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Double opposite-end tubesheet design for a thermovoltaic energy converter

Description: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the direct conversion of energy by thermovoltaic energy conversion having first and second tubesheets, at least one photon emitter plate secured to and extending from the first tubesheet, at least one cold plate secured to and extending from the second tubesheet, a plurality of thermovoltaic cells disposed along oppositely disposed exterior surfaces of the cold plate, and means cooperating with the tubesheet for maintaining a vacuum between the photon em… more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Ashcroft, John M.; Campbell, Brain C. & DePoy, David M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Direct detection of x-rays for protein crystallography

Description: An apparatus and method for directly determining the crystalline structure of a protein crystal. The crystal is irradiated by a finely collimated x-ray beam. The interaction o f the x-ray beam with the crystal produces scattered x-rays. These scattered x-rays are detected by means of a large area, thick CCD which is capable of measuring a significant number of scattered x-rays which impact its surface. The CCD is capable of detecting the position of impact of the scattered x-ray on the surface … more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Atac, Muzaffer & McKay, Timothy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

A thermovoltaic semiconductor device including a plasma filter

Description: A thermovoltaic energy conversion device and related method for converting thermal energy into an electrical potential are disclosed. An interference filter is provided on a semiconductor thermovoltaic cell to pre-filter black body radiation. The semiconductor thermovoltaic cell includes a P/N junction supported on a substrate which converts incident thermal energy below the semiconductor junction band gap into electrical potential. The semiconductor substrate is doped to provide a plasma filte… more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Baldasaro, Paul F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Nonrotating, self-centering anchor assembly for anchoring a bolt in a borehole

Description: An expandable anchor assembly is provided for anchoring the threaded end portion of an elongated roof bolt in a borehole. The anchoring assembly includes a hollow outer sleeve in the form of a plurality of symmetrically arranged, longitudinal segmented wall portions with exterior gripping teeth and an inner expander sleeve in the form of a corresponding plurality of longitudinal wall portions symmetrically arranged about a central axis to define an inner threaded cylindrical section. The inner … more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Bevan, John E. & King, Grant W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Oxide strengthened molybdenum-rhenium alloy

Description: Provided is a method of making an ODS molybdenum-rhenium alloy which includes the steps of: (1) forming a slurry containing molybdenum oxide and a metal salt dispersed in an aqueous medium, the metal salt being selected from nitrates or acetates of lanthanum, cerium or thorium; (2) heating the slurry in the presence of hydrogen to form a molybdenum powder comprising molybdenum and an oxide of the metal salt; (3) mixing rhenium powder with the molybdenum powder to form a molybdenum-rhenium powde… more
Date: December 1, 1998
Creator: Bianco, Robert & Buckman, William R. Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Method for producing low-cost, high volume hydrogen from hydrocarbon sources

Description: A method is described for the conversion of naturally-occurring or biomass-derived lower to higher hydrocarbon (C{sub x}H{sub y},where x may vary from 1--3 and y may vary from 4--8) to low-cost, high-volume hydrogen. In one embodiment, methane, the major component of natural gas, is reacted in a single reaction zone of a mixed-conducting ceramic membrane reactor to form hydrogen via simultaneous partial oxidation and water gas shift reactions at temperatures required for thermal excitations of … more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Bose, Arun C.; Balachandran, Uthamalinga; Kleerfisch, Mark S.; Udovich, Carl A. & Stiegel, Gary J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

A method for separating water soluble organics from a process stream by aqueous biphasic extraction

Description: The present invention relates to a method for separating water-miscible organic species from a process stream by aqueous biphasic extraction. In particular, the method includes extracting the organic species into a polymer-rich phase of an aqueous biphase system in which the process stream comprises the salt-rich phase, and, next, separating the polymer from the extracted organic species by contacting the loaded, polymer-rich phase with a water-immiscible organic phase. Alternatively, the polym… more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Chaiko, David J. & Mego, William A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Strain gauge installation tool

Description: A tool and a method for attaching a strain gauge to a test specimen by maintaining alignment of, and applying pressure to, the strain gauge during the bonding of the gauge to the specimen. The tool comprises rigid and compliant pads attached to a spring-loaded clamp. The pads are shaped to conform to the specimen surface to which the gauge is to be bonded. The shape of the pads permits the tool to align itself to the specimen and to maintain alignment of the gauge to the specimen during the bon… more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Conard, Lisa Marie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Electronuclear ion fusion in an ion cyclotron resonance reactor

Description: A method and apparatus for generating nuclear fusion by ion cyclotron resonance in an ion trap reactor. The reactor includes a cylindrical housing having an axial axis, an internal surface, and first and second ends. First and second end plates that are charged are respectively located at the first and second ends of the cylindrical housing. A gas layer is adsorbed on the internal surface of the cylindrical housing. Ions are desorbed from the gas layer, forming a plasma layer adjacent to the cy… more
Date: December 1, 1996
Creator: Cowgill, Donald F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Fuel element design for the enhanced destruction of plutonium in a nuclear reactor

Description: A uranium-free fuel for a fast nuclear reactor comprising an alloy of Pu, Zr and Hf, wherein Hf is present in an amount less than about 10% by weight of the alloy. The fuel may be in the form of a Pu alloy surrounded by a Zr-Hf alloy or an alloy of Pu-Zr-Hf or a combination of both.
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Crawford, Douglas C.; Porter, Douglas L.; Hayes, Steven L. & Hill, Robert N.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Performance evaluation soil samples utilizing encapsulation technology

Description: Performance evaluation soil samples and method of their preparation are described using encapsulation technology to encapsulate analytes which are introduced into a soil matrix for analysis and evaluation by analytical laboratories. Target analytes are mixed in an appropriate solvent at predetermined concentrations. The mixture is emulsified in a solution of polymeric film forming material. The emulsified solution is polymerized to form microcapsules. The microcapsules are recovered, quantitate… more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Dahlgran, James R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Depleted uranium as a backfill for nuclear fuel waste package

Description: A method is described for packaging spent nuclear fuel for long-term disposal in a geological repository. At least one spent nuclear fuel assembly is first placed in an unsealed waste package and a depleted uranium fill material is added to the waste package. The depleted uranium fill material comprises flowable particles having a size sufficient to substantially fill any voids in and around the assembly and contains isotonically-depleted uranium in the +4 valence state in an amount sufficient … more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Forsberg, Charles W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Recovery of fissile materials from nuclear wastes

Description: A process is described for recovering fissile materials such as uranium, and plutonium, and rare earth elements, from complex waste feed material, and converting the remaining wastes into a waste glass suitable for storage or disposal. The waste feed is mixed with a dissolution glass formed of lead oxide and boron oxide resulting in oxidation, dehalogenation, and dissolution of metal oxides. Carbon is added to remove lead oxide, and a boron oxide fusion melt is produced. The fusion melt is esse… more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Forsberg, Charles W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Porous desulfurization sorbent pellets containing a reactive metal oxide and an inert zirconium compound

Description: Sorbent pellets for removing hydrogen sulfide from coal gas are prepared by combining a reactive oxide, in particular zinc oxide, with a zirconium compound such as an oxide, silicate, or aluminate of zirconium, and an inorganic binder and pelletizing and calcining the mixture. Alternately, the zinc oxide may be replaced by copper oxide or a combination of copper, molybdenum, and manganese oxides. The pellet components may be mixed in dry form, moistened to produce a paste, and converted to pell… more
Date: December 1, 1996
Creator: Gardner, Todd H. & Gasper-Galvin, Lee D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

VO{sub 2} precipitates for self-protected optical surfaces

Description: A method for forming crystallographically coherent precipitates of vanadium dioxide in the near-surface region of sapphire and the resulting product is disclosed. Ions of vanadium and oxygen are stoichiometrically implanted into a sapphire substrate (Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}), and subsequently annealed to form vanadium dioxide precipitates in the substrate. The embedded VO{sub 2} precipitates, which are three-dimensionally oriented with respect to the crystal axes of the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} host lattice… more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Gea, Laurence A. & Boatner, Lynn A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Multi-stage fuel cell system method and apparatus

Description: A high efficiency, multi-stage fuel cell system method and apparatus is provided. The fuel cell system is comprised of multiple fuel cell stages, whereby the temperatures of the fuel and oxidant gas streams and the percentage of fuel consumed in each stage are controlled to optimize fuel cell system efficiency. The stages are connected in a serial, flow-through arrangement such that the oxidant gas and fuel gas flowing through an upstream stage is conducted directly into the next adjacent downs… more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: George, Thomas J. & Smith, William C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

One-way implodable tag capsule with hemispherical beaded end cap for LWR fuel manufacturing

Description: A capsule is described containing a tag gas in a zircaloy body portion having a hemispherical top curved toward the bottom of the body portion. The hemispherical top has a rupturable portion upon exposure to elevated gas pressure and the capsule is positioned within a fuel element in a nuclear reactor.
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Gross, Kenny & Lambert, John
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

In-situ stabilization of radioactive zirconium swarf

Description: The method for treating ignitable cutting swarf in accordance with the present invention involves collecting cutting swarf in a casting mold underwater and injecting a binder mixture comprising vinyl ester styrene into the vessel to fill void volume; and form a mixture comprising swarf and vinyl ester styrene; and curing the mixture. The method is especially useful for stabilizing the ignitable characteristics of radioactive zirconium cutting swarf, and can be used to solidify zirconium swarf, … more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Hess, Clay C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Nuclear fuel elements made from nanophase materials

Description: A nuclear reactor core fuel element is composed of nanophase high temperature materials. An array of the fuel elements in rod form are joined in an open geometry fuel cell that preferably also uses such nanophase materials for the cell structures. The particular high temperature nanophase fuel element material must have the appropriate mechanical characteristics to avoid strain-related failure even at high temperatures, in the order of about 3,000 F. Preferably, the reactor type is a pressurize… more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Heubeck, Norman B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Inherently safe helium-3 target canister for tritium production in fission systems

Description: A method and apparatus are described for creating tritium via the irradiation of {sup 3}He with thermal neutrons via the {sup 3}He(n,p)T reaction. Nuclear reactors can provide the required neutrons, but the safety of putting {sup 3}He in a reactor has been an issue. The invention reduces or eliminates the reactivity insertion which would be occasioned by a loss of {sup 3}He by providing a canister constructed partially of high neutron-absorbing materials, which will continue to absorb thermal n… more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Houts, Michael G. & James, Brian J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Method for removing heavy metal and nitrogen oxides from flue gas, device for removing heavy metal and nitrogen oxides from flue gas

Description: A method for the simultaneous removal of oxides and heavy metals from a fluid is provided comprising combining the fluid with compounds containing alkali and sulfur to create a mixture; spray drying the mixture to create a vapor phase and a solid phase; and isolating the vapor phase from the solid phase. A device is also provided comprising a means for spray-drying flue gas with alkali-sulfide containing liquor at a temperature sufficient to cause the flue gas to react with the compounds so as … more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Huang, Hann-Sheng & Livengood, Charles David
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

TRIAC/SCR proportional control circuit

Description: A power controller device which uses a voltage-to-frequency converter in conjunction with a zero crossing detector to linearly and proportionally control AC power being supplied to a load. The output of the voltage to frequency converter controls the reset input of a R-S flip flop, while an 0 crossing detector controls the set input. The output of the flip flop triggers a monostable multivibrator controlling the SCR or TRIAC firing circuit connected to the load. Logic gates prevent the direct t… more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Hughes, Wallace J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

A method and apparatus for destroying hazardous organics and other combustible materials in a subcritical/supercritical reactor

Description: A waste destruction method is described using a reactor vessel to combust and destroy organic and combustible waste, including the steps of introducing a supply of waste into the reactor vessel, introducing a supply of an oxidant into the reactor vessel to mix with the waste forming a waste and oxidant mixture, introducing a supply of water into the reactor vessel to mix with the waste and oxidant mixture forming a waste, water and oxidant mixture, reciprocatingly compressing the waste, water a… more
Date: December 1, 1997
Creator: Janikowski, Stuart K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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