DEVICES AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING SHEAR-ASSISTED EXTRUSION, EXTRUSION FEEDSTOCKS, EXTRUSION PROCESSES, AND METHODS FOR PREPARING METAL SHEETS (iEdison No. 0685901-13-0018)
A process for forming extruded products using a device having a scroll face configured to apply a rotational shearing force and an axial extrusion force to the same preselected location on material wherein a combination of the rotational shearing force and the axial extrusion force upon the same location cause a portion of the material to plasticize, flow and recombine in desired configurations. This process provides for a significant number of advantages and industrial applications, including but not limited to extruding tubes used for vehicle components with 50 to 100 percent greater ductility and energy absorption over conventional extrusion technologies, while dramatically reducing manufacturing costs.
Solar Thermochemical Processing System and Method (iEdison No. 0685901-11-0013)
The purpose of the invention is to capture concentrated solar radiation, converting the energy to chemical energy. This is accomplished by operating a high temperature endothermic reaction such as methane steam reforming where the heat of reaction is largely or completely provided by solar energy.
NITRIDE-BASED CONTROLLED-RELEASE FERTILIZERS AND PROCESS FOR MAKING SAME
A controlled-release solid nitride fertilizer from fly ash and a method for making are described. The fertilizer includes a nitrogen source including at least one solid nitride combined with at least one precipitation-inhibiting agent and with at least one moisture-retention agent, all compressed together to form a porous release structure that in contact with water releases ammonium ions as a nitrogen nutrient at a substantially uniform release rate over a selected release period and thereby maximizes nitrogen-use efficiency by plants.
DEVICES AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING SHEAR-ASSISTED EXTRUSION AND EXTRUSION PROCESSES
A process for forming extruded products using a device having a scroll face configured to apply a rotational shearing force and an axial extrusion force to the same preselected location on material wherein a combination of the rotational shearing force and the axial extrusion force upon the same location cause a portion of the material to plasticize, flow and recombine in desired configurations. This process provides for a significant number of advantages and industrial applications, including but not limited to extruding tubes used for vehicle components with 50 to 100 percent greater ductility and energy absorption over conventional extrusion technologies, while dramatically reducing manufacturing costs.
Dimethyl Ether Production from Methanol and/or Syngas
Disclosed are methods for producing dimethyl ether (DME) from methanol and for producing DME directly from syngas, such as syngas from biomass. Also disclosed are apparatus for DME production. The disclosed processes generally function at higher temperatures with lower contact times and at lower pressures than conventional processes so as to produce higher DME yields than do conventional processes. Certain embodiments of the processes are carried out in reactors providing greater surface to volume ratios than the presently used DME reactors. Certain embodiments of the processes are carried out in systems comprising multiple microchannel reactors
REACTOR ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF PERFORMING REACTIONS (iEdison No. 0685901-18-0022)
The purpose of this invention is to capture concentrated solar radiation, converting the energy to chemical energy at a higher efficiency and lower cost than prior art. This is accomplished by operating a high temperature endothermic reaction such as methane steam reforming where the heat of reaction is largely or completely provided by solar energy. A spiral counter-cross flow arrangement of reaction channels and recuperative heat exchange channels enables efficient thermal spreading of inhomogeneous solar irradiation. The reduction of hot spots leads to lower OPEX and CAPEX through improvements to reactor's operability under high flux conditions and longer reactor life by reducing thermal stress, respectively.
INTERRUPTIBLE SHEAR-ASSISTED EXTRUSION
We have demonstrated, for aluminum alloy 6063, that the ShAPE process is capable or re-starting extrusion after the process is stopped, the die is retracted, and the die, billet, and extruded metal are allowed to cool to room temperature. This invention is not limited to AA 6063, but is applicable to any metal extruded by the ShAPE process. With ShAPE, we are able to use the heat generated by the rotating die to re-heat the die set and metal so the extrusion can proceed after stopping and cooling.
System and process for capture of H2S from gaseous process streams and process for regeneration of the capture agent
A system and process are disclosed for selective removal and recovery of H2S from a gaseous volume, e.g., from natural gas. Anhydrous organic, sorbents chemically capture H2S gas to form hydrosulfide salts. Regeneration of the capture solvent involves addition of an anti-solvent that releases the captured H2S gas from the capture sorbent. The capture sorbent and anti-solvent are reactivated for reuse, e.g., by simple distillation.
TASK-SPECIFIC IONIC LIQUID-DERIVED SYSTEM FOR SELECTIVE OXYGEN PRODUCTION (iEdison No. 0685901-23-0184)
Our hypothesis is that a small modular system could be engineered using solvent-based capture and pressure or thermal release of oxygen, to enable oxygen on demand for any combustion-related technology. Task-specific ionic liquid (TSIL)-TEMPO is selected as our base compound for screening selective oxygen generation process and has an unpaired electron, we anticipate a formation of weak complex enabling this fluid to be thermally reversible. TSIL-TEMPO can possibly have high gravimetric capacities of O2, via the diamagnetic supramolecular complex A (2:1 TSIL-TEMPO:O2) or the monodentate complex B (1:1).