Other

Trustees of the Colorado School of Mines

Sandia Corporation

Robert J Kee

Scott A Barnett

Robert J Braun

Christopher Francis Edwards

Ellen Meeks

Kevin F McCarty

Andrew E Lutz

Aili Ting

Kevin McCarty

Olaf Deutschmann

Canan Karakaya

Huayang Zhu

Electrode plates with feed and product channels are provided that present more spatially uniform chemical and electrochemical compositions to catalytically active electrode structures and ion-conducting electrolyte membrane layers to improve the performance and increase the longevity of the electrochemical devices (e.g., membrane reactors, gas-separation cells, electrochemical compressors, fuel cells, and electrolyzers). Each plate can have a single channel that extends between an inlet and an outlet, and each channel can have a first segment that spirals inwardly from the inlet to a midpoint and a second segment that spirals outwardly from the midpoint to the outlet. The segments are interleaved with each other such that there are alternating flows of less-depleted feed or product and more-depleted feed or product. Consequently, chemical, electrochemical, and thermal behaviors are more uniformly distributed across the membrane-electrode assembly to increase performance and longevity of the assembly.

Dual-spiral channel flow in electrochemical devices

Bifunctional catalyst compositions, methods, and systems are provided for the use of COas a soft oxidizing agent to effectively convert low-value small alkanes to high-value small olefins. The bifunctional catalyst comprises a metal oxide catalyst and a redox-active ceramic support.

Bifunctional catalysts and systems and methods for oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes to olefins and high-valued products

The present invention relates to a reversible solid oxide electrochemical cell that may operate in two modes: a discharge mode (power generation) and a charge mode (electrolytic fuel production). A thermal system that utilizes a SOFB and is inclusive of selection of operating conditions that may enable roundtrip efficiencies exceeding about 80% to be realized is disclosed. Based on leverage of existing solid oxide fuel cell technology, the system concept is applicable to energy storage applications on the kW to MW scale.

High efficiency, reversible flow battery system for energy storage

The present invention employs a constrained stagnation flow geometry apparatus to achieve the uniform deposition of materials or heat. The present invention maximizes uniform fluxes of reactant gases to flat surfaces while minimizing the use of reagents and finite dimension edge effects. This results, among other things, in large area continuous films that are uniform in thickness, composition and structure which is important in chemical vapor deposition processes such as would be used for the fabrication of semiconductors.

Sealable stagnation flow geometries for the uniform deposition of materials and heat

Two solutions to the problem of cooling a high temperature, high heat flux surface using controlled spray cooling are presented for use on a mandrel. In the first embodiment, spray cooling is used to provide a varying isothermal boundary layer on the side portions of a mandrel by providing that the spray can be moved axially along the mandrel. In the second embodiment, a spray of coolant is directed to the lower temperature surface of the mandrel. By taking advantage of super-Leidenfrost cooling, the temperature of the high temperature surface of the mandrel can be controlled by varying the mass flux rate of coolant droplets. The invention has particular applicability to the field of diamond synthesis using chemical vapor deposition techniques.

Method and apparatus for heat extraction by controlled spray cooling

A method and apparatus for predicting the spectral (wavelength-dependent) radiation transport in thermal systems including interaction by the radiation with partially transmitting medium. The predicted model of the thermal system is used to design and control the thermal system. The predictions are well suited to be implemented in design and control of rapid thermal processing (RTP) reactors. The method involves generating a spectral thermal radiation transport model of an RTP reactor. The method also involves specifying a desired wafer time dependent temperature profile. The method further involves calculating an inverse of the generated model using the desired wafer time dependent temperature to determine heating element parameters required to produce the desired profile. The method also involves controlling the heating elements of the RTP reactor in accordance with the heating element parameters to heat the wafer in accordance with the desired profile.

Growing community of inventors

Golden, CO, United States of America

Robert J Kee