University of Tulsa

Continuum Environmental, LLC

Michael W Keller

Roger K Noble

Lawrence M Conaway

Matthew Crall

Samuel G Laney

David Caffey

Brynn Arraina Jellison

Ibrahim A Alnaser

A device, system and method for detecting flaws in a magnetic material includes a wheeled scanner having two detectors and arranged for travel over a flat surface. The first detector is a horizontal magnet-sensor arrangement that generates a magnetic field in a direction generally parallel to a central horizontal axis of the scanner. The second is a vertical magnet-sensor arrangement that generates a magnetic field in a direction generally perpendicular to the central horizontal axis of the scanner. A set of computer executable instructions uses data collected by the first detector to detect a flaw in the magnetic material and data collected at a same time by the second detector to determine a location of the detected flaw relative to a top and bottom surface of the magnetic material.

Velocity independent two-component magnetic flux leakage detective system

A method of making a fiber reinforced composite material having a two-part liquid solution forming magnetic nanoparticles. The method includes the steps of preparing a fiber reinforced composite having dispersed fibers and a polymer matrix and having a plurality of vascular channels therethrough. A first liquid solution is incorporated in at least one of the vascular channels and a second liquid solution is incorporated in at least one other of the vascular channels. When the liquid solutions are joined together because of damage or cracking to the composite, the liquids form a ferrous magnetic material. Non-destructive evaluation of internal damage to the fiber reinforced composite material may be accomplished by magnetic field disturbance detection, thermal detection, or visual detection.

Non-destructive evaluation of internal damage in fiber reinforced composite materials by delivery of a two-part magnetic nanoparticle chemistry

A process to detect damage to a bonded composite repair of metal equipment. The process includes the steps of monitoring electrical resistance in a direct current impressed current cathodic protection circuit having a power supply and an anode in electrical communication with metal equipment having a bonded composite repair thereto. Deterioration of the bonded composite repair is detected based on a change in the electrical resistance of the circuit.

Damage sensing of a bonded composite repair

A process of making magnetic microcapsules and a process of making polymeric material having self-healing properties. The process of making polymeric material having self-healing properties includes the steps of mixing microcapsules containing magnetic nanoparticles in a liquid polymer before curing, and guiding the microcapsules in the liquid polymer before curing by magnetic forces to a desired location or locations. Finally, the liquid polymer with the microcapsules is cured to a solid polymeric material.

Self-healing polymeric material synthesized by guiding magnetic microcapsules

A method for separating oil from geological formations by application of an aqueous oxidant. The oxidant breaks the interfacial attraction between the oil phase and the geological formation and also produces ketone moieties which assist in separating the oil phase from the mineral phase and also dissolve into the oil phase, thereby decreasing the viscosity. The method is especially useful in recovering heavy oil from geological formations wherein oil has been previously extracted to exhaustion by prior art methods.

Method of separating oil from geological formations

Method and apparatus for treating a mixture of mineral substrate particles and hydrocarbon compounds, especially tar sands and contaminated soils, to recover a hydrocarbon portion and a cleaned substrate portion. In a preferably continuous process, hydrocarbonaceous rock, sand, ore, or soil containing bitumen, petroleum, and/or kerogen is crushed or otherwise comminuted as needed to the particle size of sand or smaller. The comminuted ore is mixed with water to form a slurry, is heated to between 60&deg; C. and 100&deg; C., and is blended with an oxidant in aqueous solution, preferably hydrogen peroxide. Both free interstitial hydrocarbons and those hydrocarbons bound electrostatically to the surfaces of clay-like particles in the ore are released from the mineral substrate.

Growing community of inventors

Tulsa, OK, United States of America

Michael W Keller