Electrical Type Patents (Class 422/199)
  • Publication number: 20130028815
    Abstract: An apparatus, containing: (I) an inlet section into which a liquid and optionally a gaseous reagent stream is fed, the inlet section containing a device, which nebulizes and/or vaporizes the liquid stream, the device optionally utilizing vapor and/or a gaseous hydrocarbon stream as propellant; (II) a mixing section containing a chamber having a cylindrical or truncated-conical geometry, which mixes the reagent stream exiting the inlet section (I), to form a reaction mixture; (III) a reaction section including i) a first structured catalytic bed a ii) a structured catalytic bed heating device, in which the reaction mixture exiting the mixing section (II) flows through each layer of the first structured catalytic bed with a contact time varying from 0.01 to 10 ms, to produce a mixture of reaction products; and IV) a cooling section of the mixture of reaction products leaving the reaction section (III).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: ENI S.p.A
    Inventors: Luca BASINI, Alessandra Guarinoni, Andrea Lainati
  • Publication number: 20120328503
    Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and associated methods for conversion of silicon tetrachloride (STC) to trichlorosilane (TCS). The converter features a relatively thin annular heating zone surrounding a reaction chamber. Within the annular heating zone is a heating element that has an annular conformation about the reaction chamber. The design allows high convective heat transfer, which facilitates the use of lower heating element surface temperatures, prolonging the life of the equipment, reducing capital cost by allowing use of a smaller reactor, and greatly improving heating efficiency. A heat exchanger with a plurality of heat exchanger blocks provides further efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Scott Fahrenbruck, Bruce Hazeltine, Andrew Schweyen, Shawn Skinner
  • Publication number: 20120328491
    Abstract: Methods and systems for hydrogen generation from solid hydrogen storage compositions which generate hydrogen in an exothermic reaction wherein the heat released can be absorbed by solid endothermic compositions are disclosed. The solid hydrogen storage compositions comprise mixtures of chemical hydrides and water surrogate compounds. Fuel cartridges suitable for use with compositions which generate hydrogen upon the application of thermal initiation and methods for operating the fuel cartridges are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: PROTONEX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael T. Kelly, Jeffrey V. Ortega, Richard M. Mohring
  • Publication number: 20120329889
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a cobalt metal foam catalyst including a metal foam coated with cobalt catalyst powder, a cobalt metal foam catalyst manufactured by the method, a thermal medium-circulated heat exchanger type reactor using the cobalt metal foam catalyst, and a method of producing liquid fuel by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis using the reactor. An object of the present invention is to provide a catalyst, which is used to obtain high liquid fuel productivity even at a low CO conversion ratio because the reaction temperature can be kept stable by controlling reaction heat with high efficiency in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis so that the mass transfer characteristics of a catalyst layer can be improved, and a method of manufacturing the catalyst, a reactor filled with the catalyst, and a method of producing liquid fuel using the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Jung-Il Yang, Jung-Hoon Yang, Chang-Hyun Ko, Heon Jung, Ho-Tae Lee, Hak-Joo Kim, Dong-Hyun Chun
  • Patent number: 8328991
    Abstract: A processing vessel is loaded with a feedstock including organic material and at least one additive which is non-inert to the organic material. A bottom portion of the feedstock is heated to a pyrolytic state for producing a horizontal thermal layer within the feedstock which thermally decomposes organic material into carbon as the non-inert additive reacts with the organic material. Vapor is directed downwardly through the feedstock while discharging volatile organic compounds from a lower portion of the chamber. Prior to complete thermal decomposition of the feedstock, the direction of vapor flow within the feedstock is reversed wherein the vapor flows upwardly through the feedstock while the volatile compounds are discharged from an upper portion of the chamber. Pressure and vapor flow within the chamber are regulated during upward vapor flow to regulate vertical movement of the thermal layer within the feedstock for controlling the extent of thermal decomposition of the feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventor: Michael J. Lurvey
  • Publication number: 20120282151
    Abstract: The current application is directed to a packed-bed reactor comprising a housing; and section portions contained within the housing, each comprising a spiral-wound heater. The spiral-wound heaters together comprise a catalyst-disk stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: David O'Connor, Esmaeel Naeemi
  • Publication number: 20120272872
    Abstract: A method for treating cement kiln dust is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving cement kiln dust (CKD) from a kiln; heating the collected CKD; forming a gas stream of vaporized metal and CKD by sufficient heating to separate at least one heavy metal from the collected CKD stream to create a cleaned CKD stream and a metal stream; providing a water soluble alkaline-earth metal polysulfide; combining the heavy metal stream with the water soluble alkaline-earth metal sulfide to create a combined stream; and removing at least a portion of one heavy metal from the combined stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: MERCUTEK LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lesniak, Christopher Poling, Peter D'Amico
  • Publication number: 20120276463
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems reside in the decomposition of ammonia into a hydrogen-containing product mixture. An ammonia-rich gaseous mixture containing ammonia and oxygen enters a conduit, within which combustion and decomposition of the mixture is initiated, thereby liberating hydrogen. A mixture of products, resulting from the reactions, is expelled from the outlet of the conduit, the mixture including non-combusted hydrogen gas, which may then be used for other purposes. The incoming reactants, including ammonia and oxygen, are heat exchanged with the outgoing product mixture containing non-combusted hydrogen gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Shawn Grannell, Donald E. Gillespie
  • Patent number: 8298497
    Abstract: A delivery apparatus for selectively delivering one or more liquid reagents into a reaction or test chamber (2), especially of an assay apparatus, the apparatus comprising: one or more respective storage chambers (5,6) for containing the one or more liquid reagents and arranged generally above the reaction or test chamber (2); and a plunger element (4) arranged and operable for insertion into the mouth of a selected storage chamber so as to displace a selected reagent from therewithin into the reaction or test chamber (2) generally therebelow by gravitational liquid overflow from the mouth of the chamber. The apparatus may conveniently be provided as a discrete delivery unit, with the storage chambers (5,6) prefilled with the selected reagents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence
    Inventor: David James Squirrell
  • Patent number: 8287813
    Abstract: The present invention is related to producing fine nano or submicron-scale precision ceramic powder by applying an innovative chemical reactor with powder collection to the glycine-nitrate combustion process (GNC-P). The unique feature lies in the utilization of a simple-operating process to massively produce nano or submicron-scale ceramic oxide powder with multiple metal components. The present invention not only provides very high powder collection efficiency and production yield as well as safety but also satisfies requirements of industrial safety and environmental safety, and lowers production cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiu Wang, Maw-Chwain Lee, Yang-Chuang Chang, Wei-Xin Kao, Tai-Nan Lin
  • Publication number: 20120258020
    Abstract: In one example disclosed in the current application, by supplying just enough heat to the channel walls to replace the reaction heat removed during the reaction, a reactor exhibits tighter temperature tolerances with respect to the desired reaction temperature. In other words, the surface temperature can be more closely matched to the desired reaction temperature. Also, having a design where the channels can be scaled in both geometry and number allows control of the rate of mass transport through the channels to minimize unwanted side reactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: David O'Connor, Esmaeel Naeemi
  • Publication number: 20120247005
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering lithium from a starting material comprising lithium. According to the invention, the starting material is heated with carbon in a reactor by carrying out direct inductive heating of the carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Hubert Jaeger, Johann Daimer
  • Patent number: 8272221
    Abstract: The hydrogen gas generator for jet engines includes a device that utilizes photons and a catalyst to disassociate hydrogen gas from water. The generated hydrogen gas is directed to the combustion chamber of a jet engine and combined with air therein for burning and powering the jet engine. The device is connected to a source of electric energy and pressurized water. The electric energy is supplied to an anode and a surrounding cathode. The cathode is designed to glow white-hot and emit photons and heat when an electric current is supplied thereto. The anode is fabricated from a catalytic material and is designed to become red-hot when supplied with electric energy. Water is supplied through a conduit and is converted to superheated steam, which is thermolytically decomposed to form hydrogen and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 8263026
    Abstract: A system and method for producing a fuel gas is provided. In particular, a combustion product of an internal combustion engine is converted by a catalytic converter heated by the beam of the laser to a subject component of a fuel gas. Other gases can be formed simultaneously in other catalytic converters heated by the laser beam. The resulting converted gases can be used to produce a fuel gas which can be stored and/or used to further fuel the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Pet Projects Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Merritt
  • Patent number: 8252263
    Abstract: A method of growing a diamond mass in a liquid growth medium. The liquid growth medium can include a carbon source, a diamond growth catalyst such as a diamond catalyst metal-rare earth element alloy or nanocatalyst, and a dissociated hydrogen of a hydrogen source. The carbon source provides carbon atoms for growing diamond and can include a diamond seed material for diamond growth. The molten liquid phase provides a diamond growth catalyst which allows the carbon to form diamond at the temperature and low pressure conditions discussed. Furthermore, the dissociated hydrogen acts as a concentrator for assembling carbon atoms at a relatively high concentration which mimicks, in some respects, diamond growth under more conventional high pressure processes without the high pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventor: Chien-Min Sung
  • Patent number: 8241582
    Abstract: Disclosed is a reactor including: a heater provided on a surface of the reactor; an electrical insulating film which covers the heater and includes a crystalline RFeO3, where R is a rare earth element; and a radiation prevention film provided on the insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20120076704
    Abstract: A system for producing hydrogen features a reactor including a reaction channel adapted to receive a reaction stream including a mixture of supercritical water and a hydrocarbon fuel. A catalyst is positioned in the reaction channel so that a product stream containing hydrogen is produced by a reaction in the reaction channel when the mixture is exposed to the catalyst; wherein the catalyst contains a catalytically active metal and a promoter in a metal format, selected from the group consisting of potassium, sodium, rubidium, lithium, cesium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: CHART, INC.
    Inventors: ZHIJUN JIA, Mark Wood, Clay Thiele
  • Publication number: 20120076707
    Abstract: A process is described for converting and utilizing oxygen-containing polymers to form hydrogen and alkali metal carbonates, in which the polymers are brought into intimate contact with a melt mixture of alkali metal hydroxide and alkali metal carbonate to form hydrogen and alkali metal carbonate, and the alkali metal carbonate formed is removed from the reaction mixture during the reaction and alkali metal hydroxide is optionally metered in. The reaction is preferably carried out under conditions which lie on a point on the Liquidus line of the system. It is possible in accordance with the invention to process natural or synthetic polymers, for example polyester, polyether, wood, etc. It is particularly suitable for processing fiber-reinforced composite materials. Also described is an apparatus for performing the process according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Guy Rollinger, Armin Kempf
  • Publication number: 20120035767
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for optimizing and controlling the particle size distribution and production of nanoparticles in a furnace reactor. The method provides nanoparticles with desired, optimized and controlled particle size distribution and specific surface area in furnace reactors using a simulation tool with programmed instructions. The said simulation tool couples flame dynamics module and particle population balance module and precursor reaction kinetics module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Venkataramana Runkana, Venkata Sudheendra Buddhiraju
  • Publication number: 20110301380
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing isocyanates by reacting the corresponding amines with phosgene in the gas phase, optionally in the presence of an inert medium, in which the amine is evaporated in an evaporator to give an amine-comprising gas stream, the phosgene is mixed into the amine-comprising gas stream, and the amine and the phosgene are converted to the isocyanate in a reactor, wherein the temperature of surfaces in contact with the gaseous amine is kept above the dew point limit of the amine-comprising gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Carsten Knoesche, Torsten Mattke
  • Patent number: 8057666
    Abstract: A supercritical fluid polymer depolymerization machine is disclosed herein, which machine is capable of converting a wide range of biomass and/or waste plastic materials into a plurality of reaction products (liquid and gaseous) including fermentable sugars, hydrocarbons, and various aromatic substances that, in turn, are readily convertible into liquid transportation fuel known as “neodiesel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Xtrudx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Graham Allan, Thomas E. Loop, James D. Flynn
  • Patent number: 8038973
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high purity silicon production system and production method suitable for using inexpensive metallurgical grade metal silicon as a material and using the slag refining method to produce high purity silicon with a purity of 6N or more suitable for solar battery applications, in particular, high purity silicon with a boron content of at least not more than 0.3 mass ppm, inexpensively on an industrial scale, that is, a high purity silicon production system and production method using the slag refining method wherein a direct electromagnetic induction heating means having the function of directly heating the molten silicon in the crucible by electromagnetic induction is arranged outside the outside wall surface of the above crucible and the crucible is formed by an oxidation resistant material at least at a region where the molten silicon contacts the crucible inside wall surface at the time of not powering the direct electromagnetic induction heating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Ito, Kensuke Okazawa, Shinji Tokumaru, Masaki Okajima
  • Patent number: 8038957
    Abstract: A containment vessel having a spiral plate heat exchanger, a central catalyst chamber packed with particulate catalyst, a central heater, a plenum providing conductive flow access for a hydrocarbon-air mixture to and from the containment vessel interior, and essential flow pathways interconnecting the plenum section, heat exchanger, catalyst chamber and central heater. The spiral plate heat exchanger, catalyst chamber, and heater assembly occupy successively smaller annular regions within the containment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventor: James M. Cleary
  • Publication number: 20110251050
    Abstract: A method of ageing a catalyst material includes at least the steps of: (a) heating a gaseous stream; (b) adding a least one pure hydrocarbon gas and an oxygen-containing gas to the heated gaseous stream to provide a combined stream; and (c) passing the combined stream through the catalyst material. The use of at least one pure hydrocarbon gas and an oxygen-containing gas allows maximum re-circulation of the exit stream from the catalyst material for reuse, while maintaining the correct C, H and O proportions being provided in the combined stream to replicate realistic use of the catalyst material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: The Queen's University of Belfast
    Inventors: Roy Douglas, Andrew Woods
  • Patent number: 8034300
    Abstract: This apparatus for producing trichlorosilane includes: a vessel having a gas inlet that introduces a feed gas into the vessel and a gas outlet that discharges a reaction product gas to the outside; a plurality of silicon core rods provided inside the vessel; and a heating mechanism that heats the silicon core rods, wherein a feed gas containing silicon tetrachloride and hydrogen is reacted to produce a reaction product gas containing trichlorosilane and hydrogen chloride. The silicon core rods may be disposed so as to stand upright on the bottom of the vessel, and the heating mechanism may have electrode portions that hold the lower end portions of the silicon core rods on the bottom of the vessel and a power supply that applies an electric current to the silicon core rods through the electrode portions to heat the silicon core rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 8012435
    Abstract: A system and method for producing natural gas is provided. a gas dynamic laser is powered by a gas, such as carbon dioxide, while the same gas is converted by a catalytic converter heated by the beam of the laser. Other gases can be formed simultaneously in other catalytic converters heated by the laser beam. The resulting converted gases can be used to produce a fuel gas. Excess heat and/or by-products of the process can be used to produce electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas Merritt
  • Publication number: 20110200510
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing trichlorosilane, including: a reaction vessel that has a substantially cylindrical wall body, a top plate, and a bottom plate, where a reaction product gas is produced from a raw gas supplied to the reaction vessel through a gas introducing passage provided to the lower section of the cylindrical wall body; and a plurality of heaters that are disposed inside the reaction vessel to heat the raw gas, wherein each of the heaters has a heating element that is elongated in a vertical direction and generates heat by electrification, and a mount that is fixed to the bottom plate and supports the heating element; a flange is provided to intermediate height of the heating element such that the flange is arranged upper than the gas introducing passage and is elongated in horizontal direction; and a passage of the raw gas formed between adjacent heaters is narrowed by the flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoya Murakami, Wataru Saiki
  • Patent number: 7998428
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing trichlorosilane, including: a reaction vessel in which a supply gas containing silicon tetrachloride and hydrogen is supplied to produce a reaction product gas containing trichlorosilane and hydrogen chloride; a heating mechanism that heats the interior of the reaction vessel; a storage container that stores the reaction vessel and the heating mechanism; a gas supply internal cylinder that supplies the supply gas in the reaction vessel; a gas discharge external cylinder that is substantially concentrically disposed outside the gas supply internal cylinder, forming a discharge passageway of the reaction product gas between an outer circumferential surface of the gas supply internal cylinder and an inner circumferential surface of the gas discharge external cylinder; and a cooling cylinder that supports the gas discharge external cylinder disposed inside thereof and includes a refrigerant passageway formed therein for circulating a refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ishii, Hideo Ito, Yuji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7964151
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for producing carbon nanotubes, that is provided with a reaction chamber and a dispersion plate. The dispersion plate is provided with a plate and a gas guiding portion provided on an edge of the plate, and a catalyst supply hole is defined in the central portion of the plate, through which metal catalysts are supplied. The gas guiding portion guides source gas to the central portion of the plate and suspends the metal catalysts discharged from the catalyst supply hole in a specific direction. Thus, the apparatus for producing carbon nanotubes can prevent loss of metal catalysts and improve space utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Semes Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-Kwan Jeon
  • Patent number: 7955508
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are supercritical fluid biomass conversion machines, systems, and methods for converting a wide range of biomass materials into a plurality of reaction products including fermentable sugars and various aromatic substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Xtrudx Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Graham Allan, Thomas E. Loop, James D. Flynn
  • Patent number: 7939028
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuous high temperature gas treatment of particulate matter including a starting material supply port (1) through which starting particulate matter is supplied from an upper part of the apparatus; a treatment gas supply port (2) through which a treating gas is supplied; a product discharge port (3) through which a product after treatment is discharged from a lower part of the apparatus; a treatment chamber (4) in which the particulate matter is treated with the treatment gas; a gas-solid separation chamber (5) provided in fluid communication with an upper part of the treatment chamber (4); and a cooling chamber (6) provided in fluid communication with a lower part of the treatment chamber (4). A heater (7) is provided on the outer periphery of the upper part of the treatment chamber (4), and a cooler (8) is provided on the outer periphery of the cooling chamber (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Kureha Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ohashi, Masaru Kagoshima, Yoshiki Shigaki
  • Publication number: 20110104036
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for purification of metallurgical grade silicon by directional solidification and for obtaining silicon ingots for photovoltaic use. The method comprises a preheating step, up to a temperature that is higher than the melting point of silicon, of a quartz crucible (18) that is accommodated in a containment enclosure (19) arranged inside a chamber (4) of a furnace. The chamber (4) of the furnace is delimited by a covering structure (3) and by a footing (2), which can move with respect to each other, or vice versa, toward or away from each other along a vertical direction respectively for opening and closing the chamber (4). Heating occurs by way of heating means (10) of the electric type, which are associated with the walls of the covering structure (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: N.E.D. SILICON S.P.A.
    Inventor: Sergio Pizzini
  • Patent number: 7867297
    Abstract: A reactor comprising, a low-temperature reaction part which causes reaction of a reactant, a high-temperature reaction part which causes reaction of the reactant at higher temperature than that of the low-temperature reaction part, a high-temperature reaction part heating element which heats high-temperature reaction part, and a wire which is connected to the high-temperature reaction part heating element and is wired to the low-temperature reaction part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadao Yamamoto, Naotomo Miyamoto, Masaharu Shioya
  • Publication number: 20100330446
    Abstract: A hydrogen system (10) comprising a reformer (12), in which a vaporized hydrocarbon fuel (50) is reformed to yield a reformate gas (62) comprising hydrogen, and a hydrogen consumer (40), the reformer and the hydrogen consumer being arranged in fluid communication such that the reformate gas can be fed to the hydrogen consumer, the hydrogen consumer, when in use, consuming at least a part of the hydrogen produced by the reformer wherein the hydrogen system further comprises:—an off gas burner (35) which is arranged such that it is in fluid communication with the hydrogen consumer and a first heat exchanger (21), in which offgas burner, when in use, remaining reformate gas in offgas from the hydrogen consumer is combusted, producing exhaust gas (53) which is passed through the first heat exchanger;—at least one air pump (30) which is arranged such that it is in fluid communication with the reformer and the offgas burner, the at least one air pump, when in use, supplying air to said reformer and offgas burner,—a
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Klaús Lucka, Stephan Köhne, Roland Wruck, Sergej Bauer, Andreas Klausmann, Roland Wollenweber
  • Patent number: 7858055
    Abstract: An auxetic fiber and corresponding material that not only responds to an external force, but also responds to moisture. The auxetic fiber is made in part from a moisture activated shrinking filament. Even if no external force is applied to the fiber, a pseudo tensile force is created by wetting the auxetic fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: WanDuk Lee, SangSoo Lee, CholWoh Koh, Jin Heo
  • Patent number: 7842260
    Abstract: Provided is a reaction vessel for a fuel cell, and more particularly to a reaction vessel exhibiting improved thermal efficiency, and a reaction device for a steam reforming reaction for a fuel cell. The reaction device includes a cylindrical reaction catalyst chamber on which a target reaction catalyst for a predetermined target reaction is disposed; and a tubular oxidation catalyst chamber surrounding the reaction catalyst chamber, comprising an oxidation reaction catalyst therein. The reaction device according features an increased contact area between catalyst and gas, and rapidly heating of the gas in contact with the catalyst to a desired reaction temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-chul Lee, Ju-yong Kim, Yong-kul Lee, Man-seok Han, Jun-sic Kim, Chan-ho Lee, Jin-goo Ahn
  • Publication number: 20100296984
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing hydrogen from methanol in a simple manner comprises a container (4) that retains liquid methanol (2) as a source material and gases (3) generated therein, a substrate (5) that is immersed in liquid methanol (2) in the container (4) loaded with a catalyst, and a power supply (6) for passing a direct or an alternating current through the substrate (5). The substrate may be made of an oxide or oxidized material, especially oxidized diamond, and loaded with a transition metal catalyst, especially Ni catalyst. With the substrate (5) heated, a novel catalytic methanol decomposition reaction occurs by a combination of abrupt temperature gradient directing towards methanol from the surface of the substrate, a catalysis of the oxide or oxidized material of the substrate and a catalysis of the catalyst loaded on the substrate, and a large amount of hydrogen gas is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicants: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY, NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ando, Kiyoharu Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20100296985
    Abstract: A microreactor is configured to have a metal substrate having a microchannel portion on one surface thereof, a heater provided on the other surface of the metal substrate via an insulating film, a catalyst supported on the microchannel portion, and a cover member having a feed material inlet and a gas outlet and joined to the metal substrate so as to cover the microchannel portion. Since the microreactor uses the metal substrate having a high thermal conductivity and a small heat capacity, the efficiency of heat conduction from the heater to the supported catalyst becomes high, and the processing of the metal substrate is easy to facilitate the production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi YAGI, Takeshi Kihara, Koichi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20100290960
    Abstract: To provide an apparatus for producing silicon capable of recovering silicon sufficiently in a recovery container even if the silicon deposited in a reaction container solidifies in the shape of an anthill. [Means for Solution] The apparatus for producing silicon has means for moving a recovery container 14 in a reaction container body 2. The moving means includes a support shaft 18 for supporting a bottom wall 14b of the recovery container 14 and a drive unit 17 for rotating the support shaft 18, which are provided for the recovery container 14. The support shaft 18 is deviated from the position of the center portion of the opening 7a on the lower end side of the reaction tube 7 so that the support shaft 18 suitably rotates at the time when the silicon is recovered in the recovery container 14 thereby varying the position on where the anthill is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Hiroo Noumi, Nobuaki Yoshimatsu, Shigeki Sugimura
  • Patent number: 7820125
    Abstract: The phosphorus effusion cell arrangement according to the present invention comprises a first vacuum container for red phosphorus, a second vacuum container for white phosphorus, said first and second vacuum containers being interconnected, means for providing vacuum, a thermal cracker in connection with said second vacuum container, as well as a control valve between said second vacuum container and said thermal cracker. The present invention is characterized in that it further comprises a separating valve between said first and second vacuum containers, provided that there is no direct connection between said first vacuum container and said thermal cracker. The invention also relates to a method for producing molecular phosphorus P2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: DCA Instruments Oy
    Inventors: Lasse Salminen, Esa Supponen, Jari Vanhatalo
  • Patent number: 7815872
    Abstract: A reactor for generating moisture, with which hydrogen and oxygen fed into the reactor contact with a platinum coating catalyst layer to activate reactivity so that hydrogen and oxygen react under conditions of non-combustion, wherein the reactor includes a cooler comprising a heat dissipation body substrate in which a heater insertion hole is made in the center to fix to the outer surface of the reactor structural component on the outlet side and a cooler on the outlet side made up of a plural number of heat dissipation bodies installed vertically in parallel on the part excluding the area where the afore-mentioned heater insertion hole of the heat dissipation body substrate exists, and a part of the heater to heat the reactor is inserted in the heater insertion hole so as to fix to the outer surface of the reactor structural component on the outlet side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Fujikin Incorporated
    Inventors: Toshirou Nariai, Kouji Kawada, Keiji Hirao, Yukio Minami, Akihiro Morimoto, Nobukazu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7790123
    Abstract: An auxetic fiber and corresponding material that not only responds to an external force, but also responds to moisture. The auxetic fiber is made in part from a moisture activated shrinking filament. Even if no external force is applied to the fiber, a pseudo tensile force is created by wetting the auxetic fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: WanDuk Lee, SangSoo Lee, CholWoh Koh, Jin Heo
  • Publication number: 20100189605
    Abstract: Cells having cavities and the manufacture and use of the same are described. An example cell includes a first layer including a gap to at least partially define a cavity and a reservoir area to receive material to enter the cavity by diffusion. Additionally, the cell includes one or more other layers coupled to the first layer to at least partially define the cavity and to hermetically seal the cavity from an exterior environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Universitat des Saarlandes
    Inventors: Ulrich Schmid, Dara Feili, Andreas Schütze, Helmut Seidel, Henning Völlm
  • Patent number: 7758822
    Abstract: A reactor device includes a reactor including at least one reacting unit supplied with a reactant to cause a reaction, a terminal portion provided at the reacting unit, and an electrically conductive member comprising an electrically conductive material and connected to the terminal portion, a space which extends between the terminal portion and an end face of the reactor, wherein the electrically conductive member is routed to outside the reactor through the space from the terminal portion to the end face of the reactor, and the electrically conductive member is fixed to the reactor at the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Terazaki, Tadao Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7736471
    Abstract: A system for treating a feedstock for the purposes of waste destruction, energy generation, or the production of useful chemicals is disclosed and includes a reactor vessel. A heating lance is configured to outflow the products of a partial oxidation reaction into a reaction chamber in the vessel. The hot reaction products heat and pyrolyze the feedstock in the chamber generating a process effluent which typically includes gases (e.g. syn-gas) and carbon solids. Glasses and metals in the feedstock accumulate in the chamber in a molten state. The molten materials store thermal energy and provide thermal stability to the treatment system. A recycle loop uses carbon solids from the process effluent as an input to the lance for reaction with an oxidant therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventor: David A. Hazlebeck
  • Publication number: 20100135870
    Abstract: A reactor 100 includes: a honeycomb-structured reformer 1 having partition walls 3 separating and forming a plurality of cells 2 functioning as fluid passages extending through from one end face to the other end face, having a liquid supply hole 6 having an opening portion 5 on a side face 4, capable of evaporating liquid supplied inside, and capable of reforming the evaporated liquid; a liquid supply tube 11 inserted into the liquid supply hole 6 in order to supply liquid to the reformer 1; and a heating apparatus 21 for heating the reformer 1. The reactor can reform a liquid with saving energy and a space by performing evaporation and reforming of the liquid in a reformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi MIZUNO, Michio Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7722844
    Abstract: An exhaust smoke denitrating apparatus in which using an NH3 injection unit, compressed air is fed from blower to ejector for extracting of exhaust gas from HRSG1, and with thus obtained mixed gas, NH3-containing gas is produced from NH3 water by NH3 water evaporator, the NH3-containing gas injected through NH3-containing gas injection nozzle of the HRSG1 disposed on a front stream side of denitration catalyst layer. As any high-temperature exhaust gas is cooled and diluted by compressed air, there is no danger of oxidation of NH3 during the stage of evaporation of NH3 water. The moisture level of exhaust gas can be lowered, thereby enabling inhibition of any drain generation in exhaust gas extraction piping. Air warming within NH3 water evaporation system can be carried out at an early stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryosuke Nakagawa, Tetsurou Hikino
  • Patent number: 7718099
    Abstract: A fine channel device capable of producing fine particles in an industrial scale, hardening the fine particles immediately after the production and recovering the fine particles from a medium without collapsing the shape of the produced fine particles, a fine particle producing method using the fine channel device and a solvent extraction method using the fine channel, are presented. The fine channel device comprises a fine channel provided with an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a dispersion phase, an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a continuous phase, and an outlet channel and an outlet port which discharge fine particles produced by the dispersion phase and the continuous phase, wherein the inlet channel for feeding the dispersion phase and the inlet channel for feeding the continuous phase are joined at an arbitrary angle, and the two inlet channels are connected to the outlet channel at the arbitrary angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Tosoh Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Koji Kitayama, Toru Futami, Katsuyuki Hara, Tomohiro Ohkawa, Keiichiro Nishizawa, Hideaki Kiriya, Hirotatsu Kusakabe
  • Publication number: 20100101141
    Abstract: Embodiments presented herein describe an apparatus and method to convert carbonaceous materials, particularly biomass and those biomass resources which are remotely located, into a high performance solid fuel. This method, and the apparatus described as the means to accomplish this method, provides a continuous process which can be completely powered by the energy contained in the biomass. The heat, mechanical power and electrical power are provided from the energy in the biomass, through the methods described. In this way, the apparatus is free to operate in remote locations, where no power or auxiliary fuel sources are available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Arthur M. Shulenberger, Mark Wechsler
  • Patent number: 7704466
    Abstract: A self-propagating combustion cyclone reactor includes a reaction chamber delimited by a circumferential wall in which at least one reductant inlet and a plurality of oxidizer inlets are formed in a tangential manner. Reductant and oxidizer are fed, together with inert gas, through the inlets into the chamber in a cyclonic manner to induce self-propagating combustion reaction to generate a product of high purity metal, such as titanium, zirconium, hafnium, or silicon, semiconductor substance. The reactor serves as a continuous reactor for generation of metal or semiconductor substances of high purity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sun Materials Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yi-Shuen Wu