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The United States of America As Represented by the United States

Barton L Houseman

Guy R Elliott

Wilmer L Sibbitt, Jr

Milton W McDaniel

Charles E Holley

A gaseous sample that is to be analyzed is passed through an array of fine slits whose edges are covered with electrodes of opposite polarities to which is applied a variable electric potential. The voltage between the electrodes is varied at a programmed rate, so that the gaseous molecules become selectively ionized according to their required ionization energies. Measurement of the ionization current as a function of the voltage between the electrodes yields information about the identities and concentrations of the molecular species that are present in the gas. This selective ionization at atmospheric pressure improves the selectivity and dynamic range of ion mobility spectrometers and is also applicable to mass spectrometry and to improved analyte detection in gas chromatography.

Selective ionization apparatus and methods

A method is provided for substantially self-powering turbines by expanding compressed gases released downhole or in adjacent formations. These gases do work in the turbines as the gases expand toward atmospheric pressure at the earth's surface. The method offers alternative and supplemental approaches to recovering hydrocarbon gases, water vapor, carbon dioxide, other gases, and petroleum from watered out wells and from deep or hot wells.

Substantially self-powered fluid turbines

Electrochemical heat engines produce electrochemical work, and mechanical motion is limited to valve and switching actions as the heat-to-work cycles are performed. The electrochemical cells of said heat engines use molten or solid electrolytes at high temperatures. One or more reactions in the cycle will generate a gas at high temperature which can be condensed at a lower temperature with later return of the condensate to electrochemical cells. Sodium, potassium, and cesium are used as the working gases for high temperature cells (above 600 K) with halogen gases or volatile halides being used at lower temperature. Carbonates and halides are used as molten electrolytes and the solid electrolyte in these melts can also be used as a cell separator.

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Cockeysville, MD, United States of America

Barton L Houseman