Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090221725 | Production of ethanol from methanol - A process for converting methanol to ethanol which comprises reacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product comprising at least 25 mole % methyl acetate and, in some instances, acetic acid. The acetic acid then is reacted with at least one alcohol to produce at least one acetate selected from methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and butyl acetate. The at least one acetate (if produced) and the methyl acetate produced as a result of reacting methanol and carbon monoxide then are hydrogenated to produce ethanol. Syngas may be produced from biomass to produce all or a portion of the methanol, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide requirements for the process. | 09-03-2009 |
20090326080 | Production of ethanol from methanol - A process for converting methanol to ethanol which comprises reacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product comprising at least 25 mole % methyl acetate and, in some instances, acetic acid. The acetic acid then is reacted with at least one alcohol to produce at least one acetate selected from methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and butyl acetate. The at least one acetate (if produced) and the methyl acetate produced as a result of reacting methanol and carbon monoxide then are hydrogenated to produce ethanol. Syngas may be produced from biomass to produce all or a portion of the methanol, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide requirements for the process. | 12-31-2009 |
20100024300 | METHOD FOR LOW-SEVERITY GASIFICATION OF HEAVY PETROLEUM RESIDUES - A method for co-producing a sulfur-containing raw synthetic gas and an essentially desulfurized solid residue from a sulfur-containing heavy petroleum residue feedstock, comprising feeding a bubbling fluidized-bed gasification reactor with the feedstock, and converting the feedstock to a raw synthetic gas by a partial oxidation reaction in the presence of water at a temperature at or below about 1000° C. and a pressure at or below about 10 atm, thereby also producing an essentially desulfurized solid residue, while the sulfur components are essentially comprised in the raw synthetic gas; and separately recovering the essentially desulfurized solid residue and the sulfur-containing raw synthetic gas. | 02-04-2010 |
20100051875 | Production and conditioning of synthesis gas obtained from biomass - A method of producing and treating synthesis gas in which a biomass-rich material is gasified in a gasifier containing a fluidized bed at a temperature that does not exceed 750° C. to produce a crude synthesis gas product. The crude synthesis gas then is quenched, scrubbed, and then subjected to at least one adsorption step to provide a clean synthesis gas. The clean synthesis gas then may be reformed catalytically to provide a synthesis gas with a desired H | 03-04-2010 |
20100224835 | Production of synthesis gas through controlled oxidation of biomass - A process for producing synthesis gas from biomass in which biomass is contacted with oxygen and steam, wherein the oxygen is present in an amount effective to oxidize the biomass partially and to heat the biomass to a temperature of at least 500° C. and no greater than 750° C. At least a portion of the partially oxidized biomass then is treated with oxygen and steam to heat the biomass to a temperature of at least 800° C., thereby producing a synthesis gas, which then is recovered. | 09-09-2010 |
20120071698 | PRODUCTION OF ETHANOL FROM METHANOL - A process for converting methanol to ethanol which comprises reacting methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product comprising at least 25 mole % methyl acetate and, in some instances, acetic acid. The acetic acid then is reacted with at least one alcohol to produce at least one acetate selected from methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and butyl acetate. The at least one acetate (if produced) and the methyl acetate produced as a result of reacting methanol and carbon monoxide then are hydrogenated to produce ethanol. Syngas may be produced from biomass to produce all or a portion of the methanol, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide requirements for the process. | 03-22-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090314646 | Reflective optical systems and their fabrication - A process for fabricating a reflective optical system, comprising: (a) providing at least a first mandrel and a second mandrel, each mandrel having an axis of elongation and having at one end thereof a negative end surface defining in negative shape a reflective surface, (c) rigidly and releasably attaching the first mandrel and the second mandrel to each other, thereby forming a mandrel assembly; (d) positioning the mandrel assembly in an electroforming bath and performing an electroforming operation for a predetermined period, thereby forming an optical system on the mandrel assembly; and (e) separating the mandrel assembly from the optical system, the optical system thereby having at least first and second elongate hollow sections, wherein each hollow section has an axis corresponding to the axis of elongation of a respective mandrel, wherein each hollow section has a first end, at which a reflective surface corresponding to the negative end surface of a respective mandrel is disposed, and a second end, the second ends being open, and wherein the axes of said at least first and second hollow sections are oriented whereby an optical path is defined between said second ends via reflections at said reflective surfaces. The process may include providing an intermediate mandrel disposed between the first and second mandrels. A reflective optical system, obtainable by the process, is also disclosed, the optical system comprising: at least first and second electroformed hollow sections, each hollow section having an open end and, at the end thereof opposite said open end, a reflective surface; wherein the reflective surfaces are disposed and oriented such that an optical path is defined therebetween. The fabricated optical system may be for use as an afocal relay, or in numerous image forming or lithography applications. | 12-24-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110186588 | METHOD FOR EJECTING A TEST STRIP FROM A TEST METER - A method for ejecting a test strip from a test meter includes initiating activation of a test strip ejection mechanism that is in a pre-ejection state. In the method, the test strip ejection mechanism includes a shape memory alloy strip that exhibits a solid state transition temperature and has a programmed configuration and a deformed configuration. In the test strip ejection mechanism pre-ejection state, a test strip has been received within a test strip receiving port of the test meter and the shape memory alloy strip is in the deformed configuration. The method also includes heating, in response to the initiation step, the shape memory alloy strip from below the solid state transition temperature to above the solid state transition temperature. The heating results in the shape memory alloy strip undergoing a transformation from the deformed configuration to the programmed configuration. The method also includes applying a force produced by the transformation from the deformed configuration to the programmed configuration to the test strip and, thereby, ejecting the test strip from the test strip receiving port. | 08-04-2011 |
20110189062 | TEST STRIP EJECTION MECHANISM - A test strip ejection mechanism, for use with a test strip receiving port and a test strip, includes a framework, an elongated shape memory alloy (SMA) strip (e.g., a SMA wire), a slider, and a heating module. The SMA strip has first and second ends that are attached to the framework and exhibits a solid state transition temperature. The slider is configured to travel along the framework. The heating module is configured to heat the SMA strip from a temperature below the solid state transition temperature to a temperature above the solid state transition temperature. Moreover, the SMA strip and slider are configured such that the slider travels along the framework under an applied force exerted on the slider by the SMA strip as the shape memory strip is heated from a temperature below the solid state transition temperature to a temperature above the solid state temperature by the heating module. In addition, the slider has a proximal end configured to engage a test strip received within a test strip receiving port and eject the test strip from the test strip receiving port as the slider travels along the framework. A test meter for use with a test strip includes a test strip receiving port and a test strip ejection mechanism. | 08-04-2011 |
20130143246 | HAND-HELD TEST METER WITH ANALYTICAL TEST STRIP EJECTION MECHANISM - A hand-held test meter for use with an analytical test strip in the determination of an analyte in a bodily fluid sample (e.g., a whole blood sample) includes a housing, with an outer surface, and an analytical test strip ejection mechanism (“ATSEM”). The ATSEM has an actuation button disposed in the outer surface of the housing, a motion amplification and rotation assembly (“MA&RA”) operatively connected to the actuation button and a test strip slider (“TSS”) operatively connected to the MA&RA. The actuation button is configured for movement by a user's digit in a first direction and the MA&RA and TSS are configured to convert the movement in the first direction into amplified movement of the TSS in a second direction with the second direction being rotated with respect to the first direction. Moving the TSS in the second direction from the engaged state to an ejected state ejects the strip. | 06-06-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120087806 | Fluid Sealing Elements and Related Methods - Methods and mechanisms for fluid sealing are provided. The disclosed mechanisms include a tool having a cavity configured to form a toroidal vortex and a fluid sealing element to induce an azimuthal variation of the toroidal vortex (a “dynamis seal”). The fluid sealing element may include a sharp change in the axial symmetry of the cavity to induce the azimuthal variation. Some exemplary shapes of the fluid sealing element may include a notch in a cavity, a step shaped cavity, or an angular cavity in the tool. Methods for manufacturing such a dynamic seal is also provided as well as methods for producing hydrocarbons with a plunger having the dynamic seals. The tool may be a plunger, a pig, an in-flow control device, or other cylindrical device traveling through a conduit or tubular member. | 04-12-2012 |
20120132437 | Plunger Lift Systems and Methods - The present invention discloses apparatuses, systems, and methods for operating a gas well. Some embodiments include a plunger apparatus configured to fall through a continuous water phase (including water slugs) in a gas producing well by overcoming pressure and drag 5 forces from the water by having a sufficient mass, hydrodynamic profile, and sufficiently large area for passage of the continuous water. In one embodiment, a plunger body and plug mechanism are provided, wherein the plug mechanism has open and closed positions, which may be automatically changed or controlled by a surface or other control system, and wherein the plunger body and plug may be a physically integrated one-piece system, or an interoperable two piece system. | 05-31-2012 |
20130153235 | Systems and Methods To inhibit Packoff Events During Downhole Assembly Motion Within A Wellbore - Systems and methods to inhibit packoff events during downhole assembly motion within a wellbore comprise a downhole assembly that includes an energy-storing structure that defines a charged state and a discharged state and is configured to generate a motive force upon transitioning from the charged state to the discharged state. A fluidizing stream is generated with the motive force from the energy-storing structure which emits the fluidizing stream from the downhole assembly to fluidize a portion of a cuttings bed that may be within the wellbore and proximal to the downhole assembly. | 06-20-2013 |
20130153296 | Systems and Methods to Inhibit Packoff Formation During Drilling Assembly Removal from a Wellbore - Systems and methods to inhibit packoff during drilling assembly removal from a wellbore, utilizing a drilling assembly that includes a transition region between a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section having a second cross-sectional area, wherein the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area. The transition region includes a fluidizing assembly configured to partially fluidize a portion of the cuttings bed that is proximal to the transition region, and/or be in fluid communication with a flow control assembly configured to control flow rate of a fluidizing stream from the fluidizing assembly and to the portion of cuttings bed. | 06-20-2013 |
20150041122 | Multi-Phase Flow Meter and Methods for Use Thereof - The present disclosure relates to a flow meter for measuring multi-phase flow and method of use. The flow meter comprises an impeller assembly having a one or more blades in an asymmetric blade configuration and one or more sensors to measure partial rotations of the blades. With this local velocity information, the operation of a system may be enhanced. | 02-12-2015 |