Abstract:
Disclosed is a microsize driving device in which falling of track proteins from an arrangement of motor protein molecules arranged on a linear track groove provided on a substrate is suppressed and utilization of kinetic energy of track proteins as a driving energy is made possible by controlling the moving direction to a single direction. Namely, provided is a microsize driving device which comprises a substrate, an arrangement of motor protein molecules such as, for example, kinesin molecules deposited on the bottom of a linear track groove provided thereon and track proteins such as, for example, microtubules disposed thereon and is characterized in that the said linear track groove has side surfaces shaped in such a structure as to permit a linear movement of the track proteins moving in a certain specific direction but to inhibit the track proteins moving in the reverse direction thereto causing reversion for the movement in the above mentioned specific direction.
Abstract:
A precursor and method for filling a feature in a substrate. The method generally includes depositing a barrier layer, the barrier layer being formed from pentakis(dimethylamido)tantalum having less than about 5 ppm of chlorine. The method additionally may include depositing a seed layer over the barrier layer and depositing a conductive layer over the seed layer. The precursor generally includes pentakis(dimethylamido)tantalum having less than about 5 ppm of chlorine. The precursor is generated in a canister having a surrounding heating element configured to reduce formation of impurities.
Abstract:
A heated catalyst support device for a reactor including a reactor vessel containing a bed of catalyst particles. The device includes a permeable support plate having a channel extending therethrough, where the support plate is adapted to contact the bed of catalyst particles. The device further includes a heating element extending through the channel in the support plate. A method for starting up a water gas shift reactor is provided that includes applying heat to the bed of catalyst particles using the heating element, measuring a temperature in the bed of catalyst particles. and starting up the water gas shift reactor when the temperature exceeds a saturation temperature for a desired operating pressure.
Abstract:
A hydrocarbon gas to be decomposed, optionally mixed with water vapor, is allowed to flow through the gap between various porous tubes 4 constituting a group of porous tubes provided extending vertically in a decomposition reaction column 1 while air or oxygen is jetted homogeneously from the interior to the exterior of the porous tubes in the direction perpendicular to the stream of the hydrocarbon gas to be decomposed, optionally mixed with water vapor. The mixture is then ignited to form a diffusion flame layer B on the outer surface of the porous tubes 4. With the diffusion flame layer as a heat source, the hydrocarbon gas to be decomposed, optionally mixed with water vapor, undergoes pyrolysis.
Abstract:
The technique of the present invention enhances the separation efficiency and the production efficiency of hydrogen in a hydrogen production system for fuel cells, while reducing the size of the whole fuel gas production system. In the fuel gas production system of the present invention, a hydrocarbon compound is subjected to multi-step chemical processes including a reforming reaction, a shift reaction, and a CO oxidation to give a hydrogen-rich fuel gas. Gaseous hydrogen produced through the reforming reaction is separated by a hydrogen separation membrane having selective permeability to hydrogen. The residual gas after the separation of hydrogen has a low hydrogen partial pressure and undergoes the shift reaction at the accelerated rate. The hydrogen-rich processed gas obtained through the shift reaction and the CO oxidation joins with the separated hydrogen and is supplied to fuel cells. A purge gas for carrying out the hydrogen is introduced into a separation unit of hydrogen, in order to lower the hydrogen partial pressure and thereby enhance the separation efficiency of hydrogen. The residual gas after the separation of hydrogen undergoes combustion and is subsequently used as the purge gas
Abstract:
A process and apparatus for producing hydrogen for a fuel cell by (a) reacting a fuel comprising a hydrocarbon and/or an oxygenate with steam, under steam reforming conditions in a reforming reactor to produce a product stream comprising hydrogen, (b) feeding at least part of the hydrogen produced in step a) to a fuel cell, to produce electric power and a waste stream comprising hydrogen, (c) reacting at least part of the waste stream from step b) with an oxygen-containing gas in a combustion reactor, and (d) using the heat energy produced in step c) to supply energy to the steam reforming reaction in step a) in which the combustion reactor is positioned within the reforming reactor to facilitate heat transfer between the stages.
Abstract:
In a method for catalytic oxidation of a gas, the outlay required is kept at a low level for reliably treating even relatively large quantities of gas and/or high concentrations of the gas fraction that needs to be treated. For this purpose, a gas stream including the gas being treated is circulated through a reaction zone and a return-flow zone, which is in communication with the inlet and outlet sides of the reaction zone. The circulation of the gas stream can be maintained effectively in the form of a passive system if the gas stream which includes the gas to be treated is guided in the upward direction in the reaction zone and the upward flow is assisted by convection resulting from the heat released during the oxidation reaction. Furthermore, the gas stream is preferably cooled locally in the return-flow zone by spray cooling.
Abstract:
The present invention is a method for operating a fuel-rich catalytic reactor in a catalytic combustion system, wherein two different fuels having dissimilar reactivity are consecutively used. In this method, a fuel-rich fuel/air mixture comprising a first fuel contacts a catalyst to create a product stream and a heat of reaction. The reactor is operated such that mass transfer of oxygen to the catalyst surface limits the rate of catalytic reaction. The catalyst is backside cooled by a cooling stream comprising air that extracts at least a portion of the heat of reaction before contacting the product stream. The cooling stream flow is sufficient to completely combust all of the remaining fuel. A second fuel is then substituted for the first fuel, and the steps are repeated.
Abstract:
An apparatus for thermal conversion of one or more reactants to desired end products includes an insulated reactor chamber having a high temperature heater such as a plasma torch at its inlet end and, optionally, a restrictive convergent-divergent nozzle at its outlet end. In a thermal conversion method, reactants are injected upstream from the reactor chamber and thoroughly mixed with the plasma stream before entering the reactor chamber. The reactor chamber has a reaction zone that is maintained at a substantially uniform temperature. The resulting heated gaseous stream is then rapidly cooled by passage through the nozzle, which nullfreezesnull the desired end product(s) in the heated equilibrium reaction stage, or is discharged through an outlet pipe without the convergent-divergent nozzle. The desired end products are then separated from the gaseous stream.
Abstract:
A tube supporting device is described which in a preferred embodiment comprises ferrules (1) located on the tubes (2), brace means (3) connecting the ferrules (1) and cleats (7) connecting rows of tubes (2). The brace means (3) may be held in position by means of a retaining band (8) which itself is located in position by a stave (9). The support structure is capable of being assembled as the tube bundle is assembled.