METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EVALUATING AND IMPROVING DISTRIBUTION-GRID OBSERVABILITY
The invention is a means to quantify grid observability (the ability to determine a set of operating parameters such as voltages, currents, and real and reactive power flows) from a set of (possibly sparse) grid sensor readings and a distribution grid system model and to determine the "islands of observability" where such determination is possible, and by exclusion, where it is not possible (resulting in deficiencies in grid observability that may have to be remedied for proper grid operation). The primary innovations here are in the means to determine the relationships among the sensors and the grid parameters needed for observability for three phase unbalanced distribution circuits, given the sensor placement and grid system model (topology and admittance matrix, or just the topology alone); taking into account grid model uncertainty and communication system characteristics (transportability), and further to determine zones where full observability is possible("islands of observability") and where it is not; to allow for interactive placement of sensors with continual re-calculation of observability indices and observability islands, to provide automatic allocation of sensors to a grid model via sensor allocation strategies, again with calculation of indices and islands, and finally to automatically optimize sensor allocation and placement.
Sheathless Interface for Coupling Capillary Electrophoresis with Mass Spectrometry (NIH iEdison No.0685901-13-0001)
A sheathless interface for coupling capillary electrophoresis (CE) with mass spectrometry is disclosed. The sheathless interface includes a separation capillary for performing CE separation and an emitter capillary for electrospray ionization. A portion of the emitter capillary is porous or, alternatively, is coated to form an electrically conductive surface. A section of the emitter capillary is disposed within the separation capillary, forming a joint. A metal tube, containing a conductive liquid, encloses the joint.
MEMBRANE DEVICE AND PROCESS FOR MASS EXCHANGE, SEPARATION, AND FILTRATION
A membrane device and processes for fabrication and for using are disclosed. The membrane device may include a number of porous metal membranes that provide a high membrane surface area per unit volume. The membrane device provides various operation modes that enhance throughput and selectivity for mass exchange, mass transfer, separation, and/or filtration applications between feed flow streams and permeate flow streams.
Thin, Porous Metal Sheets and Methods for Making the Same
This invention provides a new membrane design and a method of its preparation for selective transport of one or one type of molecules over the other. The membrane comprises immobilizing a liquid-fluidic phase of selective absorption functions in a porous inorganic support matrix. The device can be used for gas separation or used as selective barrier layer for battery and fuel cell applications.
Deoxygenation of fatty acids for preparation of hydrocarbons
Embodiments of methods for making renewable diesel by deoxygenating (decarboxylating/decarbonylating/dehydrating) fatty acids to produce hydrocarbons are disclosed. Fatty acids are exposed to a catalyst selected from a) Pt and MO3 on ZrO2 (M is W, Mo, or a combination thereof), or b) Pt/Ge or Pt/Sn on carbon, and the catalyst decarboxylates at least 10% of the fatty acids. In particular embodiments, the catalyst consists essentially of 0.7 wt % Pt and 12 wt % WO3, relative to a mass of catalyst, or the catalyst consists essentially of a) 5 wt % Pt and b) 0.5 wt % Ge or 0.5 wt % Sn, relative to a mass of catalyst. Deoxygenation is performed without added hydrogen and at less than 100 psi. Disclosed embodiments of the catalysts deoxygenate at least 10% of fatty acids in a fatty acid feed, and remain capable of deoxygenating fatty acids for at least 200 minutes to more than 350 hours.).
System and Process for Production of Isotopes and Isotope Compositions
The availability of longer-lived positron emitters have made possible PET-based imaging of tumors by radiolabeling monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), mAb fragments and aptamers, a process referred to as immunoPET. ImmunoPET combines the high sensitivity and spatial resolution of PET imaging with the antigen specificity of mAbs. 89Zr is gaining tremendous interest as an immunoPET isotope, due to its ease of production using monoisotopic (natural) yttrium targets and moderate-to-low energy medical cyclotrons. In addition to opportunities for new and emerging medical modalities, the long half-life of 89Zr (t1/2 = 78.4 hr) enables the potential for off-site isotope production and distribution. PNNL developed new column-based purification methods that are capable of ultra-high purity 89Zr for use in immunoPET diagnostic imaging. The new methods are capable of improved 89Zr product purities as compared to 89Zr that is currently available in Europe and the U.S. Additionally, PNNL integrated laboratory automation into the purification process. This makes possible highly reproducible and remote purification of 89Zr. Scale-up of 89Zr purification processes will result in high dose rates to personnel, so it is important that the production method is capable of being performed in remote, shielded locations.
Methods and Compositions for Degradation of Lignocellulosic Material
The present invention provides methods and compositions for the conversion of plant biomass to fermentable sugars that can be converted to useful products. The methods include methods for degrading lignocellulosic material using enzyme mixtures to liberate sugars. The compositions of the invention include enzyme combinations that break down lignocellulose. The invention includes methods to identify the optimum ratios and compositions of enzymes with which to degrade each lignocellulosic material. These methods entail tests to identify the optimum enzyme composition and ratios for efficient conversion of any lignocellulosic substrate to its constituent sugars. While the multi-enzyme product may contain many types of enzymes, mixtures comprising enzymes that increase or enhance sugar release from biomass are preferred, including hemicellulases. The enzymes of the multi-enzyme product can be provided by a variety of sources. In one embodiment, the enzymes can be produced by a growing microorganism, especially a fungus, which produce the enzymes naturally or by virtue of being genetically modified to express the enzyme or enzymes.
Decision Support Systems and Methods for Complex Networks
This invention is a method of advanced contingency analysis visualization for power grid operations. It converts the large volume of contingency analysis results to a visual space and presents the results as user-friendly color-contoured maps. This novel visualization method unloads overwhelmed power grid operators from examining raw data and enables them to focus on critical portions of the grid and respond to adverse situations in a timely manner. The major point of novelty of this invention is the visual representation of the analysis results of multiple contingencies, which has not been done in the area of power grid operations. Geographical information is readily included in the visualization techniques. Another point of novelty is the quantitative assessment of risks. Comprehensive analysis of the contingency analysis results is performed and risk indices are derived. This quantitative risk assessment is not available in today’s tool. The developed visualization and analysis reveals the vulnerability of the power grid which otherwise would be buried in the pages and pages of tabular entries.
Biocellion: a scalable simulation framework for multicellular biological systems
Biocellion is a software framework for computer simulation of largescale multicellular biological systems portable to a wide range of parallel computers. Biocellion enables biologists who can model a single cell's behavior as a function of its environment to simulate colonies, communities, or organisms having hundreds of millions or more cells faster and with higher fidelity than with any other software of which we are aware. Biocellion itself is merely the computational framework: all domain specific knowledge is encapsulated in user models. This separation of concerns is an important attribute of Biocellion, providing generality across an increasing range of application domains without users needing any expertise in high performance parallel computation. The inventive features are integrated into the implementation of this framework, which manages the mapping of application parallelism to platforms ranging from laptop to supercomputer. Biocellion overlaps communication with computation, distributes application load to processors to achieve load balance, and exploits data locality to maximize throughput.
Medical Radioisotopes and Methods for Producing the Same (Incorporates 14348-B, 14402-B, 14398-B, 14399-B & 14795-B)
Methods for producing radioisotopes required for nuclear-medicine procedures using particle accelerators with small dimensions that can easily be located within a standard-sized laboratory are described. In particular, a method for producing Mo-99 from a target consisting of Zr-96 via an (a, n) reaction has several advantages over current methods used to produce Mo-99. The Zr-96 target contains a stable isotope and does not have the proliferation or RDD implications of the U-235 targets that are currently used. A nuclear reactor is not required to produce the Mo-99. The Mo-99 can be isolated from the target material without interference from multiple fission products. The separation of Mo-99 from Zr-96 is straightforward. In addition, rotation of a thin circular target disk or spooling of a metallic wire target that provides for maximum use of the a-particles and quick dissolution of the target material is novel, to the best of our knowledge. The method should be applicable to the production of many other medical radioisotopes by using the appropriate targets and separation procedures.