Abstract:
An asphalt material having improved paving characteristics and processes for its preparation. An asphalt base material is heated in a mixing chamber to a temperature sufficient to melt the asphalt so that it can be stirred. A water-insoluble heavy metal soap is incorporated into the chamber in an amount effective to reduce the PAV-DSR temperature of the asphalt base material by an incremental amount of at least 1° C. Thereafter, the asphalt material is recovered from the mixing chamber to provide an asphalt product containing the heavy metal soap which exhibits a PAV-DSR temperature which is less than the PAV-DSR temperature for the corresponding base material without the addition of the heavy metal soap. The water-insoluble soap is a C14-C18 heavy metal soap such as a C16-C18 zinc- or calcium-based soap including zinc stearate, zinc oleate and zinc palmitate. The heavy metal soap is added to the mixing chamber in an amount within the range of 0.05-3.0 wt. % of the amount of asphalt based material in the mixing chamber. A thermoplastic polymer may be added to the asphalt based material to provide a polymer-modified asphalt blend. An asphalt paving composition comprising an asphalt base material and a water-insoluble heavy metal soap in an amount to provide a PAV-DSR temperature lower than the PAV-DSR temperature of the corresponding asphalt material without the addition of the heavy metal soaps.
Abstract:
A ground penetrating radar stencil and system for using the same is provided. The stencils are reusable. The stencils are foldable, allowing for storing and transportation. A first data collection grid stencil is used to mark a grid followed by alternative target marking stencils used to mark utility line and structural support lines. Indelible stencil paint/ink is applied on and through the stencils onto the concrete surfaces to provide for a permanent, standardized and consistent marking of critical embedded infrastructure. The system allows for a uniform collecting and recording of the scanning data results for future reference and work in the same area.
Abstract:
An indicator light is disclosed herein. The indicator light can include a housing having at least one wall, where the at least one wall forms a cavity, and where the housing has a first length. The indicator light can also include a light guide disposed within the housing at a distal end of the housing, where the light guide has a second length that is less than the first length. The indicator light can further include a light source disposed adjacent to the light guide. The housing and the light guide can form a flame path therebetween.
Abstract:
A system and method for analyzing data from a plurality of computer environments. The computer environments are authenticated and data is imported to a memory location. The data is converted into a uniform format to enable expedited searching by one or more authenticated users. The data may be marked so that a user may determine which computer environment provided the data. The system may also create one or more indexes of the data to assist one or more users in searching the data.
Abstract:
A method for the oxidative coupling of hydrocarbons, such as the oxidative coupling of methane, includes providing an oxidative catalyst inside a reactor, and carrying out the oxidative coupling reaction under a set of reaction conditions. The oxidative catalyst includes (A) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Lanthanoid group, Mg, Ca, and the elements of Group 4 of the periodic table (Ti, Zr, and Hf); (B) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements of Group 3 (including La and Ac) and Groups 5-15 of the periodic table; (C) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements Ca, Sr, and Ba; and (D) oxygen.
Abstract:
A portable exhaust gas flow sensor includes a tube for coupling to an exhaust pipe of a vehicle and having a thin screen or similar flow restricting element to induce a pressure drop based on the exhaust gas flow with an upstream port and a downstream port relative to the flow restricting element connected to a differential pressure transducer. A thermocouple extends through a temperature port to measure exhaust gas temperature flowing through the tube. A processor in communication with the thermocouple and the differential pressure transducer determines the exhaust gas flow based on the differential pressure and the temperature. The flow restricting element includes sufficient spaces to resist formation of condensation and minimize added back pressure while providing an accurately measurable pressure drop for flows ranging from idle to full throttle.
Abstract:
A metal-modified alkylation catalyst including a metal/zeolite is provided where the metal is one or two selected from the group consisting of yttrium and a rare earth of the lanthanide series other than cerium. Where two metals are used, one may be Ce or La. The metal-promoted zeolite is useful as a molecular sieve aromatic alkylation catalyst for the production of ethylbenzene by the ethylation of benzene in the liquid phase or critical phase. An alkylation product is produced containing ethylbenzene as a primary product with the attendant production of heavier alkylated by-products of no more than 10-60 wt % of the ethylbenzene.
Abstract:
A method for the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons to alkenes, such as n-pentene to piperylene and n-butane to butadiene at pressures less than atmospheric utilizing a dehydrogenation catalyst are disclosed. Embodiments involve operating the dehydrogenation reactor at a pressure of 1,000 mbar or less.
Abstract:
A portable exhaust gas flow sensor includes a tube for coupling to an exhaust pipe of a vehicle and having a thin screen or similar flow restricting element to induce a pressure drop based on the exhaust gas flow with an upstream port and a downstream port relative to the flow restricting element connected to a differential pressure transducer. A thermocouple extends through a temperature port to measure exhaust gas temperature flowing through the tube. A processor in communication with the thermocouple and the differential pressure transducer determines the exhaust gas flow based on the differential pressure and the temperature. The flow restricting element includes sufficient spaces to resist formation of condensation and minimize added back pressure while providing an accurately measurable pressure drop for flows ranging from idle to full throttle.