SINGLE STEP CONVERSION OF ETHANOL TO BUTADIENE
TA process for producing 1,3-butadiene (BD) from ethanol in a single step by s7 passing a mixture containing ethanol in a gas phase over a multifunctional catalyst having a transition metal dispersion of at least 30% on a silica metal oxide support. In some examples the multifunctional catalyst comprises a silica metal oxide having a surface area of at least 200 m 2/g. The multifunctional catalyst can include a transition metal oxide, a silica metal oxide made from a high purity silica gel, mesoporous silica and fumed silica, such as high purity SBA16, SBA15, or Davisil grade 646.
ELECTROLYTES FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES WITH CARBON AND/OR SILICON ANODES (iEdison No. 0685901-20-0027)
Method of Generating Hydrocarbon Reagents from Diesel, Natural Gas and other Logistical Fuels
The ability to transform fuel hydrocarbons into oxygenated species in a manner that allows for high activity and control over the selectivity would be a break-through in the aftertreatment industry. The invention describe herein is a method to produce specific oxygenates from diesel, natural gas, and other hydrocarbon fuels on-board a vehicle. The process would include three major unit operations: 1) Flash Distillation to remove the light fraction HCs and sulfur from the liquid fuel for further processing to oxygenates, 2) Partial Oxidation to produce syngas (H2+CO) from the light HC fraction, and 3) Synthesis to construct the desired oxygenate, such as dimethyl ether (DME) and methanol (MeOH), form the syngas. The oxygenate product from this method will then be used for NOx reduction in mobile of stationary Lean-NOx or HC-SCR systems.
GRID STABILIZATION USING ADJUSTED VOLTAGE REGULATOR RESPONSE TO GRID CHARACTERISTICS
This IDR proposes the use of volt-var optimization (VVO) to improve the dynamic performance of microgrids. The proposed idea uses existing hardware assets, and does not require expensive new equipment. Operationally the concept is similar to the power system stabalizers seen on large transmission generators, except that it is relying on the response of the end use load for the primary control affect. While VVO has been used to reduce energy consumption for 30+ years, the proposed work is operating on the time-sclae of milliseconds. This is a new way to use the VVO effect, and to my knowledge has not been done before.
Methods for sulfate removal in liquid-phase catalytic hydrothermal gasification of biomass
Processing of wet biomass feedstock by liquid-phase catalytic hydrothermal gasification must address catalyst fouling and poisoning. One solution can involve heating the wet biomass with a heating unit to a pre-treatment temperature sufficient for organic constituents in the feedstock to decompose, for precipitates of inorganic wastes to form, for preheating the wet feedstock in preparation for subsequent removal of soluble sulfate contaminants, or combinations thereof. Processing further includes reacting the soluble sulfate contaminants with cations present in the feedstock material to yield a sulfate-containing precipitate and separating the inorganic precipitates and/or the sulfate-containing precipitates out of the wet feedstock. Having removed much of the inorganic wastes and the sulfate contaminants that can cause poisoning and fouling, the wet biomass feedstock can be exposed to the heterogeneous catalyst for gasification.
PROTECTIVE ALUMINUM OXIDE SURFACE COATINGS AND LOW-TEMPERATURE FORMING PROCESS FOR HIGH-TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS
A method of both coating a substrate with aluminum oxide and infusing the substrate with elemental aluminum is disclosed. In one example, the method includes providing a metal powder/polymer binder slurry, the slurry having a solvent, an organic binder, metal granules and a seed element, wherein the metal granules include Al; dispersing the slurry upon a Cr-containing surface; after dispersing the slurry, exposing the slurry to air and maintaining the temperature of the slurry and substrate below 110.degree. C. to remove at least a portion of the solvent from the slurry; and, in a combined step, both exposing the binder, metal granules and substrate to air and heating the remaining slurry and substrate at a temperature less than or equal to 1000.degree. C. to both diffuse at least a portion of the metal of the metal granules into the substrate and coat the substrate with aluminum oxide.
ADVANCED MULTI-LAYER ACTIVE MAGNETIC REGENERATOR SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES FOR MAGNETOCALORIC LIQUEFACTION
An apparatus comprising: an active magnetic regenerative regenerator comprising multiple successive layers, wherein each layer comprises an independently compositionally distinct magnetic refrigerant material having Curie temperatures 18-22 K apart between successively adjacent layers, and the layers are arranged in successive Curie temperature order and magnetic refrigerant material mass order with a first layer having the highest Curie temperature layer and highest magnetic refrigerant material mass and the last layer having the lowest Curie temperature layer and lowest magnetic refrigerant material mass.
ACTIVE MAGNETIC REGENERATIVE PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS EMPLOYING HYDROGEN AS HEAT TRANSFER FLUID AND PROCESS GAS
A process for liquefying a hydrogen process gas comprising: introducing a hydrogen heat transfer fluid into an active magnetic regenerative refrigerator apparatus that comprises (i) a high magnetic field section in which the hydrogen heat transfer fluid flows from a cold side to a hot side through at least one magnetized bed of at least one magnetic refrigerant, (ii) a first no heat transfer fluid flow section in which the bed is demagnetized, (iii) a low magnetic field or demagnetized section in which the hydrogen heat transfer fluid flows from a hot side to a cold side through the demagnetized bed, and (iv) a second no heat transfer fluid flow section in which the bed is magnetized; continuously introducing the hydrogen heat transfer fluid from the cold side of the low magnetic field or demagnetized section into the cold side of the high magnetic field section; continuously diverting a portion of the hydrogen heat transfer fluid flowing from the cold side of the low magnetic field or demagnetized section into an expander; and isenthalpically expanding the diverted portion of the hydrogen heat transfer fluid to produce liquefied hydrogen.
Heavy Fossil Hydrocarbon Conversion and Upgrading Using Radio-Frequency or Microwave Energy
Conversion of heavy fossil hydrocarbons (HFH) to a variety of value-added chemicals and/or fuels can be enhanced using microwave (MW) and/or radio-frequency (RE) energy. Variations of reactants, process parameters, and reactor design can significantly influence the relative distribution of chemicals and fuels generated as the product. In one example, a system for flash microwave conversion of HFH includes a source concentrating microwave or RF energy in a reaction zone having a pressure greater than 0.9 atm, a continuous feed having HFH and a process gas passing through the reaction zone, a HFH-to-liquids catalyst contacting the HFH in at least the reaction zone, and dielectric discharges within the reaction zone. The HFH and the catalyst have a residence time in the reaction zone of less than 30 seconds. In some instances, a plasma can form in or near the reaction zone.
Grid Regulation Services for Energy Storage Devices Based on Grid Frequency
The invention represents an algorithm to provide a form of "regulation up and down services" to the electric power grid using an energy storage device. The storage device could be an electric vehicle or a stationary energy storage device like a photovoltaic system. The regulation will allow the storage device to vary its contribution to the power grid between a full discharge (generation) state and full charge (consumption) state. The basis for this regulation will come from frequency measurements of the alternating current (AC) power supply as delivered to the outlet in homes and buildings. The actual amount of load present on the system will be adjusted using this regulation signal and information about any constraints imposed upon the load device (such as a desired finish time or maximum capacity). The invention represents an algorithm to provide a form of regulation up and down services to the electric power grid using any load whose overall operation will not be hindered if the power supplied to the load varies in a charging and discharging sense (i.e., “load” devices such as the charger for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or other storage device). The regulation will allow the storage device to vary its contribution to the power grid between a full discharge (generation) state and full charge (consumption) state. The basis for this regulation will come from frequency measurements of the alternating current (AC) power supply as delivered to the outlet in homes and buildings. The actual amount of load or generation the end device presents on the system will be adjusted using this regulation signal and information about any constraints imposed upon the load device (such as a desired finish time or maximum capacity).