pesticides, inorganic compounds and heavy metals from the water. The system can also be used to eradicate pathogens in fluids other than water. As a feature of this invention, a communications systems that can reach geographically dispersed populations at low cost without the need to install costly wired communications infrastructure is combined with and powered by the water purification system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2007Publication date: April 2, 2009Inventor: STEPHEN A. YENCHO
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Patent number: 7491367Abstract: An instrumentation interface that provides a standardized states of a plurality of devices to a control system. Coordinating the operation of the plurality of devices in an analytical system is simplified by allowing the control system to perform in terms of simplified standard states. Device specific states that vary for different types of devices are logically linked to the standardized states via a form of a translator. By having the control system not worry about the specifics of a device, its ability to coordinate large number of devices is improved.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2003Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Applera CorporationInventors: Kai Yung, Sylvia H. Fang
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Patent number: 7470406Abstract: A method and apparatus for metering catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst injection system are provided. In one embodiment, apparatus for metering catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst injection system includes a low pressure storage vessel coupled to a pressure vessel that defines a high pressure side of the apparatus, where the determination of the amount of catalyst transferred is made on the low pressure side of the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2006Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Intercat Equipment, Inc.Inventor: Martin Evans
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Publication number: 20080292498Abstract: A system and method for producing an ozone-containing disinfecting cloud includes an enclosure. A pair of atomizing nozzles are affixed to the enclosure in substantially directly opposed relation. Each nozzle produces a spray of ozonated water from compressed gas, ozone, and water and are positioned to direct the sprays toward each other to form a cloud comprising droplets having a size distribution. A portion of the cloud that comprises droplets having a size less than a predetermined limit is expelled from the enclosure. Droplets having a size greater than the predetermined limit remain in the enclosure. The expelled cloud has been found to have a pH lower than a pH of the remaining droplets. The cloud so produced can be used to disinfect an area by directing the cloud to the area desired to be disinfected, which can comprise a surface and/or a space.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2008Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: VAPEX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Darrel R. Resch, Griscom Bettle, III
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Patent number: 7452391Abstract: Hydrogen generators and integrated hydrogen generator/fuel cells systems are operated by determining the condition of the hydrogen generator and the condition of the fuel to the hydrogen generator for selection of predetermined flow rates for each of the externally-provided raw materials. The processes of the invention can provide rapid transitions between hydrogen production rates while enabling enhanced efficiency and stability during transient operations.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2003Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: HyRadix Inc.Inventors: Bradley P. Russell, John R. Harness, Paul G. Blommel, Daniel R. Sioui, Suheil F. Abdo, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Robert J. Sanger
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Patent number: 7438863Abstract: The invention is a multi-catalyst injection system. In one embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of catalyst storage regions associated with a vessel and a metering device associated with the vessel. The metering device is configured to provide a metric indicative of an amount of catalyst dispensed from a selected one of the catalyst storage regions.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2006Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Intercat Equipment, Inc.Inventor: Martin Evans
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Patent number: 7416706Abstract: A level sensor apparatus is disclosed for detecting contact of a pipetting needle with a liquid contained in a vessel. The apparatus includes a sensor head made up of a pipetting needle, a needle holder, and an electromechanical transducer. The sensor head also has an associated mechanical resonance frequency. An electrical signal generator is used to generate a driving signal which when applied to the electromechanical transducer causes vibration of the pipetting needle at the resonance frequency. A measurement device is used to measure a parameter of a vibration signal indicative of the mechanical vibration of the pipetting needle when it is driven by the driving signal. An electronic circuit and associated computer software is provided to evaluate variation of the vibration signal with time and thus detect contact of the pipetting needle with a liquid contained in the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.Inventors: Markus Brunner, Jürg Dual, Olivier Elsenhans, Frank May, Vuk Siljegovic
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Patent number: 7413585Abstract: A pressure maintaining system for a hydrogen storage system includes a hydrogen supply feed that enables a hydrogen flow from the hydrogen storage system. A liquid phase hydrogen feed enables a liquid phase hydrogen flow to the hydrogen supply feed. A gas phase hydrogen feed enables a gas phase hydrogen flow to the hydrogen supply feed. A check valve enables fluid communication from the hydrogen supply feed to the liquid phase hydrogen feed when a pressure within the hydrogen supply feed is greater than a threshold pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2005Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Jader Matos Da Silva, Markus Lindner, Rainer Immel
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Patent number: 7415313Abstract: A system and process uses pheromone propagation to provide direction and/or distance information to a remote destination through the use of localized decision making processes. Locally available information is exchanged and translated with global information through the use of a pheromone vocabulary and multi-layer grid systems. Self-organizing networks of sensors provide remote monitoring of a space.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2001Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: New Vectors LLCInventors: Sven Brueckner, Henry Van Dyke Parunak, John A. Sauter
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Patent number: 7410619Abstract: The medium (9), such as water, of a container (10), such as a fuel cell accumulator, is kept above freezing by a hydrogen/oxygen catalytic combustor (13) fed hydrogen from a source comprising a mechanical thermostatic valve (25) in thermal communication (26) with the container (10) and connected to a hydrogen supply (28). The combustor may comprise an ejector (32) having hydrogen through its primary inlet (31) drawing air through a secondary inlet (33). The combustor may comprise a diffusion combustor having a catalyst (38) spaced from a heating surface (30) and a diffusion control plate (40) low partial pressure of oxygen at the catalyst causing diffusion through the barrier. Water vapor from combustion condenses on a surface (146) and is led by hydrophilic woven carbon paper (126) to wicking material (133), which has smaller pores than the carbon paper, which leads the water downwardly, through a disk (140) and plugs (147) to atmospheric air.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2004Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: UTC Power CorporationInventors: Carl A. Reiser, Kazuo Saito, James Cameron, Gennady Resnick
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Patent number: 7402284Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the orientation of a gas analyzer. Because condensation can build-up in a filter of the gas analyzer, it needs to be purged from the analyzer so that accurate readings can be made. By having a orientation device built-in, the analyzer can be purged at the desired orientation so that, as much water, can be purged, as possible, to the designated outlet.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: SPX CorporationInventors: Phillip McGee, Rob Kochie
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Patent number: 7399328Abstract: A hydrogen gas station is disclosed comprising, a reformer configured to generate a hydrogen-rich reformed gas through reforming reaction of an organic compound, a gas supply port configured to communicate with a gas supply pipe to supply the reformed gas to a plurality of fuel cells, and a gas recovery port configured to communicate with a gas recovery pipe to receive an off gas containing hydrogen unconsumed from the fuel cells, the hydrogen gas station being configured to consume the off gas.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2004Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kunihiro Ukai, Kiyoshi Taguchi, Hidenobu Wakita, Seiji Fujihara, Yukimune Kani
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Patent number: 7354463Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a hydrogen-enriched reformate. The apparatus includes a fuel processor for producing a reformate having fluctuations in a pressure and/or flow rate and means for reducing the fluctuations. The reformate comprises impurities that are removed by a purification unit having a plurality of adsorbent beds. A valve assembly controls the flow of reformate to the adsorbent beds based upon sensed product data generated by a product sensor. A compression unit optionally compresses the reformate prior to entering the purification unit. Means for reducing fluctuations in the pressure and/or flow rate include a buffer and/or a conduit for providing a controlled flow of a supplemental fluid to an inlet of the compression unit. A product valve can control the flow of hydrogen-enriched reformate out of the purification unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2004Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: W. Spencer Wheat, Hongqiao Sun, Bhaskar Balasubramanian, Vesna R. Mirkovic
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Patent number: 7332142Abstract: An apparatus comprises an exhaust system and an injection system. The injection system is configured to vaporize a first liquid portion of an agent into at least one bubble so as to inject a second liquid portion of the agent into the exhaust system by use of the at least one bubble for delivery of the agent to an emission abatement device of the exhaust system. An associated method is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2005Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: EMCON Tehnologies Germany (Augsburg) GmbHInventors: Clive D. Telford, Helmut Venghaus, Lee Watts, Andreas Mayr, Marco Ranalli, Peter Kroner, David Herranz, Gregg Speer, Stefan Schmidt, A. Steven Walleck
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Patent number: 7252802Abstract: An apparatus and method for igniting a sample in a calorimeter. A heating element is used to ignite a solid or liquid substance inside the calorimeter, and the burning substance is allowed to move into contact with a sample in a crucible to ignite the sample.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2001Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Inventor: John Anthony Bonnard
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Patent number: 7244397Abstract: The invention relates to a digital burette having a manual drive for suctioning and applying an adjustable dose volume, a gear unit connected downstream and a digital display device controlled thereby for setting the dose volume. The control comprises an incremental encoder which is functionally connected to the gear unit, at least one sensor for detecting the signals produced by the incremental encoder and a processor connected to the sensor and the display device for calculating the dose volume corresponding to the number of signals. The incremental encoder is, in particular, a sector disc with two groups of sectors of different magnetic field strength disposed alternately in the peripheral direction of the sector disc. A sensor detects the number of turns of the sector disc.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2002Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Hirschmann Laborgeräte GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Hans Jürgen Bigus
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Patent number: 7244281Abstract: A plasma fuel reformer assembly for producing reformate gas includes a fuel reformer having an air/fuel input assembly, an electrode assembly, and a soot trap positioned downstream of the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode that is spaced apart from the first electrode. The fuel reformer further includes a reformer controller electrically coupled to the air/fuel input assembly. The reformer controller includes a processing unit electrically connected to a memory unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2003Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Samuel N. Crane, Jr., William Taylor, III
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Patent number: 7195657Abstract: A hydrogen generation system comprises a reformer 1 that contains a reforming catalyst, an evaporator 4 that supplies steam to the reformer 1, a heater 3 that heats the reformer 1 and the evaporator 4, a material feed portion 5 that feeds a feed material containing hydrocarbon compound to the reformer 1 through the evaporator 4, and a water supply portion 6 that has a flow rate switch 6a and supplies water to the reformer 1 and the evaporator 4.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2003Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kunihiro Ukai, Kiyoshi Taguchi, Hidenobu Wakita, Seiji Fujihara, Akira Maenishi
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Patent number: 7160341Abstract: A temperature control system and method controls temperatures of front and back ends of a shift reactor. Front and back end temperature sensors sense temperatures of the front and back ends of the shift reactor and generate front and back end temperature signals. An actuator injects fluid into the front end of the shift reactor. A controller communicates with the front end temperature sensor, the back end temperature sensor and the actuator and controls the temperature of the front end and the back end. The controller includes primary and secondary control loops. The secondary control loop communicates with the back end temperature sensor. The primary control loop communicates with the front end temperature sensor. The secondary control loop generates a temperature setpoint for the primary control loop. The secondary control loop has a slower response time that the primary control loop.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2002Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Manish Sinha, Paul T Yu, Bruce J Clingerman
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Patent number: 7135050Abstract: In a hydrogen generator comprising a reforming unit having a material supply unit and a water supply unit, and a burner for heating the reforming unit, having a fuel supply unit and an air supply unit, a control unit is arranged for controlling the amount of air to be supplied from the air supply unit to the burner, based on the temperature of the reforming unit and the amount of a raw material supplied to the reforming unit, in order to make the combustion state of the burner stable so as to improves the operation and convenience thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2001Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomonori Asou, Akira Maenishi, Takeshi Tomizawa
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Patent number: 7052659Abstract: A method and system for high-throughput screening of multiphase reactions are provided. In an exemplary embodiment the method includes the steps of sequentially loading a plurality of discrete combinations of reactants into a longitudinal reaction zone; reacting each of the combinations as it passes through the reaction zone to provide a continuously or an incrementally varying reaction product; and sequentially discharging the reaction product of each of combination from the reaction zone as reaction of each combination is completed.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2000Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: James Norman Cawse
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Patent number: 6974559Abstract: A method and apparatus for metering catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst injection system are provided. In one embodiment, apparatus for metering catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst injection system includes a low pressure storage vessel coupled to a pressure vessel that defines a high pressure side of the apparatus, where the determination of the amount of catalyst transferred is made on the low pressure side of the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2003Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: Intercat Equipment, Inc.Inventor: Martin Evans
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Patent number: 6868309Abstract: A method and control system computing platform for a dialysis machine that uses Symmetric Multi-Processing (SMP) architecture. The SMP architecture tightly couples multiple (e.g., 2) independent processors by sharing memory between the processors. A single shared memory is used by both processors in order to facilitate communication between the processors and reduce cost by eliminating the expense of redundant memory. In this way, the two, or in general “N” processors, increase processor throughput by allowing the execution of N processes in parallel while without requiring extra memory and without having a single point of failure in the computer. In the event of a bus failure on the circuit card, the computer is reset using distributed hardware watchdogs. The watchdog reset signal is also sent to the hardware components of the dialysis machine in order to place the system in a safe.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2001Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Aksys, Ltd.Inventor: Jamie Begelman
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Patent number: 6811578Abstract: In a fuel reforming apparatus having a reformer for reforming a raw fuel containing a hydrocarbon-containing compound so as to produce a hydrogen-rich fuel gas for use in a fuel cell, a carbon removal process for removing carbon deposited on a reforming catalyst contained in the reformer is executed by controlling the amount of the raw fuel supplied to the reformer and the amount of the oxygen supplied to the reformer so that a ratio of the number of oxygen atoms O supplied to the reformer to the number of carbon atoms supplied to the reformer becomes larger than an appropriate range of the O/C ratio that is to be established during a normal operation of the reformer.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2001Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhisa Kunitake, Satoshi Iguchi, Satoshi Aoyama, Hiroyuki Usami
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Publication number: 20040194381Abstract: A portable fuel processing apparatus and enclosure including an enclosure having an outer wall that defines an interior space and provides a gas impermeable barrier. Attached to the enclosure is porting means for use in moving the enclosure from one location to another. A fuel reformer capable of providing sufficient hydrogen-rich reformate to a fuel cell stack for use in generating at least about 1 kW per hour is disposed within the enclosure. An optional gas detection system includes a sensor disposed within the enclosure to monitor the interior of the enclosure for presence of combustible gases. The portable apparatus can have a number of connectors for connecting the enclosure and the fuel processing systems to a source of a reformer fuel and water as well as a domestic drain. Preferred sources of fuel and water are common utility lines available in buildings.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2003Publication date: October 7, 2004Applicant: Texaco Inc.Inventors: William Spencer Wheat, James F. Stevens, Curtis L. Krause, Jeffrey A. Hedges, Eric G. Pow
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Patent number: 6793699Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for online and on-site tracer generation for tagging natural gas stored in underground storage fields wherein feedstock is drawn from a feedstock source. The feedstock undergoes initial analysis to determine hydrocarbons levels. The feedstock then undergoes reaction to produce tracers such as ethylene, propylene, acetylene hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The feedstock is then analyzed to determine post reaction tracer concentration. The feedstock including generated tracers is then introduced back into the feedstock stream. Tracer levels in the pre-reaction or initial analysis of feedstock are compared with tracer levels in the post-reaction feedstock and the rate of flow of feedstock through the system is adjusted to achieve a predetermined level of tracer concentration. The level of tracer concentration will then be used to identify the particular natural gas charge in a storage field.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2002Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Inventors: Dennis D. Coleman, Rodney R. Ruch, Shiaoguo Chen, Massoud Rostam-Abadi
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Publication number: 20040175324Abstract: An improved system for slaking of lime which does not rely on the weighing of materials delivered to the vessel where the mixing takes place. A control system is utilized to control the volume of lime and water delivered to insure that a preselected temperature is obtained during the chemical reaction in the vessel. In a batch process the volume of lime and water is controlled based on the temperature sensed to maintain the temperature at the desired level. Once the reaction is complete the resultant slurry is discharged from the vessel for further processing. The vessel is then cleansed and prepared for the next batch.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2003Publication date: September 9, 2004Inventor: Mohamad Hassibi
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Publication number: 20040166032Abstract: A method and apparatus for metering catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst injection system are provided. In one embodiment, apparatus for metering catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst injection system includes a low pressure storage vessel coupled to a pressure vessel that defines a high pressure side of the apparatus, where the determination of the amount of catalyst transferred is made on the low pressure side of the apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2003Publication date: August 26, 2004Inventor: Martin Evans
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Patent number: 6752968Abstract: A reaction state at an upstream portion of the catalyst unit in which a partial oxidation reaction occurs is detected by a first reaction state detector, and a reforming reaction state in the whole of the catalyst unit composed of a catalyst for promoting a steam reforming reaction and a catalyst for promoting a partial oxidation reaction is detected by a second reaction state detector. Based on a reaction state detected by the second reaction state detector, a first corrector corrects feed amounts of raw fuel gas and oxidation gas, which are supplied to the catalyst unit, and a second corrector corrects a feed amount of the oxidation gas supplied to the catalyst unit and/or a feed timing thereof, based on the reaction state detected by the first reaction state detector.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2001Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Hashigaya, Katsunori Oshiage
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Patent number: 6746647Abstract: A method is provided for rapidly determining whether a load of equipment to be sterilized in a sterilization chamber absorbs, adsorbs, condenses, or decomposes significant amounts of germicide vapor or gas, such as hydrogen peroxide. The initial slope of the curve of a plot of ln(c/c0) versus time is determined, where c is the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and c0 is the maximum concentration of hydrogen peroxide. The initial slope is determined in the first 100 seconds after the maximum in the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. If the initial slope is approximately 0.016 sec−1 or less, the load is acceptable. If the initial slope is significantly steeper than 0.016 sec−1, the load absorbs, adsorbs, condenses, or decomposes significant amounts of hydrogen peroxide. If the slope of the curve is steep, the system can abort the sterilization run before significant amounts of hydrogen peroxide have been absorbed, adsorbed, or condensed.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2003Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Inventors: James P. Kohler, Nancy S. Chu
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Patent number: 6746497Abstract: A waste is dry-distilled in a gasification furnace and generated combustible gas is combusted in a combustion furnace. A temperature in the combustion furnace is set to be substantially constant at a first preset temperature or more. When the temperature in the combustion furnace is greater than the first preset temperature by combustion of other fuels, the combustible gas is introduced. When the temperature in the combustion furnace reaches a second preset temperature or more by the combustion of only the combustible gas, the combustion of the other fuels is finished. When the temperature in the combustion furnace falls below a third preset temperature the combustion of the other fuels is resumed. When the temperature in the gasification furnace falls below a fourth preset temperature, the combustion of the other fuels is finished.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2001Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Kinsei Sangyo Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masamoto Kaneko
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Patent number: 6730272Abstract: A process for heating fuel gas under high pressure before it is expanded. The gas is directly heated by burning part of the gas in the gas pipeline.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1999Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: EWE AktiengesellschaftInventor: Rainer Reimert
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Patent number: 6689324Abstract: A communication system for automatic synthesis apparatus is formed of an automatic synthesis apparatus and a computer connected to the automatic synthesis apparatus. The automatic synthesis apparatus has a reaction block to produce synthetic compounds along synthesis procedures, and an operation notification creation device for creating operation notification mails according to operating conditions in the synthesis procedures. The computer includes a per-operation transmission setting device for setting to the automatic synthesis apparatus as to whether transmissions of the operation notification mails along the synthesis procedures to the computer are performed or not, and an operation notification mail display device for displaying the operation notification mail. The operating conditions can be monitored by the operation notification mail display device as desired.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2001Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Shimadzu CorporationInventor: Takaaki Inoue
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Publication number: 20040020124Abstract: A method is provided for maintaining low concentration of carbon monoxide in a fuel processor product hydrogen stream during transient operation with a residential fuel cell, particularly during increases in load demand (turn-up). Algorithms have been developed for controlling the air flow to a preferential oxidation reactor and for controlling the rate of direct water injection for rapid steam generation in a water gas shift reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2002Publication date: February 5, 2004Inventors: Bradley P. Russell, John R. Harness, Paul G. Blommel, Daniel R. Sioui, Suheil F. Abdo, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Robert J. Sanger
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Publication number: 20030200699Abstract: An autothermal reformer according to the principles of the present invention comprises a first stage that selectively receives a fuel flow, a first oxidant flow, and a steam flow. The first stage has a first portion of a catalyst bed. The fluids within the first stage are routed through the first portion of the catalyst bed and react. There is a second stage downstream from and communicating with the first stage. The second stage receives the fluids from the first stage and also selectively receives a second oxidant flow. The second oxidant flow and the fluids received from the first stage flow through a second portion of a catalyst bed and further react.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2002Publication date: October 30, 2003Inventor: Gary M. Robb
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Patent number: 6640161Abstract: A method of operation of a steam stripped fractionation column by using a computer to process the relevant operating parameters of the column to determine the undesirable approach to a possible flooding condition.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2001Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: UOP LLCInventor: Richard K. Hoehn
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Patent number: 6630109Abstract: A control apparatus for a reformer and a method of controlling the reformer are provided. The reformer gasifies a reformate fuel by a reforming reaction, supplies the obtained reformate gas to an energy converter to convert the reformate gas into energy of another form, and heats the reformate fuel by burning emission containing unreacted flammable gas produced in the energy converter. The control apparatus comprises a reforming amount assessing device for assessing the amount of the reformate fuel to be gasified, and an emission amount assessing device for assessing the amount of emission to be supplied into the reformer on the basis of the assessed amount of reformate fuel. When using the unreacted hydrogen gas generated in a fuel cell for heating the reformate fuel, the unreacted hydrogen gas and combustion aid gas can be controlled so that the reformate fuel is heated properly.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1999Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaaki Yamaoka, Masashi Yamashita, Kiyomi Nagamiya, Yoshikazu Motozono, Iwao Maeda, Masayoshi Taki
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Patent number: 6585785Abstract: A fuel processor apparatus comprising a catalytic tubular reactor is heated using an infrared radiant burner to provide the endothermic heat of reaction needed to reform a mixture of hydrocarbon and steam for the production of a hydrogen-rich gas stream. The hydrogen-rich gas stream is further purified using a sequence of catalytic steps that is fed to a fuel cell whereupon a portion of the hydrogen contained in the gas stream is consumed for the production of electricity by electrochemical reaction with oxygen. An unused portion of the purified hydrogen-rich gas stream exits the fuel cell stack and is combusted in the infrared radiant burner. A fuel cell control system rapidly responds to a variable fuel cell electric demand by adjusting the feed of hydrocarbon to the catalytic tubular reactor to maintain the surface temperature of the infrared radiant burner within defined limits.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2000Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Harvest Energy Technology, Inc.Inventors: David W. Warren, Michael B. Donahue
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Patent number: 6579501Abstract: The present invention refers to an apparatus for carrying out wet chemical reactions under pressure comprising a pressure sure vessel in which a reaction liquid can be provided and which is adapted to be sealed in a pressure-tight manner by closure means. When the reaction liquid is heated, the pressure in the interior of the pressure vessel will increase; the stressability limit of the pressure vessel must, however, not be exceeded. The total pressure in the interior is composed of the partial pressures of the reaction liquid and of the reaction products. The reaction liquid must be maintained at so low a temperature that the sum of the partial pressures of the reaction liquid and of the gaseous reaction products does not exceed the maximum load value of the pressure vessel. For achieving a wet chemical reaction which is as fast and as efficient as possible, the highest possible temperature of the reaction liquid is, however, required.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1998Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Berthold GmbH and Co. KGInventors: Günter Knapp, Howard M. Kingston
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Patent number: 6565809Abstract: The present invention provides a specimen processing system for centrifuging a specimen such as blood and then dispensing the specimen. This system comprises a dispense error specimen removing unit for removing a specimen in which a dispense error has been caused due to a fibrin in a dispense process, a feedback unit for injecting fibrin-decomposing beads into the specimen removed by the dispense error specimen removing unit and feeding the specimen containing the beads back to a centrifuge process, a reprocess control unit for causing the specimen fed back to the centrifuge process by the feedback unit to be centrifuged again, and a system controller for automatically controlling the dispense error specimen removing unit, the feedback unit, and the reprocess control unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2000Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Inventor: Teruaki Itoh
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Patent number: 6543217Abstract: A system for determining the effectiveness of a catalytic coating on a catalytic converter in a motor vehicle. The system provides a driver or maintenance staff status of the catalytic function provided by the catalytic coating on the catalytic converter which is downstream from a heat exchanger connected to a cooling system in an engine in a motor vehicle. The catalytic converter is arranged to be heated by an air flow passing through the catalytic converter. The catalytic coating on the catalytic converter converts environmentally harmful substances in ambient air into substances which are not harmful to the environment. The motor vehicle also includes a control unit and a sensor. The sensor is connected to the control unit and is able to determine a degree of conversion of one or more environmentally harmful substances by the catalytic coating on the catalytic converter.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Volvo Car CorporationInventors: Peter Ålleving, Anders Unger, Jan Sköld, Martin Petersson, Erland Max
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Patent number: 6528016Abstract: A method is provided for rapidly determining whether a load of equipment to be sterilized in a sterilization chamber absorbs, adsorbs, condenses, or decomposes significant amounts of germicide vapor or gas, such as hydrogen peroxide. The initial slope of the curve of a plot of ln(c/co) versus time is determined, where c is the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and co is the maximum concentration of hydrogen peroxide. The initial slope is determined in the first 100 seconds after the maximum in the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. If the initial slope is approximately 0.016 sec−1 or less, the load is acceptable. If the initial slope is significantly steeper than 0.016 sec−1, the load absorbs, adsorbs, condenses, or decomposes significant amounts of hydrogen peroxide. If the slope of the curve is steep, the system can abort the sterilization run before significant amounts of hydrogen peroxide have been absorbed, adsorbed, or condensed.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2000Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: James P. Kohler, Nancy S. Chu
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Publication number: 20020192125Abstract: Sulphur oxides in the exhaust gas of a vehicle engine (1) are trapped by a nitrogen oxide trapping catalyst (5A). A controller (6) calculates the sulphur oxide poisoning amount of the trapping catalyst (5A) from the running condition of the vehicle (S13), and desulphating the sulphur oxides by a removing mechanism (3, 4, 14). The release amount of sulphur oxides per unit time due to desulphating is set as a parameter based on the sulphur oxide poisoning amount (S11), and by integrating the calculated release amount using the parameter, the current poisoning amount is calculated, and the release completion timing is precisely found.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoshi Nishii, Kenichi Sato, Yasuji Ishizuka
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Patent number: 6455008Abstract: A shift reaction section 32 is designed to have a maximum capacity of about 40% of the maximum capacity of reforming section 30. When hydrogen-rich gas is supplied to the shift reaction section 32 in excess of its maximum capacity, a blower 46 supplies air to the hydrogen-rich gas in an amount corresponding to the supply of hydrogen-rich gas, and oxidation reaction of carbon monoxide is performed in addition to the shift reaction. By controlling the amount of air supplied, the carbon monoxide concentration at the exit of the shift reaction section 32 is maintained at a concentration less than a predetermined value. As a result, a fuel reformer 20 can be made compact, and at the same time, the energy required to increase the temperature at the time of start up can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1999Date of Patent: September 24, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoshi Aoyama, Yasushi Araki
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Patent number: 6455009Abstract: An NOx removal system has a combustion apparatus for applying energy to a load based on a predetermined combustion control process, an NOx remover for reacting NOx emitted from the combustion apparatus with NH3 to produce N2 and H2O, an NH3 and/or urea introducing apparatus connected upstream of the NOx remover, for introducing NH3 and/or urea into a gas passage extending from the combustion apparatus to the NOx remover, and sensor, which is also sensitive connected downstream of the NOx remover, for generating a detected signal based on NH3 and NOx contained in a gas discharged from the NOx remover. A controller controls a rate at which NH3 and/or urea is introduced into the gas passage by the NH3 and/or urea introducing apparatus while repeatedly increasing and reducing the rate, in response to the detected signal generated by the NOx sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1999Date of Patent: September 24, 2002Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Nobuhide Kato, Hiroshi Kurachi
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Publication number: 20020127151Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine, wherein the efficiency of exhaust gas purification is enhanced by optimally controlling the operating condition of a plasma generator mounted in an exhaust passage in accordance with the exhaust gas atmosphere. The exhaust gas purifying apparatus includes a detection unit for detecting exhaust water content and exhaust temperature; and a control unit for controlling at least one of two factors, frequency or voltage of an AC voltage used to operate the plasma generator mounted in the exhaust passage, in accordance with the detected exhaust water content and exhaust temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2002Publication date: September 12, 2002Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinichi Takeshima, Shinya Hirota, Kazuhiro Itoh, Takamitsu Asanuma, Yasuaki Nakono, Kohei Yoshida
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Publication number: 20020102190Abstract: An exhaust-gas cleaning system for an internal-combustion engine has an exhaust-gas cleaning element, a first exhaust-gas sensor located upstream from the exhaust-gas cleaning element, and a control unit with an input connected to a first exhaust-gas sensor. The output of the control unit is connected to an engine management system for controlling the composition of the mixture in the internal-combustion engine as a function of the exhaust-gas composition that is measured by the first exhaust-gas sensor. A second exhaust-gas sensor has an output connected to the control unit. The second exhaust-gas sensor is arranged in the exhaust-gas stream of the internal-combustion engine, and is arranged downstream of the exhaust-gas cleaning element. The second gas sensor enables the control unit to cause a modification of the local balance of the oxygen concentration in the exhaust-gas cleaning element.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2002Publication date: August 1, 2002Inventors: Gerd Rosel, Hong Zhang