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Lyten
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Publications
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Opportunities and challenges of low-carbon hydrogen via metallic membranes
Progress in Energy and Combustion Science
See publicationToday, electricity & heat generation, transportation, and industrial sectors together produce more than 80% of energy-related CO2 emissions. Hydrogen may be used as an energy carrier and an alternative fuel in the industrial, residential, and transportation sectors for either heating, energy production from fuel cells, or direct fueling of vehicles. In particular, the use of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) has the potential to virtually eliminate CO2 emissions from tailpipes and…
Today, electricity & heat generation, transportation, and industrial sectors together produce more than 80% of energy-related CO2 emissions. Hydrogen may be used as an energy carrier and an alternative fuel in the industrial, residential, and transportation sectors for either heating, energy production from fuel cells, or direct fueling of vehicles. In particular, the use of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) has the potential to virtually eliminate CO2 emissions from tailpipes and considerably reduce overall emissions from the transportation sector. Although steam methane reforming (SMR) is the dominant industrial process for hydrogen production, environmental concerns associated with CO2 emissions along with the process intensification and energy optimization are areas that still require improvement. Metallic membrane reactors (MRs) have the potential to address both challenges. MRs operate at significantly lower pressures and temperatures compared with the conventional reactors. Hence, the capital and operating expenses could be considerably lower compared with the conventional reactors. Moreover, metallic membranes, specifically Pd and its alloys, inherently allow for only hydrogen permeation, making it possible to produce a stream of up to 99.999+% purity.
This review provides a critical overview of the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of the MRs to produce high-purity hydrogen with low carbon emissions. Moreover, a technoeconomic review of the potential methods for hydrogen production is provided and the drawbacks and advantages of each method are presented and discussed. -
Hydrogen production via natural gas steam reforming in a Pd-Au membrane reactor. Comparison between methane and natural gas steam reforming reactions
Journal of Membrane Science
See publicationHigh-purity hydrogen to be fed directly to a PEMFC was produced by carrying out natural gas steam reforming under moderate operating conditions in a Pd-Au composite membrane reactor packed with a commercial Ni-based catalyst. The Pd-Au composite membrane with a thickness of approximately 12 µm was fabricated by using both electroless and electroplating techniques to deposit Pd and Au layers, respectively, over a porous stainless-steel support. After annealing, the membrane showed a hydrogen…
High-purity hydrogen to be fed directly to a PEMFC was produced by carrying out natural gas steam reforming under moderate operating conditions in a Pd-Au composite membrane reactor packed with a commercial Ni-based catalyst. The Pd-Au composite membrane with a thickness of approximately 12 µm was fabricated by using both electroless and electroplating techniques to deposit Pd and Au layers, respectively, over a porous stainless-steel support. After annealing, the membrane showed a hydrogen permeance of 1.30 × 10−3 mol/s-m2-Pa0.5 at 450 °C, and near-infinite ideal selectivity of H2/Ar at pressures lower than 300 kPa and at temperatures lower than 400 °C. The natural gas reforming reaction was performed at 450 °C with a steam-to-methane ratio of 3.5 and gas hourly space velocity of 2600 h−1 at different operating pressures varying from 100 kPa to 300 kPa. As a comparison, the steam methane reforming reaction was also carried out at the same operating conditions.
The natural gas reforming reaction showed better performance than the steam methane reforming reaction and reached > 80% conversion of the higher hydrocarbons and almost 65% of hydrogen recovery at 450 °C and 300 kPa. High-purity hydrogen was obtained in all the experimental tests. No coke formation was observed. Post-reaction analysis of the membrane is discussed via scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. -
Hydrogen production via natural gas steam reforming in a Pd-Au membrane reactor. Investigation of reaction temperature and GHSV effects and long-term stability
Journal of Membrane Science
See publicationA composite palladium-gold membrane reactor (MR) was packed with a Ni-based catalyst to perform natural gas steam reforming for the purpose of producing high-purity hydrogen. In a related previous study, high hydrocarbon conversion (> 80%) and hydrogen recovery (~ 65%) were reached at 450 °C and 300 kPa, with high-purity hydrogen obtained in all the experimental tests. The membrane has shown a hydrogen permeance of 1.30 × 10−3 mol/s m2 Pa0.5 at 450 °C, and near infinite H2/Ar ideal…
A composite palladium-gold membrane reactor (MR) was packed with a Ni-based catalyst to perform natural gas steam reforming for the purpose of producing high-purity hydrogen. In a related previous study, high hydrocarbon conversion (> 80%) and hydrogen recovery (~ 65%) were reached at 450 °C and 300 kPa, with high-purity hydrogen obtained in all the experimental tests. The membrane has shown a hydrogen permeance of 1.30 × 10−3 mol/s m2 Pa0.5 at 450 °C, and near infinite H2/Ar ideal selectivity at each operating temperature and a pressure of 50 kPa. In this study, the same membrane was used to investigate the influence of the reaction temperature and the gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) in order to optimize the membrane reactor performance. Specifically, the temperature and the GHSV were varied from 350 °C to 450 °C and from 1300 h−1 to 7800 h−1, respectively, while the reaction pressure and the steam-to-methane ratio were kept constant at 300 kPa and 3.5/1, respectively.
In addition, a long-term natural gas steam reforming reaction was conducted for more than 260 h at different temperatures to evaluate the stability of the membrane reactor. The best MR performances were obtained at the lowest GHSV and highest temperature with greater than 80% hydrocarbon conversions and 80% hydrogen recovery. High-purity hydrogen was obtained in all of the experimental tests and no coke formation was observed. Finally, it is demonstrated that the Pd-Au MR, which was operated for 800 h under different reaction conditions, displayed stable performance, in terms of conversion, hydrogen recovery and product selectivity, while the membrane showed stable performance for more than 1000 h with minimal degradation. -
Fabrication & performance study of a palladium on alumina supported membrane reactor: Natural gas steam reforming, a case study
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
See publicationIn this work, a synthetic mixture of natural gas is considered in a steam reforming process for generating hydrogen by using a membrane reactor housing a composite membrane constituted of a Pd-layer (13 μm) supported on alumina. The Pd/Al2O3 membrane separates part of the produced hydrogen through its selective permeation, although it shows a relatively low H2/N2 ideal selectivity (>200 at 0.5 bar of trans-membrane pressure and T = 425 °C).
The steam reforming reaction is performed at 420…In this work, a synthetic mixture of natural gas is considered in a steam reforming process for generating hydrogen by using a membrane reactor housing a composite membrane constituted of a Pd-layer (13 μm) supported on alumina. The Pd/Al2O3 membrane separates part of the produced hydrogen through its selective permeation, although it shows a relatively low H2/N2 ideal selectivity (>200 at 0.5 bar of trans-membrane pressure and T = 425 °C).
The steam reforming reaction is performed at 420 °C, by varying the gas hourly space velocity between 4400 h−1 and 6900 h−1 and by using two different mixtures containing some common impurities found within natural gas pipeline. Specifically, the effect of N2 and CO2 as impurities in the feed line is analyzed. The reaction pressure and steam-to-carbon ratio (S/C) are kept constant at 3.0 bar (abs.) and 3.5/1, respectively.
The best performance of the Pd-based membrane reactor is obtained at 420 °C, 3.0 bar and 100 mL/min of sweep-gas, yielding a methane conversion of 55% and hydrogen recovery >90%. -
Natural gas steam reforming reaction at low temperature and pressure conditions for hydrogen production via Pd/PSS membrane reactor
Journal of Membrane Science
See publicationThe objective of this work is to analyze the performance of a composite palladium-based membrane reactor (MR) by performing the natural gas steam reforming reaction at low operating conditions for producing high-purity hydrogen. The MR comprises a composite membrane, having ~13 µm Pd layer deposited on a porous stainless steel support, fabricated via electroless plating and a commercial Ni-based catalyst.
The composite membrane shows infinite ideal selectivity, H2/He and H2/Ar, at…The objective of this work is to analyze the performance of a composite palladium-based membrane reactor (MR) by performing the natural gas steam reforming reaction at low operating conditions for producing high-purity hydrogen. The MR comprises a composite membrane, having ~13 µm Pd layer deposited on a porous stainless steel support, fabricated via electroless plating and a commercial Ni-based catalyst.
The composite membrane shows infinite ideal selectivity, H2/He and H2/Ar, at trans-membrane pressures less than 100 kPa and T=400 °C at the onset of experimental testing. The steam reforming reaction is performed at 400 °C, by varying the reaction pressures and sweep gas flow rate between 150 kPa and 300 kPa, and 0–100 mL/min, respectively. The gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) and steam-to-carbon ratio (S/C) are kept constant at 2600 h−1 and 3.5.
The effect of CO2 as an impurity in the feed line is also analyzed at 400 °C and 150 kPa.
The best performance of the Pd-based MR is obtained at 400 °C, 300 kPa and 100 mL/min of sweep-gas, yielding a methane conversion of 84%, hydrogen recovery of 82%, and obtaining a pure hydrogen stream at the permeate side.
The Pd/PSS MR worked for more than 700 h under differing operating conditions. As a comparison, a conventional reactor operating at the same MR conditions is compared and discussed. -
On-Board Hydrogen Production from Natural Gas via a Metallic Pd-Based Membrane Reactor
Stanford University
See publicationThis work describes the application of palladium-based composite membrane reactors
(MRs) for performing steam methane reforming (SMR) and natural gas steam
reforming reactions to produce a high-purity hydrogen stream for CO2 capture from
the transportation sector. In particular, the effect of different operating conditions on
the performance of several MRs has been investigated. Moreover, thin pure palladium
and palladium-gold alloy membranes have been synthesized via electroless…This work describes the application of palladium-based composite membrane reactors
(MRs) for performing steam methane reforming (SMR) and natural gas steam
reforming reactions to produce a high-purity hydrogen stream for CO2 capture from
the transportation sector. In particular, the effect of different operating conditions on
the performance of several MRs has been investigated. Moreover, thin pure palladium
and palladium-gold alloy membranes have been synthesized via electroless plating and
housed in the membrane module for reaction and permeation testing.
In particular, the SMR reaction across porous stainless steel-supported Pd membranes
has been investigated with a focus on low temperature and pressure conditions to
showcase the ability of the MR to obtain high conversions even at mild conditions.
This application of the Pd-based MR resulted in
high methane conversion (84%) and hydrogen recovery (82%) with a pure hydrogen
stream obtained from the permeate side at temperatures as low as 400 °C. Stable
methane conversions and hydrogen permeation rates were obtained for > 700 reaction
hours. Using a Pd-Au composite MR, further reaction testing took place with a real
natural gas feed at 450 °C and 300 kPa. This MR operated under a SMR reaction
continuously for > 250 hours without a decrease in performance, highlighting the
long-term stability of the MR to produce pure hydrogen for long periods of time. More
specifically, the conversion of higher hydrocarbons, e.g., propane, ethane, and butane,
within the reactor were > 85% throughout the experimental tests.
Using a membrane module, hydrogen permeation decreased when exposed to H2S. This decrease in hydrogen flux was temporary and complete recovery was realized with 200 ppm and 40 ppm H2S exposure tests showing no long-term effects on the membrane. These results allow for an alternative use of pure Pd membranes, which are irreversibly poisoned by H2S. -
Supported Pd-Au Membrane Reactor for Hydrogen Production: Membrane Preparation, Characterization and Testing
Molecules
See publicationA supported Pd-Au (Au 7wt%) membrane was produced by electroless plating deposition. Permeation tests were performed with pure gas (H2, H2, N2, CO2, CH4) for long time operation. After around 400 h under testing, the composite Pd-Au membrane achieved steady state condition, with an H2/N2 ideal selectivity of around 500 at 420 °C and 50 kPa as transmembrane pressure, remaining stable up to 1100 h under operation. Afterwards, the membrane was allocated in a membrane reactor module for methane…
A supported Pd-Au (Au 7wt%) membrane was produced by electroless plating deposition. Permeation tests were performed with pure gas (H2, H2, N2, CO2, CH4) for long time operation. After around 400 h under testing, the composite Pd-Au membrane achieved steady state condition, with an H2/N2 ideal selectivity of around 500 at 420 °C and 50 kPa as transmembrane pressure, remaining stable up to 1100 h under operation. Afterwards, the membrane was allocated in a membrane reactor module for methane steam reforming reaction tests. As a preliminary application, at 420 °C, 300 kPa of reaction pressure, space velocity of 4100 h−1, 40% methane conversion and 35% hydrogen recovery were reached using a commercial Ni/Al2O3 catalyst. Unfortunately, a severe coke deposition affected irreversibly the composite membrane, determining the loss of the hydrogen permeation characteristics of the supported Pd-Au membrane.
Patents
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Composite material including three-dimensional (3D) graphene
Issued US12006388B2
See patentA composite material is provided. In some aspects, the composite material may include a combination of a thermoplastic resin mixed with a polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA). Carbon particles may be mixed in the combination. In this way, the composite material may include between 80 wt. % and 90 wt. % of the thermoplastic resin, between 0.5 wt. % and 15 wt. % of PPgMA, and between 0.1 wt. % to 7 wt. % of carbon particles. Carbon particles may have exposed carbon surfaces with carbon…
A composite material is provided. In some aspects, the composite material may include a combination of a thermoplastic resin mixed with a polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA). Carbon particles may be mixed in the combination. In this way, the composite material may include between 80 wt. % and 90 wt. % of the thermoplastic resin, between 0.5 wt. % and 15 wt. % of PPgMA, and between 0.1 wt. % to 7 wt. % of carbon particles. Carbon particles may have exposed carbon surfaces with carbon atoms bonded to molecular sites on adjacent PPgMA molecules. At least some carbon atoms may be oxidized with one or more of oxygen-containing groups. Oxidation of carbon atoms may be associated with an increase in at least some PPgMA molecules chemically bonding with adjacent carbon atoms per unit volume. In this way, interaction between carbon atoms and PPgMA molecules may maintain composite material density within +/−3% of thermoplastic resin density.
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Polymer matrix composites, and methods of making the same
Issued US20230287197A1
See patentCarbon composites, including carbon fibers, are disclosed and exhibit unique, advantageous mechanical properties, including inter laminar shear strength, compression strength, and resistance to forces applied at angles deviating from parallel to the longitudinal axis of the overall fiber. These improvements allow use of less material while conveying improved strength in myriad practical applications, reducing overall financial cost of fabrication, distribution, and practical utilization of…
Carbon composites, including carbon fibers, are disclosed and exhibit unique, advantageous mechanical properties, including inter laminar shear strength, compression strength, and resistance to forces applied at angles deviating from parallel to the longitudinal axis of the overall fiber. These improvements allow use of less material while conveying improved strength in myriad practical applications, reducing overall financial cost of fabrication, distribution, and practical utilization of resulting products. These advantages are optimized via utilizing inventive fabrication techniques that incorporate carbon filaments into carbon fibers, preferably incorporating carbon filaments including three-dimensional (3D) graphene platelets into said fibers. The filaments mechanically reinforce both individual fibers, as well as compositions including multiple fibers strung together in a single cord, by “crosslinking” the individual fibers with 3D graphene ligands. The combined result of these inventive efforts includes materials exhibiting superior mechanical strength and reduced mass relative to conventional carbon fibers.
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Container formed of a composite material including three-dimensional (3D) graphene
Issued US11674031B1
See patentA container may be formed from a composite material including a combination of thermoplastic resin and polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA) mixed with one another, a plurality of carbon particles mixed in the combination, and a plurality of pores formed in at least some of the mixed carbon particles. In some instances, the carbon particles may include a first region having a relatively low concentration of carbon particles, and a second region having a relatively high concentration of…
A container may be formed from a composite material including a combination of thermoplastic resin and polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA) mixed with one another, a plurality of carbon particles mixed in the combination, and a plurality of pores formed in at least some of the mixed carbon particles. In some instances, the carbon particles may include a first region having a relatively low concentration of carbon particles, and a second region having a relatively high concentration of carbon particles. In various implementations, the plurality of pores may be formed in at least some of the mixed carbon particles, the thermoplastic resin, and the PPgMA. In some aspects, at least some of the pores may be configured to be infiltrated by the PPgMA.
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Structured composite materials
Issued US11462728B2
See patentA method of producing a structured composite material is described. A porous media is provided, an electrically conductive material is deposited on surfaces or within pores of the plurality of porous media particles, and an active material is deposited on the surfaces or within the pores of the plurality of porous media particles coated with the electrically conductive material to coalesce the plurality of porous media particles together and form the structured composite material.
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Spherical carbon allotropes for lubricants
Issued US11380521B2
See patentCarbon materials having carbon aggregates, where the aggregates include carbon nanoparticles and no seed particles, are disclosed. In various embodiments, the nanoparticles include graphene, optionally with multi-walled spherical fullerenes and/or another carbon allotrope. In various embodiments, the nanoparticles and aggregates have different combinations of: a Raman spectrum with a 2D-mode peak and a G-mode peak, and a 2D/G intensity ratio greater than 0.5, a low concentration of elemental…
Carbon materials having carbon aggregates, where the aggregates include carbon nanoparticles and no seed particles, are disclosed. In various embodiments, the nanoparticles include graphene, optionally with multi-walled spherical fullerenes and/or another carbon allotrope. In various embodiments, the nanoparticles and aggregates have different combinations of: a Raman spectrum with a 2D-mode peak and a G-mode peak, and a 2D/G intensity ratio greater than 0.5, a low concentration of elemental impurities, a high Brunauer-Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area, a large particle size, and/or a high electrical conductivity. Methods are provided to produce the carbon materials.
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Reactor system coupled to an energy emitter control circuit
Issued WO2022055609A2
See patentA microwave energy source that generates a microwave energy is disclosed. The microwave energy source has an on-state and an off-state. A control circuit is coupled to the microwave energy source and includes an output to generate a control signal that adjusts a pulse frequency of the microwave energy. A voltage generator applies a non-zero voltage to the microwave energy source during the off-state. A frequency and a duty cycle of the non-zero voltage is based on a frequency and a duty cycle…
A microwave energy source that generates a microwave energy is disclosed. The microwave energy source has an on-state and an off-state. A control circuit is coupled to the microwave energy source and includes an output to generate a control signal that adjusts a pulse frequency of the microwave energy. A voltage generator applies a non-zero voltage to the microwave energy source during the off-state. A frequency and a duty cycle of the non-zero voltage is based on a frequency and a duty cycle of the control signal. A waveguide is coupled to the microwave energy source. The waveguide has a supply gas inlet that receives a supply gas, a reaction zone that generates a plasma, a process inlet that injects a raw material into the reaction zone, and an outlet that outputs a powder based on a mixture of the supply gas and the raw material within the plasma.
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Expansion-tolerant three-dimensional (3d) carbon-based structures incorporated into lithium sulfur (li s) battery electrodes
Issued US20210057751A1
See patentThis disclosure provides an electrode having a carbon-based structure with a plurality of localized reaction sites. An open porous scaffold is defined by the carbon-based structure and can confine an active material in the localized reaction sites. A plurality of engineered failure points is formed throughout the carbon-based structure and can expand in a presence of volumetric expansion associated with polysulfide shuttle. The open porous scaffold can inhibit a formation of interconnecting…
This disclosure provides an electrode having a carbon-based structure with a plurality of localized reaction sites. An open porous scaffold is defined by the carbon-based structure and can confine an active material in the localized reaction sites. A plurality of engineered failure points is formed throughout the carbon-based structure and can expand in a presence of volumetric expansion associated with polysulfide shuttle. The open porous scaffold can inhibit a formation of interconnecting solid networks of the active material between the localized reaction sites. The plurality of engineered failure points can relax or collapse during an initial activation of the electrode. The open porous scaffold can define a hierarchical porous compliant cellular architecture formed of a plurality of interconnected graphene platelets fused together at substantially orthogonal angles. The hierarchical porous compliant cellular architecture can be expansion-tolerant and can expand in a presence of Li ion insertion or de-insertion.
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Tuning deformation hysteresis in tires using graphene
Issued US10920035B2
See patentMethods include determining a desired hysteretic curve that corresponds to a set of dynamic mechanical analysis parameters, where the desired hysteretic curve comprises elastic portions and plastic portions, and the elastic and plastic portions comprise specific desired shapes. A first tuned carbon is selected, the first tuned carbon facilitating achievement of a desired shape of a particular elastic portion of the hysteretic curve. One or more selected post-treatments is performed on the first…
Methods include determining a desired hysteretic curve that corresponds to a set of dynamic mechanical analysis parameters, where the desired hysteretic curve comprises elastic portions and plastic portions, and the elastic and plastic portions comprise specific desired shapes. A first tuned carbon is selected, the first tuned carbon facilitating achievement of a desired shape of a particular elastic portion of the hysteretic curve. One or more selected post-treatments is performed on the first tuned carbon to form a first post-treatment carbon, the selected post-treatment facilitating achievement of a desired shape of a particular plastic portion of the hysteretic curve. The methods also include combining the first post-treatment carbon with other materials that are used in components of the tire and curing the combination comprising the first post-treatment carbon and the other materials. Carbon and elastomer compounds are also disclosed.
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Tuned radio frequency (rf) resonant materials and material configurations
Issued WO2020198451A1
See patentThis disclosure provides a tire formed of a body having multiple plies and a tread that surrounds the body. In some implementations, the plies and/or the tread include a resonator that generates a resonant signal in response to being activated by locally generated power or by an externally generated excitation signal. Multiple resonators formed of carbon-containing materials are distributed in the plies and/or tread to respond to changes to the tire by altering a characteristic of the resonant…
This disclosure provides a tire formed of a body having multiple plies and a tread that surrounds the body. In some implementations, the plies and/or the tread include a resonator that generates a resonant signal in response to being activated by locally generated power or by an externally generated excitation signal. Multiple resonators formed of carbon-containing materials are distributed in the plies and/or tread to respond to changes to the tire by altering a characteristic of the resonant signal. Such alterations include frequency shifting of the resonant signal and/or attenuation of the resonant signal. The resonator can be configured to resonate at a first frequency when a structural characteristic of a respective ply or tread is greater than a level, and to resonate at a second frequency different than the first frequency when the structural characteristic of the respective ply or tread is not greater than the level.
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Microwave reactor system with gas-solids separation
Issued US10781103B2
See patentMicrowave chemical processing system having a microwave plasma reactor, and a multi-stage gas-solid separation system are disclosed. The microwave energy source has a waveguide, a reaction zone, and an inlet configured to receive the input material, and the input material is converted into separated components. The separated components include hydrogen gas and carbon particles. The multi-stage gas-solid separation system has a first cyclone separator to filter the carbon particles from the…
Microwave chemical processing system having a microwave plasma reactor, and a multi-stage gas-solid separation system are disclosed. The microwave energy source has a waveguide, a reaction zone, and an inlet configured to receive the input material, and the input material is converted into separated components. The separated components include hydrogen gas and carbon particles. The multi-stage gas-solid separation system has a first cyclone separator to filter the carbon particles from the separated components, and a back-pulse filter system coupled to the output of the first cycle separator to filter the carbon particles from the output from the first cyclone separator.
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Lithium ion battery and battery materials
Issued US20190341650A9
See patentIn some embodiments, a lithium ion battery includes a first substrate, a cathode, a second substrate, an anode, and an electrolyte. The cathode is arranged on the first substrate and can contain a cathode mixture including LixSy, wherein x is from 0 to 2 and y is from 1 to 8, and a first particulate carbon. The anode is arranged on the second substrate and can contain an anode mixture containing silicon particles, and a second particulate carbon. The electrolyte can contain a solvent and a…
In some embodiments, a lithium ion battery includes a first substrate, a cathode, a second substrate, an anode, and an electrolyte. The cathode is arranged on the first substrate and can contain a cathode mixture including LixSy, wherein x is from 0 to 2 and y is from 1 to 8, and a first particulate carbon. The anode is arranged on the second substrate and can contain an anode mixture containing silicon particles, and a second particulate carbon. The electrolyte can contain a solvent and a lithium salt, and is arranged between the cathode and the anode. In some embodiments, the first particulate carbon or the second particulate carbon contains carbon aggregates comprising a plurality of carbon nanoparticles, each carbon nanoparticle comprising graphene.
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Seedless particles with carbon allotropes
Issued US9997334B1
See patentCarbon materials having carbon aggregates, where the aggregates include carbon nanoparticles and no seed particles, are disclosed. In various embodiments, the nanoparticles include graphene, optionally with multi-walled spherical fullerenes and/or another carbon allotrope. In various embodiments, the nanoparticles and aggregates have different combinations of: a Raman spectrum with a 2D-mode peak and a G-mode peak, and a 2D/G intensity ratio greater than 0.5, a low concentration of elemental…
Carbon materials having carbon aggregates, where the aggregates include carbon nanoparticles and no seed particles, are disclosed. In various embodiments, the nanoparticles include graphene, optionally with multi-walled spherical fullerenes and/or another carbon allotrope. In various embodiments, the nanoparticles and aggregates have different combinations of: a Raman spectrum with a 2D-mode peak and a G-mode peak, and a 2D/G intensity ratio greater than 0.5, a low concentration of elemental impurities, a high Brunauer-Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area, a large particle size, and/or a high electrical conductivity. Methods are provided to produce the carbon materials.
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Cracking of a process gas
Issued US9862602B1
See patentA process gas (such as a hydrocarbon gas) is flowed through a thermal cracking apparatus to crack the process gas into constituent components (such as hydrogen gas and solid carbon nano-particles, e.g., carbon nano-onions, necked carbon nano-onions, carbon nanospheres, graphene, graphite, highly ordered pyrolytic graphite, single walled nanotubes, and/or multi-walled nanotubes). The thermal cracking apparatus has an elongated heating element disposed within an inner volume along a longitudinal…
A process gas (such as a hydrocarbon gas) is flowed through a thermal cracking apparatus to crack the process gas into constituent components (such as hydrogen gas and solid carbon nano-particles, e.g., carbon nano-onions, necked carbon nano-onions, carbon nanospheres, graphene, graphite, highly ordered pyrolytic graphite, single walled nanotubes, and/or multi-walled nanotubes). The thermal cracking apparatus has an elongated heating element disposed within an inner volume along a longitudinal axis thereof. The elongated heating element heats the process gas as it flows within a longitudinal elongated reaction zone to thermally crack molecules of the process gas into the constituent components of the molecules.
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Carbon allotropes
Issued US9862606B1
See patentA nanoparticle or agglomerate which contains connected multi-walled spherical fullerenes coated in layers of graphite. In different embodiments, the nanoparticles and agglomerates have different combinations of: a high mass fraction compared to other carbon allotropes present, a low concentration of defects, a low concentration of elemental impurities, a high Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) specific surface area, and/or a high electrical conductivity. Methods are provided to produce the…
A nanoparticle or agglomerate which contains connected multi-walled spherical fullerenes coated in layers of graphite. In different embodiments, the nanoparticles and agglomerates have different combinations of: a high mass fraction compared to other carbon allotropes present, a low concentration of defects, a low concentration of elemental impurities, a high Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) specific surface area, and/or a high electrical conductivity. Methods are provided to produce the nanoparticles and agglomerates at a high production rate without using catalysts.
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Microwave chemical processing reactor
Issued US9767992B1
See patentA processing reactor includes a microwave energy source and a field-enhancing waveguide. The field-enhancing waveguide has a field-enhancing zone between a first cross-sectional area and a second cross-sectional area of the waveguide, and also has a plasma zone and a reaction zone. The second cross-sectional area is smaller than the first cross-sectional area, is farther away from the microwave energy source than the first cross-sectional area, and extends along a reaction length of the…
A processing reactor includes a microwave energy source and a field-enhancing waveguide. The field-enhancing waveguide has a field-enhancing zone between a first cross-sectional area and a second cross-sectional area of the waveguide, and also has a plasma zone and a reaction zone. The second cross-sectional area is smaller than the first cross-sectional area, is farther away from the microwave energy source than the first cross-sectional area, and extends along a reaction length of the field-enhancing waveguide. The supply gas inlet is upstream of the reaction zone. In the reaction zone, a majority of the supply gas flow is parallel to the direction of the microwave energy propagation. A supply gas is used to generate a plasma in the plasma zone to convert a process input material into separated components in the reaction zone at a pressure of at least 0.1 atmosphere.
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Solar concentrator with self-tracking receiver
Issued US US 7985920
I ran the experiments and design to achieve the underlying science behind this patent.
Solar collection systems are provided herein that includes a mobile, self-tracking receiver support member which is suspended from a support beam spanning the two sides of an immobile solar trough concentrator. The self-tracking receiver support member has photovoltaic cells of equal power affixed to two or more downward facing surfaces of the support member. These photovoltaic cells face downward…I ran the experiments and design to achieve the underlying science behind this patent.
Solar collection systems are provided herein that includes a mobile, self-tracking receiver support member which is suspended from a support beam spanning the two sides of an immobile solar trough concentrator. The self-tracking receiver support member has photovoltaic cells of equal power affixed to two or more downward facing surfaces of the support member. These photovoltaic cells face downward into the solar parabolic trough concentrator and respond to the concentrated light of the path of the points of focus being reflected upwards from a parabolic concentrator. The solar cells are wired to a DC electric motor so that the motor rotationally responds to the disparity in the power output of the solar cells. As the path of the points of focus of the solar concentrator moves to one side or the other of the center of the self-tracking support member, the motor automatically moves the support member, along with and the receiver it is carrying, into the parabolic concentrator's path of the points of focus. This self-tracking member combines the functions of tracking the sun while also transporting the receiver attached thereto into the concentrator's path of the points of focus. The power to drive the motor is preferably provided solely by the power of the sun.
Watch Video of Project here: https://youtu.be/RErwNu19X1IOther inventors -
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