57results about How to "Minimal environmental impact" patented technology

A flow enhancement improvement for an underwater turbine generator (10) is disclosed wherein a longitudinal hole (240) is disposed in the central area (26), typically a hub (20) of the generator (10), and a second, augmentor duct (41), preferably rigid, is disposed about the outer duct (40) or housing of the unit to create a slot (200) area. The slot (200) and hollow hub (20) create areas of smooth, laminar fluid flow. The leading edges of the hub (20) or central ring and the augmentor (41) and outer ducts (40) are elliptical to enhance the fluid dynamics of the structure.

The invention provides novel railroad ties manufactured from novel composite materials that possess excellent physical and performance characteristics matching or exceeding existing concrete RRTs. The RRTs of the invention can be readily produced from widely available, low cost raw materials by a process suitable for large-scale production with improved energy consumption and more desirable carbon footprint and minimal environmental impact.

The invention provides novel aerated composite materials that possess excellent physical and performance characteristics of aerated concretes, and methods of production and uses thereof. These composite materials can be readily produced from widely available, low cost raw materials by a process suitable for large-scale production with improved energy consumption, desirable carbon footprint and minimal environmental impact.

A process for enhanced removal of impurities from water by an enhanced multi-step electrocoagulation process including electrocoagulation, solids separation, hardness removal, crystallization, and, optionally, reverse osmosis and evaporative purification. Embodiments of the invention may remove multiple impurities at substantial savings in time, energy, and chemical use. Zero liquid discharge options are also reported.

A temporary platform or roadway is created using one or a plurality of optionally connected support components to form a top surface upon which panels are placed. The support components are comprised of gabion containers having one or a plurality of compartments into which a filler material is inserted. The filler material can optionally be composed of a buoyant material such as expanded polystyrene to enable flotation. A method for constructing the roadway or platform of the present invention is also disclosed.

The invention provides novel articles of composite materials having hollow interior channels or passageways, or otherwise being hollowed out, and formulations and methods for their manufacture and uses. These hollow core objects are suitable for a variety of applications in construction, pavements and landscaping, and infrastructure.

Novel Vip3 toxins that are highly active against a wide range of lepidopteran insect pests are disclosed. The DNA encoding the Vip3 toxin can be used to transform various prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms to express the Vip3 toxin. These recombinant organisms can be used to control lepidopteran insects in various environments.

Disclosed and claimed is a method of inhibiting corrosion of a surface in contact with a corrosive environment encountered in oil and gas operations. The method includes contacting the surface with a composition comprising a quaternary nitrogen-containing corrosion inhibitor having the following general formula.The composition is preferably adherent to standards for environmental friendliness but has equal applicability in formulations that include conventional corrosion inhibitors.

A method and system for removing hydrocarbon deposits from a heat exchanger tube bundle using an organic solvent. After contact with a heat exchanger tube bundle, the contaminated organic solvent may be treated to remove solids, base waters, and / or suspended hydrocarbons, and then again contacted with a heat exchanger tube bundle for the removal of hydrocarbon deposits. This allows for the removal of hydrocarbon deposits from a heat exchanger tube bundle in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner. The treatment of the heat exchanger tube bundle is also preferably performed using a method and system by which, through contact of the heat exchanger tube bundle with an organic solvent, a large percentage of hydrocarbon deposits are removed from the heat exchanger tube bundle in a short period of time.

A method of providing adhesion to a fluorinated polymer including exposing at least a portion of the surface of the fluorinated polymer to plasma discharge in an atmosphere containing an organic amine.

A mobile emissions control system is provided for diesel engines operated on ocean-going ships at-berth. The emissions control system comprises two essential elements: an emissions capturing system and an emissions control system. The emissions control system may be mounted on a towable chassis or mounted on a barge, allowing it to be placed alongside ocean-going ships at-berth. The emission capturing system captures exhaust from a ship's diesel engine and conducts it into the emissions control system, which cleans the exhaust and then passes clean air into the atmosphere through an exhaust outlet.

The invention provides novel articles of composite materials having hollow interior channels or passageways, or otherwise being hollowed out, and formulations and methods for their manufacture and uses. These hollow core objects are suitable for a variety of applications in construction, pavements and landscaping, and infrastructure.

A plant for the disposal of wastes includes a supercritical water oxidation reactor, a supercritical water gasification reactor, and a feeding system configured for feeding at least two organic currents of wastes to the supercritical water oxidation reactor and supercritical water gasification reactor and configured for feeding at least one aqueous flow within said plant. The feeding system is configured for feeding the at least one aqueous current with a series flow through the supercritical water oxidation reactor and supercritical water gasification reactor. The feeding system is configured for feeding the at least two organic currents of wastes with a parallel flow through the supercritical water oxidation reactor and supercritical water gasification reactor and so as to selectively feed each of the organic currents of wastes to the supercritical water oxidation reactor or to the supercritical water gasification reactor.

This invention concerns a fuel delivery system for an engine, in which two or more discrete fuel compositions are made available to the engine. The system has a vapour trail detection sensor configured to generate a detection signal indicative of a characteristic of a vapour trail. A regulator is configured to regulate a percentage of a first and a second fuel composition delivered to the engine as resultant fuel composition. A controller is arranged to undertake a search of trial fuel compositions by controlling the regulator to deliver to the engine a plurality of trial fuel compositions having different ratios of the first and second fuel compositions. The controller controls delivery of a resultant fuel composition to the engine in response to the vapour trail characteristic detection signals for said plurality of trial fuel compositions.

A wave energy converter generates power from a wave-induced separation of a positively buoyant flotation module and a submerged negatively buoyant mass, using a rotating pulley to drive a power-take-off system.

The present invention proposes a process involving the use of at least one, preferentially several non-tethered airships of at least one type, at least carrying one solar energy unit (SEU) and / or one wind energy unit (WEU) for carrying out certain airborne missions of generating a given total amount of final energy (E), whereby preferentially most of which (E1) is used for energy distribution, including airborne energy transmission by means of onboard energy transmission units (ETU), and / or storage by means of onboard, energy storage units (ESO) and supply thereof by connecting to energy devices or grids at platforms (A) or consumers (B), and whereby at least most of the remanding energy amount (E2=E−E1) is used for direct uses by said airships, such as flight assistance systems, or for other uses, such as telecommunications; The present invention also proposes distinctive features of said airships, respective platforms and energy systems associated with, different missions of airborne energy generation and distribution.

This invention concerns a fuel delivery system for an engine, in which two or more discrete fuel compositions are made available to the engine. The system has a vapor trail detection sensor configured to generate a detection signal indicative of a characteristic of a vapor trail. A regulator is configured to regulate a percentage of a first and a second fuel composition delivered to the engine as resultant fuel composition. A controller is arranged to undertake a search of trial fuel compositions by controlling the regulator to deliver to the engine a plurality of trial fuel compositions having different ratios of the first and second fuel compositions. The controller controls delivery of a resultant fuel composition to the engine in response to the vapor trail characteristic detection signals for said plurality of trial fuel compositions.

A distributed system of electrical generators utilizing wind driven natural motion of trees comprises a novel energy producing system. The network of the generators, PRGs, derives torque from the back and forth swaying of neighboring trees. Cables, one set of cables for support and the other acting as a spring-tensioned flexible rack that drives the pinion gear of the PRG and also supports the PRG, between the trees are attached to the PRGs and provide the tension required to support and retract the PRG mechanism. Tree saddles attach the PRG cabling to the trees. As the trees sway independently the separations between the trees fluctuate periodically and the PRGs convert these fluctuations into rotational forces that drive the generators. The PRGs make use of a flexible rack and pinion design to convert the relative tree motion into torque and achieves the requisite RPM by cascading a sequence of large-small gear pairs, one such pair in each PRG utilizing a one-way clutch torque converter, ultimately meshing with a small gear on the generator shaft. Springs are used to return the PRGs to their neutral positions (wherein the trees are stationary) and maintain cable tautness when the tree separation periodically lessens by tensioning the rack and pinion cable. The electrical energy derived from the asynchronous motions of the trees, is independent of the direction of the wind and is integrated with other PRGs through rectifiers and to external electrical systems through the use of existing technologies that regulate, condition and control the electrical output.

The invention proposes to use a plant material derived from Marrubium vulgare for a non-therapeutic cosmetic treatment for tightening skin pores, said plant material comprising an effective amount of Forsythoside B as the active molecule. The plant material is preferably constituted of a cellular extract of dedifferentiated plant cells freed from cellular debris. This treatment is particularly intended for refining skin grain and / or for treating skin with an oily tendency.

A distributed system of electrical generators utilizing wind driven natural motion of trees includes pull-retract generators deriving torque from the back and forth swaying of neighboring trees and cables, wherein one set of cables acting as support and the other acting as a spring-tensioned flexible rack that drives the pinion gear of the pull-retract generator and also supports the pull-retract generator between the trees. The cables are attached to the pull-retract generators and provide the tension required to support and retract the pull-retract generator mechanism. Tree saddles attach the pull-retract generator cabling to the trees. As the trees sway independently the separations between the trees fluctuate periodically and the pull-retract generators convert these fluctuations into rotational forces that drive the generators. The pull-retract generators make use of a flexible rack and pinion design to convert the relative tree motion into torque and achieves the requisite RPM by cascading a sequence of large-small gear pairs, one such pair in each pull-retract generator utilizing a one-way clutch torque converter, ultimately meshing with a small gear on the generator shaft. Springs are used to return the pull-retract generators to their neutral positions when the trees are stationary and maintain cable tautness when the tree separation periodically lessens by tensioning the rack and pinion cable. The electrical energy derived from the asynchronous motions of the trees, is independent of the direction of the wind and is integrated with other pull-retract generators through rectifiers and to external electrical systems through the use of existing technologies that regulates, conditions and controls the electrical output.

The present invention relates to novel formulations for water proofing leather, a process for waterproofing leather, and leather goods waterproofed by the formulations and processes of the present invention. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of a composition containing a salt of polyalkyl carboxylic acid anhydride, an aliphatic carboxylic acid amide, a fatty alcohol or blend of fatty alcohols, an alcohol cosolvent, a preservative, and water for imparting improved hydrophobicity, flexibility, and / or product feel of the finished leather goods.

A method and system for the use of low quality fuel and solids-rich water, like fine tailings or lime sludge, for extracting bitumen from shallow and deep underground oil sand formations. The method includes the steps of combustion fuel and oxidizing gas, mixing hot combustion gas with solids-rich water, evaporating the liquid water to steam and solids, removing the solids from the gas phase to generate a solid lean gas, recovering the heat and condensing the steam to generate hot water, mixing the hot water with oilsands ore for extracting bitumen. The solid lean gas is mixed with saturated water to scrub the remaining solids and acid gases and produce saturated steam. The solids-rich saturated water is recycled and evaporated by being mixed with the combustion gases, and the saturated steam is condensed to generate heat and condensate for steam generation for use in enhanced oil recovery.

The present invention comprises a method and system for the in-situ cleaning of a heat exchanger tube bundle of carbonaceous deposits. Using the method and system, an organic solvent is brought into fluid communication with one or more heat exchanger tube bundles in a closed system. The closed system is formed at the site of operation of the heat exchanger tube bundles and without having to remove the heat exchanger tube bundles from their shells or other associated equipment. Once the closed system is formed, the organic solvent is brought to a temperature at which it is effective to remove carbonaceous deposits from the heat exchanger tube bundle and flowed through the equipment associated with the heat exchanger tube bundles so as to contact the heat exchanger tube bundles and remove carbonaceous deposits that have formed therein. In some embodiments, the spent organic solvent may be recovered, such as through the removal of suspended hydrocarbons, and reused in the method and system for cleaning heat exchanger tube bundles.

A biodegradable flexible substrate providing a pressure sensitive self adhering transfer marking. The substrate includes a biodegradable paper liner supporting a biodegradable transfer matrix in the form of an ink matrix bearing a transfer marking, a layer of biodegradable clear adhesive over the ink matrix, and a biodegradable protective paper layer over the adhesive layer. The biodegradable ink matrix includes a layer of biodegradable water based clear ink, a layer of biodegradable colored water based inks depicting graphics, and a layer of biodegradable clear protective ink. In another aspect, a process for producing the substrate, is initiated by laying down a heavy clear water based ink or paint on a release liner, then the colors necessary for the graphic design are screen printed on the clear base and a top clear is added.

A system for supplying a fluid to a turbine includes an inlet for allowing the fluid to enter the turbines, a filter to filter the fluid, and a pump apparatus to pressurize the fluid and to mix the pressurized fluid with the un-pressurized fluid at a location in the neighborhood of the inlet.