A system of systems to monitor data for carbon flux, for example, at scales capable of managing regional net carbon flux and pricing carbon financial instruments is disclosed. The system of systems can monitor carbon flux in forests, soils, agricultural areas, body of waters, flue gases, and the like. The system includes a means to identify and quantify sources of carbon based on simultaneous measurement of isotopologues of carbon dioxide, for example, industrial, agricultural or natural sources, offering integration of same in time and space. Carbon standards are employed at multiple scales to ensure harmonization of data and carbon financial instruments.

Method for producing a uranium concentrate in the form of solid particles, by precipitation from a uranium-containing solution using a precipitating agent, in a vertical reactor comprising a base, a top, a central part, an upper part, and a lower part, the solid particles of the uranium concentrate forming a fluidized bed under the action of a rising liquid current which circulates from the base towards the top of the reactor successively passing through the lower part, the central part and the upper part of the reactor, and which is created by introducing a liquid recycling current (flow) at the base of the reactor, said liquid recycling current being tapped at a first determined level (A) in the upper part of the reactor and sent back without settling to the base of the reactor, excess liquid being also evacuated via an overflow located at a second determined level (B) in the upper part of the reactor; a method in which the upper limit (C) of the fluidized bed of solid particles is controlled so that it is positioned at a level below the first and second determined levels.

The present invention relates to a process for the wet production of granules from powdered materials, in particular raw materials for the production of glass. The process of the invention comprises the following successive steps: (i) the powdered materials to be granulated are divided into at least two portions: a first portion and a second portion; (ii) a binder liquid is added to the first portion of powdered materials; (iii) the first mixture thus obtained is agglomerated in the granulator in order to obtain granules (a); (iv) the second portion of powdered materials is added to the granulator; and (v) the new mixture obtained is agglomerated in the granulator in order to obtain granules (b). This sequenced granulation process allows granules to be obtained that have a degree of moisture that assures their stability and their ease of handling eliminating the drying step.

This invention refers to a novel process to obtain magnesium hydroxide and sodium sulfate from a solid raw material, which contains sodium and magnesium soluble salts, preferably in the form of sulfates, coming from a natural source or as a byproduct of an industrial process. The process consisting in the conditioning of the raw material to guarantee the correct concentrations of sodium and magnesium sulfates that is subjected to a salting-out crystallization when mixed with sodium sulfate obtaining sodium sulfate; the resulting solution is subjected to an alkali treatment to precipitate the magnesium hydroxide and the mother liquor is fed to a regeneration stage of the alkali used in the precipitation of the magnesium hydroxide as well in the sodium sulfate solution for the crystallization. The crystallization can be performed as a multistage process countercurrent to increase the purity of sodium sulfate.

The invention provides a process comprising: a crystallization step of concentrating and crystallizing the ammonium salt of sulfuric acid from an aqueous solution that contains the ammonium salt of sulfuric acid; a solid-liquid separation step of solid-liquid separating the ammonium salt of sulfuric acid obtained in the crystallization step, and a crystallization mother liquid recycling step of recycling a crystallization mother liquid obtained in the solid-liquid separation step to at least one step selected from the crystallization step and one or more steps that precede the crystallization step, in which not all of the crystallization mother liquid is recycled.

A method of producing a titanium dioxide pigment is provided. Also provided is a method of improving the processability of titanium dioxide particles without adversely affecting the rheological properties of the titanium dioxide particles.

Method and apparatus for limiting absorption of food products in specific parts of the digestive system is presented. A gastrointestinal implant device is anchored in the pyloric portion of the gastrointestinal system and extends beyond the ligament of Treitz. All food exiting the stomach is funneled through the device. The gastrointestinal device includes an anchor for anchoring the device in the pyloric portion and a flexible sleeve that extents into the duodenum. The anchor is collapsible for endoscopic delivery and removal.

A method of processing bundles of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Bundles of CNTs are put into a solution and unbundled using sonication and one or more surfactants that break apart and disperse at least some of the bundles into the solution such that it contains individual semiconducting CNTs, individual metallic CNTs, and remaining CNT bundles. The individual CNTs are separated from each other using agarose bead column separation using sodium dodecyl sulfate as a surfactant. Remaining CNT bundles are then separated out by performing density-gradient ultracentrifugation.

A method of producing a surface-treated carbon black powder dispersion includes subjecting carbon black fine particles having a volume average particle size of 100 nm to 20 μm to wet granulation and drying by heating to obtain granulated carbon black having a hardness of 12 cN or less and a pH of less than 7, grinding the granulated carbon black to obtain a ground product having a volume average particle size of 20 nm to 20 μm, and subjecting the ground product to wet oxidization in an aqueous medium. The resulting surface-treated carbon black powder dispersion exhibits excellent print density, print quality, discharge stability, and storage stability when used as an inkjet printer aqueous black ink.

This invention relates to novel methods for affecting, controlling and/or directing various crystal formation, structure formation or phase formation/phase change reaction pathways or systems by exposing one or more components in a holoreaction system to at least one spectral energy pattern. In a first aspect of the invention, at least one spectral energy pattern can be applied to a crystallization reaction system. In a second aspect of the invention, at least one spectral energy conditioning pattern can be applied to a conditioning reaction system. The spectral energy conditioning pattern can, for example, be applied at a separate location from the reaction vessel (e.g., in a conditioning reaction vessel) or can be applied in (or to) the reaction vessel, but prior to other (or all) crystallization reaction system participants being introduced into the reaction vessel.

A process for producing granules containing one or more complexing agent salts of the general formula from an aqueous starting solution, containing the one or more complexing agent salts in a concentration of from 10 to 80% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous starting solution, in a jet apparatus.

The present invention pertains to a process for producing sodium chloride comprising the steps of (i) preparing a brine comprising at least 150 g/l of sodium chloride by dissolving a sodium chloride source in water, (ii) subjecting the resulting brine to a eutectic freeze crystallization step by indirect cooling of said brine, resulting in the formation of ice, sodium chloride dihydrate, and a mother liquor, (iii) separating the sodium chloride dihydrate formed in step (ii) from the ice and optionally mother liquor at the eutectic temperature, such that a sodium chloride dihydrate-rich stream is formed, and (iv) feeding said sodium chloride dihydrate-rich stream to a recrystallizer to form sodium chloride and a mother liquor.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods to increase the output of a high quality product from the precipitation liquor crystallization process exemplified through the aluminum hydroxide recovery processes such as the Bayer process. The invention is a method of increasing the size of precipitates from a liquor. The invention in one embodiment relates to the use of a crystal growth modifier compositions added to the precipitation process to increase the particle size distribution of the precipitated alumina trihydrate.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a process to obtain potassium chloride that includes submitting brine to concentration, separating brine after concentration, resulting in a first solid content and a first liquid content, cooling the first liquid content, separating the first liquid content after cooling, thus resulting in a second solid content and a second liquid content, enriching the second solid content, and separating the second solid content after enrichment, thus resulting in a third solid content and a third liquid content. Aspects of this process are environmentally safe, as the process includes stages using solvents and equipment which does not harm the environment. Moreover, aspects of this process present a significant energy consumption reduction.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of granules comprising the steps of: providing a granulation zone comprising particles, the particles being kept in motion; providing a first feed stream comprising a liquid composition into the granulation zone, the liquid composition being applied onto or over the moving particles in the granulation zone; withdrawing a product stream comprising granules from the granulation zone, the granules being the result of layered growth of the moving particles in the granulation zone; wherein a second feed stream comprising granulation nuclei is fed into the granulation zone, wherein the granulation nuclei have a particle size distribution characterized by a standard deviation of the particle size that is less than 15% of the mean particle size, and wherein the second feed stream comprises between 0.05 wt % and 50 wt % of the product stream.

A process for the production of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate out of trona, comprising crushing trona ore and dissolving it in a leaching tank containing a solution comprising sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, and an additive selected from the group consisting of: phosphates, phospholipids, carboxylates, carboxilic acids, and combinations thereof, saturated in sodium bicarbonate, in order to produce solid particles suspended in a production solution comprising sodium carbonate, the solid particles containing insoluble impurities and at least 65% by weight of sodium bicarbonate. The solid particles are separated from the production solution containing sodium carbonate. At least part of the production solution containing sodium carbonate is taken out of the leaching tank.

A method for making an agglomerate of an ore is disclosed. The method comprises contacting the ore with an acid solution and a stucco binder. The stucco binder may include calcium sulfate hemihydrate. The ore agglomerate may include ore, acid solution, and stucco-derived gypsum.

A system and a method are provided that take a potentially dangerous waste product and process the product to create a marketable asset. The system and method are configured to create “tb” from “tbgs” by removing the volatility that exists in the “tbgs.” The resultant “tb” may be substantially non-volatile.

The present invention pertains to a process for producing sodium chloride comprising the steps of: (i) preparing a brine having a sodium chloride concentration which is higher than the sodium chloride concentration of the eutectic point but lower than the sodium chloride concentration of a saturated brine by dissolving a sodium chloride source in water; (ii) cooling the resulting brine by indirect cooling in a self-cleaning fluidized bed heat exchanger/crystallizer to a temperature lower than 0° C. but higher than the eutectic temperature of the resulting brine, thereby forming a slurry comprising sodium chloride dihydrate and a mother liquor; (iii) feeding the sodium chloride dihydrate to a recrystallizer to form sodium chloride and a mother liquor, and (iv) recycling at least part of the mother liquor obtained in step (ii) and/or step (iii) to step (i).

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of articles of manufacture made of or based on sulphur, which comprises cooling of liquid sulphur in a volume of containment until the sulphur mass solidifies and forming of the product, characterized in that elastic pressure waves are applied to the cooling mass of liquid sulphur to produce a crystalline suspension of solid sulphur in liquid sulphur.

Process for the combined regeneration of at least two soluble salts contained in a residue of an industrial process comprising heavy metals, comprising: adding an amount of reactive aqueous solution needed to completely dissolve the salts which are desired to be regenerated to the residue; subjecting the resulting aqueous suspension to a separation to obtain an aqueous production solution on the one hand and insoluble impurities on the other hand, which are removed; successively subjected the aqueous production solution to at least two selective crystallization steps intended to crystallize, separately, the at least two soluble salts which are desired to be regenerated, which are washed, dried and regenerated separately; and adjusting the concentration of at least one of the soluble salts to be regenerated in the aqueous production solution, at the moment when such solution is subjected to the step of crystallization of this salt, to give rise to the selective crystallization of this salt, by addition of a controlled amount of this salt to the aqueous production solution upstream of the crystallization step.

Titanium dioxide which includes particles having a large major-axis length in a large proportion and comprises columnar particles having a satisfactory particle size distribution. A titanium compound, an alkali metal compound, and an oxyphosphorus compound are heated/fired in the presence of titanium dioxide nucleus crystals having an aspect ratio of 2 or higher to grow the titanium dioxide nucleus crystals. Subsequently, a titanium compound, an alkali metal compound, and an oxyphosphorus compound are further added and heated/fired in the presence of the grown titanium dioxide nucleus crystals. Thus, titanium dioxide is produced which comprises columnar particles having a weight-average major-axis length of 7.0-15.0 μm and in which particles having a major-axis length of 10 μm or longer account for 15 wt. % or more of all the particles.

Provided is a method and an apparatus for purifying potassium nitrate from the solid waste produced by a chemical glass-strengthening process. In the method, the solid waste is melted into a liquid waste at first. Potassium nitrate of various purity grades can be obtained by batch processing the liquid waste through stepwise cooling processes of cooling the liquid waste to a first temperature facilitating the potassium nitrate contained in the liquid waste to be crystallized at a first rate and then cooling the liquid waste to a second temperature close to the freezing point of the potassium nitrate at a second rate that is slower than the first rate. The recovered potassium nitrate from the solid waste can be recycled and reused.

Methods and apparatus for precipitating dissolved materials from a solution involve reduction of fines. In an embodiment, the method comprises: introducing a solution into a reactor, causing the dissolved materials in the solution to precipitate into crystals under a first reaction condition, adjusting the reaction condition from the first reaction condition to a second reaction condition, maintaining the reaction condition in the second reaction condition to cause a sub-population of the crystals to dissolve, and adjusting the reaction condition from the second reaction condition to the first reaction condition. In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a reaction tank, a recycling path and at least an acid injector which is configured for dosing an acid into solution flow in the recycling path.

An application of carbon nanotubes on agglomerates of ore fines to increase the mechanical strength is provided. A process for the preparation of ore agglomerates having enhanced mechanical strength by the application of the carbon nanotubes is also provided.

Catalyst activator, in particular, a catalyst activator for heat conditioning a catalyst. The activator includes a vessel for containing a catalyst charge having an internal diameter of at least 1.2 meters and/or an internal volume of at least 5 m3; a fluidisation grid plate disposed in the vessel, the fluidisation grid plate having an upper major surface and a lower major surface; an array of generally conical depressions in the upper major surface that overlap by less than 17%; and an array of holes perforating the fluidisation grid plate, the holes extending from at least some of the generally conical depressions through the lower surface.

The present invention relates generally to processes for preparing agglomerated particulate low-rank coal feedstocks of a particle size suitable for reaction in certain gasification reactors and, in particular, for coal gasification. The present invention also relates to integrated coal gasification processes including preparing and utilizing such agglomerated particulate low-rank coal feedstocks.

The Damn Virus: Local governments await budget slaughter; supes to investigate county hospital. Local governments across the East Bay are now entering budget season. Alameda County Administrator Susan Muranishi is expected to provide the Board of Supervisors with an update on the Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget this week.…

More than a month since officials closed schools due to Covid-19, California leaders said a two-week blitz led by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom has brought in 70,000 computers and other devices that will be distributed to needy students this week. Gov. Gavin Newsom has stressed the importance of distance learning and education multiple times during the past month—even talking about helping his own children with school work.…

An energy harvesting device includes: a first nanoporous electrode and a second nanoporous electrode, each of which is configured to which store electrical charge; a first current collector connected to the first nanoporous electrode and a second current collector connected to the second nanoporous electrode; and an enclosure that contains the first and second nanoporous electrodes and the first and second current collectors and transfers a force applied from the outside to the first nanoporous electrode and the second nanoporous electrode, wherein at least one of the first nanoporous electrode and the second nanoporous electrode comprises an ion conductive polymer.

An acoustic resonator and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. An acoustic resonator includes a resonating part disposed on a substrate, a cap accommodating the resonating part and bonded to the substrate, and a bonded part bonding the cap and the substrate to each other, the bonding part including at least one block disposed between a bonding surface of the cap and a bonding surface of the substrate to block a leakage of a bonding material that forms the bonded part during a bonding operation.

An elastic wave device including a substrate, an interdigital transducer (IDT) electrode provided on an upper surface of the substrate, a first wiring electrode provided on the upper surface of the substrate and connected to the IDT electrode, a dielectric film that does not cover a first region of the first wiring electrode but covers a second region of the first wiring electrode above the substrate, the first wiring electrode including a cutout in the second region, and a second wiring electrode that covers an upper surface of the first wiring electrode in the first region and an upper surface of the dielectric film in the second region above the substrate.

A resonator is provided that suppresses vibration of a retainer caused by undesired vibration of a vibrating portion and also achieves size reduction. Specifically, the resonator includes a vibrating member that includes a semiconductor layer, a first piezoelectric film formed on the semiconductor layer, and a first upper electrode formed on the first piezoelectric film. Moreover, a retainer is provided to retain the vibrating member such that the vibrating portion can vibrate and one or more coupling members are provided to couple the vibrating member to the retainer. Finally, the resonator includes a vibration suppressing member that includes a second piezoelectric film formed on the retainer and a second upper electrode formed on the second piezoelectric film.

An acoustic resonator and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The acoustic resonator includes a resonating part including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric layer; and a plurality of seed layers disposed on one side of the resonating part.

An acoustic resonator structure comprises: a substrate having a cavity, which has a plurality of sides; a first electrode disposed over the cavity; a piezoelectric layer disposed over a portion of the first electrode and extending over at least one of the sides; and a second electrode disposed over the piezoelectric layer, an overlap of the first electrode, the piezoelectric layer and the second electrode forming an active area of the FBAR. The active area of the FBAR is completely suspended over the cavity.

A resonator is provided that suppresses frequency variations with etching without decreasing the strength of vibration arms. The resonator includes a base portion, a first vibration portion extending from the base portion in a first direction and having a first width, and a second vibration portion extending from the base portion in the first direction with a first gap between the first and second vibration portions and having the first width. The first and second vibration portions perform out-of-plane bending vibration with opposite phases at a predetermined frequency. The predetermined frequency varies in accordance with the first width and the first gap. The ratio of the first gap to the first width is within a range that causes an absolute value of rates of variations in the predetermined frequency with respect to variations in the first width and in the first gap to be not more than about 100 ppm.

A system and method provides a piezoelectric stack arrangement for reduced driving voltage while maintaining a driving level for active piezoelectric materials. A stack arrangement of d36 shear mode single crystals of both air X-cut and Y-cut ±1:45° (±20°) arrangement are bonded with discrete conductive pillars to form a shear crystal stack. The bonding area between the neighboring crystal parts is minimized. The bonding pillars are positioned at less than a total surface are of the single crystal forming the stack. The stack fabrication is facilitated with a precision assembly system, where crystal parts are placed to desired locations on an assembly fixture for alignment following the preset operation steps. With the reduced clamping effect from bonding due to lower surface coverage of the discrete conductive pillars, such a piezoelectric d36 shear crystal stack exhibits a reduced driving voltage while maintaining a driving level and substantial and surprisingly improved performance.

A MEMS piezoelectric device includes a monolithic semiconductor body having first and second main surfaces extending parallel to a horizontal plane formed by first and second horizontal axes. A housing cavity is arranged within the monolithic semiconductor body. A membrane is suspended above the housing cavity at the first main surface. A piezoelectric material layer is arranged above a first surface of the membrane with a proof mass coupled to a second surface, opposite to the first surface, along the vertical axis. An electrode arrangement is provided in contact with the piezoelectric material layer. The proof mass causes deformation of the piezoelectric material layer in response to environmental mechanical vibrations. The proof mass is coupled to the membrane by a connection element arranged, in a central position, between the membrane and the proof mass in the direction of the vertical axis.

Apparatus and methods are provided for activity accessory including an energy harvester or generator. In an example, an activity accessory can include a first enclosure and an energy generator enclosed within the first enclosure. The energy generator can include a second enclosure. The energy generator can include a spherical magnet housed within the second enclosure and windings surrounding the second enclosure. Movement of the spherical magnet within the second enclosure can induce charge movement in the windings.

An integrated actuator drive unit (ADU) assembly for an electric motor actuator is disclosed. The integrated ADU assembly may comprise at least one of an integrally formed ring gear, an integrally formed thrust bearing and integrally formed load cell. The integrated ADU assembly may comprise a portion of an electromechanical actuator. The electromechanical actuator may be utilized for aircraft braking systems.

The invention relates to an electric machine (10) with commutating brushes (12) and an electric interference-suppression component (14). The brushes (12) are arranged in an annular brush support (18), and the brush support (18) sits on an axial end (22) of a housing part (24) of the electric machine (10), which is preferably a pole housing (240). The interference-suppression component (14) is arranged radially outside of the housing (24), and the brush support (18) has a protrusion (30) which extends in the radial direction (2). The protrusion (30) extends radially towards the outside so as to extend outside of the housing (24), the interference-suppression component (14) being arranged on the protrusion (30).

The present invention relates to a triboelectric energy harvesting device and a method for manufacturing the same. The triboelectric energy harvesting device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first frictional layer provided with a first surface having first electron affinity, and a second frictional layer facing the first surface and having second electron affinity, wherein at least one of the first and second frictional layers is formed of an elastic material and is provided in an elastic structure.

A monolithic integration of phase change material (PCM) switches with a MEMS resonator is provided to implement switching and reconfiguration functionalities. MEMS resonator includes a piezoelectric material to control terminal connections to the electrodes. The PCM is operable between an ON state and an OFF state by application of heat, which causes the phase change material to change from an amorphous state to a crystalline state or from a crystalline state to an amorphous state, the amorphous state and the crystalline state each associated with one of the ON state and the OFF state. A method of fabricating the MEMS resonator with phase change material is provided. A reconfigurable filter system using the MEMS resonators is also provided.

An AT-cut crystal element includes a crystal element having two side surfaces (namely, a Z'-surface) intersecting with a Z-axis of a crystallographic axis thereof. At least one of the two side surfaces is constituted of three of first to third surfaces. The first to the third surfaces meeting following conditions: the first to the third surfaces intersect with one another in this order and formed by rotating a principal surface of the crystal element by predetermined angles; and expressing the angle of the first surface as θ1, a length of the first surface as D, a thickness of a part of the crystal element having the principal surface as t, and M=D/t, and a conversion percentage as fn (M, (θ1)), the θ1 and the M are set such that the conversion percentage fn (M, (θ1)) becomes a predetermined value Th or less.

A resonance device is provided with a reduced size and also suppresses the occurrence of deformation and breakage during operation. The resonance device includes a lower substrate, an upper substrate that defines a vibration space between the lower substrate and the upper substrate, a protruding portion that is formed on an inner surface of the lower or upper substrates. Moreover, a resonator is disposed in the vibration space and includes a base portion and vibration arms that extend in parallel to one another from the base portion along the inner surface of the lower substrate or the inner surface of the upper substrate and that vibrate in a vertical direction toward the inner surface of the lower substrate or the inner surface of the upper substrate.

A fog-resistant structure and a protective device for eyes is configured such that a transparent conductive film is formed on one surface of a lens or shield, a linear electrode is provided on upper and lower portions of the surface of the lens or shield so that each of a central region and opposite side regions of the lens or shield has substantially equal spacing between the upper and lower linear electrodes. Thus each region of the lens or shield has no difference in temperature without regulating power supplied to the transparent conductive film, thereby eliminating wasted power consumption and allowing even a structure using a battery as the power supply to have much longer available time.

An embodiment of a leg protector of the present disclosure includes an upper thigh pad that is structurally attached to an upper bracing shell including lateral and medial uprights. The upper shell and thigh pad can be held to the player via a strap and/or garment. The uprights extend to uni- or polycentric hinges arranged on, and in one embodiment biased against, either side of the player's knee. A connecting member extends in a frontward direction from each hinge and attaches to a patella pad held in place over the player's knee. The patella pad may additionally be connected to the thigh pad via one or more connecting strip. Each hinge is also connected to a lower bracing shell, which includes lateral and medial uprights that extend down and around the player's lower leg, anteriorly or posteriorly. The lower shell can also be fitted via a strap or garment.

According to the various features characteristics and embodiments of the present invention which will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds, the present invention provides partially fingered gloves intended to increase the overall performance in sports activities including but limited to football and golf. Primarily because of its unique finger configurations, and/or grip enhancers, and/or hand protective properties, the present invention makes a glove more operable in various sports activities.

The invention provides sleeves for wearing with sleeveless shirts and tops.

An article of apparel may include a base layer and a cover layer. The cover layer may be stitchlessly-secured to an exterior surface of the base layer and positioned to extend along a side area and from a pelvic region to a leg region of the base layer. A width of the cover layer may be greater in the pelvic region than the first leg region. In some configurations, a frictional resistance of the exterior surface of the base layer may be greater than a frictional resistance of a surface of the cover layer.