With Means Applying Electromagnetic Wave Energy Or Corpuscular Radiation To Reactants For Initiating Or Perfecting Chemical Reaction Patents (Class 422/186)
  • Patent number: 8187550
    Abstract: Reactors for conducting thermochemical processes with solar heat input, and associated systems and methods. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment include a reactor having a reaction zone, a reactant source coupled in fluid in communication with the reactant zone, and a solar concentrator having at least one concentrator surface positionable to direct solar energy to a focal area. The system can further include an actuator coupled to the solar concentrator to move the solar concentrator relative to the sun, and a controller operatively coupled to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Patent number: 8187549
    Abstract: Chemical reactors with annularly positioned delivery and removal devices, and associated systems and methods. A reactor in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a reactor vessel having a light-transmissible surface proximate to a reaction zone, and a movable reactant delivery system positioned within the reactor vessel. The reactor can further include a product removal system positioned within the reactor vessel and positioned annularly inwardly or outwardly from the delivery system. A solar concentrator is positioned to direct solar radiation through the light-transmissible surface to the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edward McAlister
  • Publication number: 20120128578
    Abstract: A system and process are provided for extracting a substance from a molecular combination. The process comprises heating the molecular combination to dissociate the molecular combination into cations and anions, moving the cations and anions through a magnetic field to separate cations and anions, and isolating cations from anions with a barrier. The system comprises a non-conductive conduit for guiding an ionized particle stream, a magnetic field source for creating a magnetic field through which the ionized particle stream moves, and a barrier located in the conduit. The ionized particle stream has a velocity relative to the conduit, and the magnetic field source is oriented relative to the velocity of the ionized particle stream so that cations are separated from anions as the ionized particle stream moves through the magnetic field. The barrier is oriented in the conduit so that cations are isolated from anions after separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventor: Timothy O. Nichols
  • Publication number: 20120128542
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing polysilicon is disclosed, which is capable of shortening a time period required for manufacturing polysilicon by depositing polysilicon grains through a pyrolysis of silane gas by using a laser beam, and is capable of manufacturing an ingot by directly depositing polysilicon grains and melting the polysilicon grains without using an additional crystal seed, wherein the apparatus comprising a reaction chamber; a gas supplier for supplying a silane gas to the reaction chamber; a laser irradiator for generating polysilicon grains through a pyrolysis of the silane gas by irradiating with a laser beam the silane gas supplied from the gas supplier; and a polysilicon-grain receiver for receiving and storing the polysilicon grains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventor: Doo Jin PARK
  • Patent number: 8182754
    Abstract: The apparatus is proposed for termination of radioactive and other wastes particularly for physical processing of radioactive waste with simultaneous production of hydrogen, oxygen, and electric energy. It includes an ion divider, a plasma chamber communicated with the ion divider, a controllable hydrogen-oxygen dispenser introducing hydrogen and oxygen into the plasma chamber, transformer pipe coils, a transformer chamber surrounded by the transformer coils, the transformer chamber communicated with the plasma chamber, equipment for supplying water and steam into the transformer coils, cooling equipment for receiving ionized steam from the transformer coils and cooling the steam, a sprayer receiving the ionized steam from the cooling equipment and introducing the steam into the ion divider; and dispenser equipment for introducing radio-active wastes and/or worked-out rocket fuels into the transformer chamber, wherein the radio-active wastes and/or worked-out rocket fuels are terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventors: Yuriy Yatsenko, Boris Avramchuk, Siarhei Zmitkovich, Roman Pankiv, Vadim Yatsenko
  • Patent number: 8182755
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for easily generating ozone with a high concentration in the air without requiring a high voltage power supply or a vacuum apparatus, wherein an ozone gas with a high concentration is generated in the atmosphere around a hemimorphic crystal of which the direction of polarization is uniform by placing the crystal in the air and repeatedly heating and cooling the crystal, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignees: Kyoto University, The Doshisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ito, Shinzo Yoshikado, Yoshikazu Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 8173015
    Abstract: A photocatalytic reactor for carrying out a photocatalytic reaction on a liquid which is to be treated, the reactor comprising a reaction chamber which comprises: (i) a foraminated member which supports a plurality of mobile photocatalyst particles, the size and density of which is such that they tend to rest on the foraminated member in use; and (ii) an aeration device which causes gas bubbles to rise from the foraminated member and agitate the mobile photocatalyst particles. The reactor may be a flow-through reactor. The photocatalytic reactor can be applied to the remediation of waste water using titanium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: UVPS Environmental Solutions Limited
    Inventors: Neil Robert Foster, Kourosh Bassiti
  • Publication number: 20120108879
    Abstract: A system and method for destruction of energetic compounds, medical wastes and unwanted pharmaceuticals using microwave energy. Waste materials are first mixed into a dilute water solution, slurry or emulsion. The dilute waste flows to a first microwave reactor containing silicon carbide. The silicon carbide absorbs the microwave energy, heats and vaporizes the liquid. The vapor flows to a second microwave reactor containing silicon carbide and an oxidation catalyst. Air is added and the waste portion of the vapor is oxidized to carbon dioxide. Water is recovered in a condenser and recycled. Carbon dioxide and remaining air is vented. Solid organic wastes such as contaminated disposable gloves and towels are gasified in a first microwave reactor with air and oxidized in the second microwave reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Chang Yul Cha, Paul Gil Vergnani
  • Publication number: 20120108818
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microwave apparatus, a method or use of the apparatus and a method of carrying out chemical reactions on a continuous basis with the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is particularly suitable for microwave-assisted organic synthesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: CAMBREX KARLSKOGA AB
    Inventors: Birger Hagberg, Lars Eklund
  • Publication number: 20120103978
    Abstract: Microwave heating apparatus for chemical-physical processes comprising a microwave source, operatively connected to an end of an antenna at a connector. The antenna is put in a reaction container where it irradiates with microwaves a reacting material. The antenna is coated with a sheath that avoids a direct contact with the reacting material, or is put into in a housing executed in the container. The housing, made of a material transparent to microwaves, can cross the reaction container for a part thereof, or for all its width. The arrangement of the antenna in the reacting material provides a quick and effective heating. Furthermore, it is possible to increase considerably the selectivity, the control and the efficiency of a chemical-physical processes to which the heating technique above described is applied. This allows also to provide a considerable energy saving with respect to apparatus of prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: CNR CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
    Inventor: Iginio LONGO
  • Patent number: 8168128
    Abstract: A plasma reactor (10) comprises a microwave resonant cavity (12) having a gas inlet (18) and a gas outlet (20), a waveguide (14) for conveying microwave radiation to the resonant cavity, and a plasma torch (40) for injecting into the resonant cavity a plasma stream containing ions for reacting with a gas flowing from the gas inlet (18) to the gas outlet (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Edwards Limited
    Inventors: Andrew James Seeley, Marilena Radoiu
  • Publication number: 20120097523
    Abstract: [Objects] To improve productivity and reduce thermal energy consumption in manufacturing of high purity silicon as a raw material for metallurgical grade pure silicon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: UMK TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Mori, Hiroshi Yano, Toshiyuki Shiroishi, Takashi Ushida, Nobuhiro Shimizu, Noriyuki Takahashi, Toshihiro Mitsuzuka
  • Publication number: 20120100524
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method for contacting a biological substrate. A non-thermal plasma device delivers a non-thermal plasma discharge using a dielectric conduit, an igniter electrode and a RF electrode. The dielectric conduit fluidicly communicates a gas therethrough and an igniter electrode ionizes at least a portion of the gas. The RF electrode, disposed circumferentially proximate to the exterior of the dielectric conduit, generates non-thermal plasma from the ionized gas. The non-thermal plasma is discharged from the dielectric conduit and contacts a biological substrate. The non-thermal plasma discharge may be suitable for tissue bonding and sterilization applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: Drexel University
    Inventors: Gregory Fridman, Alexander Fridman, Alexander F. Gutsol, Gennady Friedman, David Staack
  • Publication number: 20120091033
    Abstract: A method is described to excite molecules at their natural resonance frequencies with sufficient energy to break or form chemical bonds using electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency (RF) and microwave frequency range. Liquid, solid, or gaseous materials are prepared and injected into a resonant structure where they are bombarded with electromagnetic energy in the RF or microwave range at resonant frequencies of the molecules of the materials. Alternatively, electromagnetic energy tuned to dielectric particles prepared from the materials may also be supplied to further enhance the reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Vassilli P. Proudkii, Kirk McNeil, Joe Michael Yarborough
  • Patent number: 8158068
    Abstract: A plasma chemical reactor is provided. The reactor includes a chamber, a cathode assembly, and a baffle plate. The chamber forms a plasma reaction space. The cathode assembly includes a cathode support shaft and a substrate support. The cathode support shaft is coupled at one side to a wall surface of the chamber. The substrate support is coupled to the other side of the cathode support shaft and supports the substrate. The baffle plate is out inserted and coupled to the substrate support, and has a plurality of vents arranged to be spaced apart and through formed such that reaction gas can pass through, and the vents asymmetrically arranged and formed to get a vent area smaller at an opposite side than a top side of the cathode support shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: DMS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunjoo Park, Hwankook Chae, Sungyong Ko, Keehyun Kim, Weonmook Lee
  • Patent number: 8153058
    Abstract: A device for the treatment of a liquid or gaseous medium, in particular water or air, using UV radiation, comprises a UV radiation source (24), with an axial longitudinal direction and an essentially perpendicular, in particular radial direction of irradiation (R), with several layers of transmissive treatment chambers (K1-K4), serially arranged one on the other in the radiation direction (R), separated from the UV radiation source (24) and from each other by a transparent, UV-transmissive separating layer (T1-T4) which is UV transparent. The chambers, beginning with a first treatment chamber (K1), adjacent to the UV radiation source, form a flow channel for the medium running in the longitudinal direction of the UV radiation source (24), the flow channel emptying (26) into the subsequent treatment chamber (K2, K3, K4) that is at a greater distance from the UV radiation source (24) in the direction of irradiation (R).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventors: Rafael Araiza, Heinz Hartig
  • Patent number: 8142619
    Abstract: A constricting chamber having first and second ends, the chamber comprising: an interior surface formed between the first and second ends, disposed circumferentially around and defining an interior space and a longitudinal axis of the chamber; a frusto-conical surface disposed between the first and second ends and narrowing as it extends away from the first end and into the second end; an ejection port disposed at the second end and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis; a cover disposed at the first end, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and comprising a center substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis; an injection port disposed on the cover proximate the center, and configured to receive a reactive mixture into the chamber; and an annular supply portion disposed circumferentially around the longitudinal axis and comprising supply port(s) configured to supply conditioning fluid into the chamber in an annular formation along the interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: SDC Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick P. Layman, Maximilian A. Biberger
  • Publication number: 20120067720
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter device for purifying fluids, especially fuels, that are contaminated with organic substances. Said filter device is characterised in that hydroxyl radicals are formed from water molecules contained in the fluids, by means of a separating device (10, 14, 22), said hydroxyl radicals oxidising the impurities, especially organic substances, as much as possible, and converting them into compounds such as CO2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Richard Eberle, Markus Dewes
  • Patent number: 8137638
    Abstract: Object: To provide a hydrogen generation apparatus, a laser reduction apparatus, an energy conversion apparatus, a hydrogen generation method and an electric power generation system. Means for Solving the Problems: A hydrogen generation apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes: a reaction vessel 12 for retaining a metal element; a water reservoir 16 for supplying water into the reaction vessel 12; and a hydrogen recovery tube for recovering hydrogen gas and reaction energy generated by reaction of the metal element with the water. The present invention may further include a hydrogen storage device 26 for storing recovered hydrogen gas. Further, in the present invention, an oxide or a hydroxide of the metal element generated by reducing the hydrogen gas may be subjected to laser reduction to regenerate the metal element. A solar light pumped laser may be used for laser reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Takashi Yabe, Kazunari Ikuta
  • Publication number: 20120063967
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system (2A) includes a hydrogen generation unit (201) that holds a first liquid containing water and that allows a part of the water contained in the first liquid to be decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen, and at least a part of the first liquid to be heated, by being irradiated with sunlight, a first heat exchanger (207) that cools the first liquid heated in the hydrogen generation unit (201) and heats the second liquid by heat exchange between the first liquid and the second liquid, and a mechanism (for example, a circulation line (204) and a pump (205)) that introduces the first liquid cooled in the first heat exchanger (207) into the hydrogen generation unit (201).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Tokuhiro, Kazuhito Hatoh, Takaiki Nomura, Tomohiro Kuroha, Noboru Taniguchi, Takahiro Suzuki, Satoru Tamura, Atsuo Okaichi, Norihiro Miyamura
  • Publication number: 20120063966
    Abstract: A microplasma source and a sterilization system including the same are disclosed. The microplasma source includes: a microplasma-generating unit including: a gas transmission chamber having a first inlet and a first outlet wherein the first inlet is used to import a first gas; a protection and heat dissipation chamber of which a side is connected to the inner wall of the first outlet; a dielectric inner tube having a second inlet and a second outlet and penetrating through the protection and heat dissipation chamber, wherein the second inlet is communicated to the gas transmission chamber; an electrode arranged outside at the second outlet and located in the protection and heat dissipation chamber; and a hollow metal tube disposed in the gas transmission chamber and the dielectric inner tube and having a third inlet and a third outlet, wherein the third inlet is used to import a second gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: National Cheng Kung University
    Inventors: Jiunn-Der Liao, Chih-Chiang Weng, Hsing-Hung Chen, Tung-Yi Lin
  • Publication number: 20120061618
    Abstract: A carbonaceous bed in a reactor includes carbon bearing material that is not coke and rather includes natural wood blocks or bricks formed of non-coke carbonaceous material in a binder along with, as options, other constituents such as catalysts and fluxing agents. The bed reduces the amount of coke required in processes such as for syngas production. Such non-coke units are applicable to an original carbonaceous bed in a reactor and also to replenishment of reacted carbon in the original bed. The bed may include ungasified carbon particulate matter separated from gaseous reaction products of a gasification reactor, either in non-coke bricks or otherwise applied, as may other carbonaceous material often regarded as waste such as spent potliner material from aluminum making and soot residue from a gasification reactor. Certain reactor structural modifications can also result in reduced consumption of carbon in a bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: James Santoianni, Pieter VanNierop, Michael Erskine Heier, Aleksandr Gorodetsky, Stephanie Reese, Kent Olis Hicks
  • Publication number: 20120061232
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system and a method for achieving efficient production of hydrogen in a hydrogen generator, comprising at least a hydrogen generator, a liquid in said hydrogen generator to produce hydrogen from, and a ceramic that emits infrared at wavelengths covering at least a portion of 3-20 micrometers range so that said liquid can be excited with infrared at said wavelengths before or during the production of hydrogen for improved hydrogen production efficiency. The use of infrared-excited electrolyte solution in a hydrogen generator helps reduce the energy consumption, lower operating voltage, and thus reduce the cost of the production of hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Albert Chin-Tang Wey
  • Patent number: 8133435
    Abstract: A sterile device immersed in a sterile buffer and a method for providing same. The sterile device may be a medical device such as a biosensor having a biomolecule as a sensing element such as, for example, a glucose oxidase enzyme. The buffer may be a bicarbonate solution. Both the device and the buffer may be packaged and stored over long term while maintaining sterilization. The sterilization method may comprise a combination of gaseous, liquid and light sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer M. Reynolds, Aaron Swanson, Rajiv Shah
  • Publication number: 20120055851
    Abstract: A method of converting coal into a liquid hydrocarbon fuel utilizes a high pressure, high temperature reactor which operates upon a blend of micronized coal, a catalyst, and steam. Microwave power is directed into the reactor. The catalyst, preferably magnetite, will act as a heating media for the microwave power and the temperature of the reactor will rise to a level to efficiently convert the coal and steam into hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventor: Ronald Kyle
  • Patent number: 8128883
    Abstract: A thermoelectric reformer unit-for dissociating fossil-based hydrocarbons, renewable hydrocarbons or hydrogen-containing inorganic compounds to produce hydrogen in a reactor using thermoelectric technology with thermoelectric materials to achieve very high conversion efficiencies. Thermoelectric reforming occurs in a reactor core containing a number of energy sources. These energy sources generate extremely high temperature heat that reacts with the fuels in its local surrounding areas. Since the heat is locally generated, it will not penetrate far within the reactor core that is surrounded by walls that act as a casing for the reformer. Synthetic gas produced in the reformer can be fed into internal combustion engines certain, types of fuel cells, or other energy conversion equipment without or with only limited levels of purification. Ancillary components are needed to produce high-purity hydrogen fuel for other types of fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventor: Chi S. Wang
  • Patent number: 8128884
    Abstract: A plasma reactor has high durability with performance to generate stable and uniform plasma. The reactor has a variety of advantages such as increasing the range of commercial applications since the reactor has a structure that allows simple and efficient installation and operation in a system at a position required by the system. The reactor includes a stack constructed by sequentially stacking plus and minus electrodes and spacers and a reactor body provided at one side of the stack to hold the stack. The plus and minus electrodes are arranged alternately with spacers to define passages through which gas is allowed to pass. Each of the plus and minus electrodes has deformation preventing means to disperse stress of the electrodes and to prevent a local thermal stress caused by thermal expansion and contraction, thereby increasing thermal shock-resistant performance. External terminals for connection to the plus and minus electrodes are provided on the reactor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: CMTech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hung Sik Min, Young Geun An, Sung Jin Yang
  • Patent number: 8128788
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described that couples a plurality of electromagnetic sources to a material for the purpose of either processing the material or promoting a chemical reaction. The apparatus couples various electromagnetic sources of various frequencies, including provision for static magnetic fields, radio frequency fields, and microwave fields, with the possibility of applying them all simultaneously or in any combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: RF Thummim Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vassilli P. Proudkii, Kirk McNeil, Joe Michael Yarborough
  • Publication number: 20120048721
    Abstract: Provided is a microwave reactor including a reaction container for receiving a reaction solution, a microwave radiator for irradiating the reaction solution received in the reaction container with microwaves, and a cooler for cooling the reaction solution received in the reaction container, wherein a heat-generating medium generating heat by absorbing the microwaves is arranged on a surface of the cooler or in the vicinity of the surface at a position receiving the microwaves from the microwave radiator through the reaction solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinnosuke Koji, Takayuki Hiratani, Kazumichi Nakahama
  • Patent number: 8105546
    Abstract: A non-thermal plasma (NTP) system is used to treat air containing volatile organic compounds (VOC) and/or halogenated volatile organic compounds (HVOC), some of which may be odorous, and/or fine organic particulate (smoke) emissions to be released into the environment by commercial and/or industrial air exhausting, using one or more compound dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) devices that each incorporate a plurality of catalytically active DBD electrodes, catalytically active parts and dielectrics to develop one or more NTP fields so as to create sufficient reactive oxygen species, hydroxyl species and other highly ionized molecules and atomic species so as to cause the oxidation and/or reduction of VOC's and/or HVOC's and/or fine organic particulate contaminants in the air streams to be decomposed to simpler, non pollutant, non odorous compounds that can be subsequently released into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Air Phaser Environmental Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas Philip Lanz
  • Publication number: 20110318257
    Abstract: Graphene production using a continuous or pulsed laser beam focused on a substrate of graphite oxide in a significantly inert environment is disclosed. Laser-induced graphene features are characterized by a 2D-band in the Raman spectra. When the photons of the laser at a various frequencies and power levels beam impinge a graphite oxide foil for various amounts of time, a strip, divet, trench, or hole, having graphene at the bottom or sides is produced. The concentration of the graphite oxide and the laser beam may be adjusted so that the depth of the trench created is a certain depth less than the thickness of the foil. Additionally, in some embodiments, the evaporation of the water during the Hummers method is adjusted so that there remains interlaminar water in the graphite oxide foil. The presently disclosed subject matter may also be used in patterning using rastering or substrate motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Denis Aleksandrovich Sokolov, Kristin Rene Shepperd, Thomas Michael Orlando
  • Publication number: 20110315542
    Abstract: The invention provides a system for processing organic material using solar energy. The system includes a flat mirror reflecting unit configured to rotate around a dual axis of the flat mirror reflecting unit in order to receive sunlight from the sun. The flat mirror reflecting unit reflects the sunlight in response to receiving the sunlight. The system further includes a fixed concentrating Fresnel mirror unit for receiving the sunlight reflected by the flat mirror reflecting unit. The system also includes a sliding tray unit which receives organic material. The sliding tray unit is positioned such as to receive the sunlight reflected by the fixed concentrating Fresnel mirror unit. The sliding tray unit receives the sunlight concentrating on a focal region of the sliding tray unit. Upon receiving the sunlight on the sliding tray unit, the organic material in the sliding tray unit is subjected to thermal processing using solar energy of the sunlight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: KING ABDUL AZIZ CITY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: MAZEN ABDULLAH BA-ABBAD, ALI ABDULLAH A. ALJALOUD, AHMED MOHAMMED ALABDULKADER
  • Publication number: 20110318905
    Abstract: Laser pyrolysis reactor designs and corresponding reactant inlet nozzles are described to provide desirable particle quenching that is particularly suitable for the synthesis of elemental silicon particles. In particular, the nozzles can have a design to encourage nucleation and quenching with inert gas based on a significant flow of inert gas surrounding the reactant precursor flow and with a large inert entrainment flow effectively surrounding the reactant precursor and quench gas flows. Improved silicon nanoparticle inks are described that has silicon nanoparticles without any surface modification with organic compounds. The silicon ink properties can be engineered for particular printing applications, such as inkjet printing, gravure printing or screen printing. Appropriate processing methods are described to provide flexibility for ink designs without surface modifying the silicon nanoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Shivkumar Chiruvolu, Igor Altman, Bernard M. Frey, Weidong Li, Guojun Liu, Robert B. Lynch, Gina Elizabeth Pengra-Leung, Uma Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 8080212
    Abstract: The invention is a method, triggering unit, and system for activating an oxygen scavenging composition at high speeds. The triggering unit includes a plurality of UV lamps that can operate at increased temperatures and have high output intensites from about 10 to 35 mW/cm2. The triggering unit can activate films at speeds from about 20 to 100 fps. Mercury amalgam lamps are useful in the practice of the invention. The invention also includes a UV dose management system and film tensioning system that facilitates triggering at high film speeds. The UV dose management system controls the amount of UV exposure that the film receives so that the oxygen scavenging rate of the activated composition can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew Ve Speer, Paul D. Spence, Gregory E. McDonald, Timothy S. Dennison, Gregory H. Grossman, Csaba F. Kiss, Jason G. Verrett, Charles C. Zende
  • Patent number: 8076464
    Abstract: Methods and reagents for synthesizing carbon-isotope labeled ketones and amines by carbonylation via Suzuki coupling reaction using carbon-isotope labeled carbon monoxide are provided. The resultant carbon-isotope labeled ketones and amines are useful as radiopharmaceuticals, especially for use in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Associated kits for PET studies are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: GE Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Obaidur Rahman, Bengt Langstrom, Tor Kihlberg, Jordi Llop
  • Publication number: 20110297532
    Abstract: An apparatus, such as a plasma generation system, is provided. The apparatus can include a chamber that may be formed, for example, substantially of insulating material. The chamber can be configured to establish therein a stable glow discharge plasma having a pressure of at least about atmospheric pressure while vibrating a sample so as to be milled by bodies contained by the chamber. For example, the chamber may vibrate and/or rotate, and the chamber can include at least one body that includes insulating material and is free within the chamber. Associated methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jay Chakraborty, Sudhakar Eddula Reddy, Mamatha Nagesh, Ravikumar Hanumantha, Jayeshkumar Jayanarayan Barve, Francis Johnson
  • Patent number: 8071041
    Abstract: Alkaline metal fuel technology is applied to the design and construction of an electrolytic fuel cell. Highly exothermic chemical reactions and vigorous kinetic gaseous flows are promoted within a ferrous metal tubular structure called a tuyere which is used to generate electricity and to simultaneously produce nitrated products and commercial organic chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Inventor: Edward M. McWhorter
  • Patent number: 8066940
    Abstract: Simultaneous application of ozone and ultraviolet light (UV185 and UV254) in water to be purified will create hydroxyl radicals, which combination will cause conversion of AS (III) that may be present to As (V), oxidation of inorganic matter such as manganese, sulfur, phosphorus and organic matter and provide virucidal and germicidal effects to purify the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Zuvo Water, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond P. Denkewicz, Jr., Rolf Engelhard
  • Patent number: 8066941
    Abstract: A pressurized water tank having a head space includes a pump for recirculating the water through a nozzle disposed in the head space. The out flowing stream of water will entrain air and cause mixing of air entrained water with the remaining water in the tank. To enhance air entrainment and convey the air entrained water to a location well below the water level, the stream of water is injected into a vertical venturi tube. The entrained air will have an oxidizing effect upon organic matter and also cause circulation of the water within the tank. To enhance oxidation of organic and inorganic matter, a UV lamp may be located in the head space to convert oxygen molecules in the air into ozone molecules. Such ozone molecules would be entrained in the stream of water flowing out of the nozzle and into the tube and have a strong oxidizing effect upon organic and inorganic matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Zuvo Water, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond P. Denkewicz, Jr., Rolf Engelhard
  • Publication number: 20110286908
    Abstract: A high concentration NO2 gas generating system including a circulating path configured by connecting a chamber, a plasma generator, and a circulating means, wherein NO2 is generated by circulating a gas mixture including nitrogen and oxygen in the circulating path is provided. The high concentration NO2 gas generating system provides a high concentration NO2 generating system and the high concentration NO2 generating method using the generating system by which NO2 of high concentration (approximately 500 ppm or above) required for a high level of sterilization process in such as sterilization of medical instruments can be simply and selectively obtained. In addition, since indoor air is used as an ingredient, the management of ingredients is simple and highly safe, and the high concentration of NO2 can be simply and selectively prepared on demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: SAIAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidetaka Matsuuchi, Tomoyuki Hirose, Ryuichi Iwasaki, Masaaki Mike, Shigeru Masuda, Hirofumi Hayashi, Toru Tanibata, Joongsoo Kim, Sang Hun Lee, Jae-Mo Koo, Orion Weihe, Andrew Way
  • Publication number: 20110280773
    Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method to remove hydrogen sulfide and siloxanes from biogas and destroy the contaminants in microwave reactors. Hydrogen sulfide and siloxane are removed from biogas using an adsorbent media such as activated carbon. The media is regenerated in a microwave reactor where the hydrogen sulfide and siloxane are removed in a sweep gas. In one process, siloxane is oxidized to silicon dioxide in a second microwave reactor and removed with a filter. Hydrogen sulfide if first oxidized to sulfur dioxide, then reduced to sulfur in a third microwave reactor and removed with a filter. In another process, siloxane is combined with water to form silicon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide is reduced to elemental sulfur in a microwave reactor. These reactants are removed with a filter. The remaining sweep gas containing hydrogen and low molecular weight hydrocarbons is returned to the biogas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: CHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chang Yul Cha
  • Publication number: 20110278154
    Abstract: A liquid storage system includes a liquid container having a plurality of through holes of a nano-size from which volatile liquid contained in the liquid container is led outside by capillary action, and photocatalytic films provided on surfaces of the through holes, the photocatalytic films being hydrophilic during light irradiation, an irradiation unit configured to irradiate the photocatalytic films with light, and a control unit configured to control the irradiation unit in accordance with an amount of the volatile liquid to be led outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Takahisa Kusuura
  • Publication number: 20110262309
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided simplified systems and methods for deactivating, removing, or reducing the levels of reactive component(s) from vapor phase fluids prior to introduction thereof into fuel storage tanks. The simple apparatus described herein can be utilized to replace complex systems on the market. Simply stated, in one embodiment of the invention, the vapor phase fluid contemplated for introduction into the fuel storage tank is passed through a reaction zone (e.g., a catalytic bed) operated at appropriate temperatures to allow the reaction between free reactive components therein (e.g., oxygen and hydrogen or other fuel vapor), thereby deactivating reactive component(s) in the gas phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Santosh Y. Limaye, Stuart Robertson, Donald Koenig, Wesley Jung
  • Publication number: 20110262312
    Abstract: The invention relates to a photocatalyst comprising a ?-SiC cellular foam and a photocatalytically active phase, deposited directly on said cellular foam or on an intermediate phase deposited on said cellular foam. The average size of the cells is between 2500 ?m and 5000 ?m. The foam can comprise nanotubes or nanofibers (particularly of carbon, SiC, and TiO2) that consist of, or carry as an intermediate phase, a photocatalytically active phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Cuong Pham-Huu, Nicolas Keller, Marc-Jacques Ledoux, Valérie Keller-Spitzer, Dominique Begin, Mathieu Grandcolas, Izabela Janowska, Shabnam Hajesmaili
  • Patent number: 8043573
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cleaning emitter electrodes of air conditioner systems are provided. The air conditioning system includes an emitter electrode, a collector electrode and a high voltage generator to provide a high voltage potential difference between the emitter and collector electrodes. The system also includes a cleaning member having a channel through which the emitter electrode passes. A plunger mechanism and a spring, or a lever and a fulcrum, are used to force the cleaning member to travel upward along the emitter electrode to thereby frictionally removing debris from the emitter electrode. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures and the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Parker, Charles E. Taylor, Shek Fai Lau
  • Patent number: 8038778
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for purifying polluted air consisting of particle phase pollutants and gaseous phase pollutants, the apparatus (10) comprising: a dust level sensor (23) to measure the amount of particle phase pollutants in the polluted air; a dust removal component (14) to remove the particle phase pollutants from the polluted air; a catalyst filtering core (17) to decompose the gaseous phase pollutants by chemical reaction; a valve (22) for selectively controlling a path of air flow within the apparatus (10) and is movable between an open position and closed position, the valve (22) being positioned downstream from the dust removal component (14); wherein if the amount of particle phase pollutants measured by the dust level sensor (23) is above a predetermined value, the valve (22) is moved to the open position to enable the air to bypass the catalyst filtering core (17); and if the amount of particle phase pollutants measured by the dust level sensor (23) is less than a predetermined value, the valve (22)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Akos Advanced Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Yiu Wai Chan, Sui Chun Law
  • Publication number: 20110240567
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for creating plasma particles and applying the plasma particles to a liquid. Liquid feedstock (e.g., water and/or hydrocarbons mixed with biomass) is pumped through a pipeline; the single-phase stream is then transformed into a biphasic liquid-and-gas stream inside a chamber. The transformation is achieved by transitioning the stream from a high pressure zone to a lower-pressure zone. The pressure drop may occur when the stream further passes through a device for atomizing liquid. Inside the chamber, an electric field is generated with an intensity level that exceeds the threshold of breakdown voltage of the biphasic medium leading to a generation of a plasma state. Furthermore, the invention provides an energy-efficient highly adaptable and versatile method and apparatus for sanitizing water using plasma particles to inactivate biological agents contaminating water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Alfredo ZOLEZZI-GARRETON
  • Publication number: 20110239864
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a plant for the treatment of the vented gas mixture from a deaerator of a steam production process associated with a hydrocarbon-reforming syngas production process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Ex ploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pascal Marty, Marie-Pascal Victor, Alain Briglia
  • Publication number: 20110236790
    Abstract: A system for storing and retrieving elemental hydrogen. The system includes a housing, a hydrogen storage element enclosed within the housing and having a solid-state hydrogen storage material, and a control system for regulating storage of hydrogen into and retrieval of hydrogen from the storage material. At least a portion of the storage material is a porous matrix material having atoms of a first element capable of bonding with more than one hydrogen atom per atom of the first element, and atoms of a second element capable of molecularly bonding to atoms of the first element and hydrogen. Different atoms of the first element have bond sites available for different numbers of hydrogen atoms at different levels of bonding energy. The atoms of the second element are bonded to those atoms of the first element having bond sites for more than one hydrogen atom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: PACKER ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Peter James Schubert
  • Patent number: RE43332
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for disinfecting and purifying liquids and gasses comprising; a) passing said liquids or gasses through a reactor or a combination of reactors, having a truncated compounded concentrator geometry; and b) simultaneously delivering and concentrating diversified electromagnetic and acoustic energies into a specific predetermined inner space of said compounded concentrator reactor, forming a high energy density zone in said reactor or reactors over a predetermined period of time. The reactor according to the present invention is preferably a compounded parabolic concentrator or a compounded ellipsoidal concentrator. The electromagnetic energy delivered and concentrated into and inside the reactor can be of any range of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as ultra-violet, visible, infra-red, microwave etc., or combination thereof. The acoustic energy is of any suitable frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Atlantium Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Zamir Tribelsky, Michael Ende