Ergonomic systems which provide medical therapy, comfort and enhanced function are provided. Surfaces are provided with adjustable contour, transient force damping and temperature. The technologies are applied to footwear, seating surfaces an cryotherapy devices. The cooling and cryotherapy system employ an evaporator in close proximity to skin, and therefore employ methods to reduce risk of frostbite. Advanced control and power supply options are disclosed.

Ergonomic systems and methods providing intelligent adaptive surfaces and temperature control

The formulation and stability of multiple emulsions

An apparatus is disclosed for improving the transportability of a hydrocarbon stream by reducing its viscosity. The apparatus comprises a reactor vessel useful for providing an incremental amount of heat to a hydrocarbon stream by the introduction of an oxidizing agent into the core portion of the stream. The reactor comprises an influent conduit and an effluent conduit in heat exchange relation with each other, at least one oxidant injection nozzle located in either or both the influent and/or effluent conduits, a conduit to transport oxidant to the nozzles and a valve in the oxidant conduit to control oxidant flow to the nozzles. The reactor can also contain temperature monitors in the influent and/or effluent conduits and an oxidant flow controller device responsive to output from the temperature monitors and adapted to adjust oxidant flow to maintain temperatures in the reactor reaction zone within a preselected range.

Apparatus for thermal treatment of a hydrocarbon stream

Dynamic Rate Adaptation (DRA) introduces a process to estimate optimal transmission rate for packet transmissions. It is important to select rates correctly. If the rate is too high, packet transmissions fail resulting in communication failure. If the rate is too low, the available channel bandwidth is not used, resulting in inferior products, and the potential for catastrophic network congestion and collapse.

Design considerations

Innovations in separations technology for the recycling and re-use of liquid waste streams

Important variables governing the permeation of copper ion through liquid membranes and their effects on the separation process are described. These variables are membrane viscosity, treatment ratio (volume ratio of emulsion to feed in mixer), complexing agent concentration, internal droplet size, internal phase leakage, and copper concentration in the internal phase. The information is needed for scaling-up of equipment and further process development. The economic evaluation based on bench-scale pilot plant runs shows this process is 40% cheaper than solvent extraction.

Extraction of Copper by Liquid Membranes

This invention relates to a process for the removal of dissolved species from aqueous solutions, which comprises contacting said aqueous solution with an emulsion, said emulsion comprising an exterior phase which is characterized as being immiscible with said aqueous solution and yet permeable to said dissolved species, and an interior phase which contains a reactant capable of converting said dissolved species to a non-permeable form. The dissolved species permeate the exterior phase, into the interior phase where they are converted into nonpermeable forms and thus retained in the interior phase of said emulsion. The aqueous solution, depleted in said dissolved species, is separated from said emulsion and the emulsion cycled for reuse. In one preferred embodiment said dissolved species are ions, and an ion exchange compound is incorporated in the exterior phase of the emulsion, to promote the permeation of said ions through the exterior phase.

Liquid membrane process for the separation of aqueous mixtures

Separations of organic compounds by liquid membrane processes

A porous barrier soaked in a selective solvent for the desired component is used in the removal of such a component from a fluid mixture with which the solvent is immiscible as a whole, by diffusion to a re-extractant fluid which is likewise immiscible with the solvent but capable of extracting the desired component therefrom. Particular processes described and claimed are the removal of isobutylene from a mixture of C4 alkanes and alkenes using 60-65% sulphuric acid in the barrier and hexane as the reextractant, and the removal of methylbutenes from a C5 hydrocarbon mixture with the same selective solvent and with a C6-C9 paraffin as the re-extractant. Also referred to are the removal of mercaptans from a hydrocarbon stream using caustic alkali, the removal of alkynes or butadiene using Cu or Ag salts, the removal of aromatics from mixtures with paraffins with diethylene glycol, olefins with benzene sulphonic acids, and the removal of CO2 or H2S from a gas stream with mono- or di-ethanolamine and air for re-extraction. Diffusion cells according to the invention may have multiple barriers operated in parallel. Pressures are normally substantially equal on both sides of the barrier, but if not barriers may be strengthened by metal supports 31 (Fig. 5, not shown). The porous material may be paper, asbestos, a natural or synthetic fabric, felt, glass, mineral wool, a natural or synthetic sponge or a sintered plastic, ceramic or metal.ALSO:A porous barrier soaked in a selective solvent for the desired component is used in the removal of such a component from a fluid mixture with which the solvent is immiscible as a whole, by diffusion to a re-extractant fluid which is likewise immiscible with the solvent but capable of extracting the desired component therefrom. Particular processes described and claimed are the removal of isobutylene from a mixture of C4 alkanes and alkenes using 60-65% sulphuric acid in the barrier and hexane as the re-extractant, and the removal of methylbutenes from a C5 hydrocarbon mixture with the same selective solvent and with a C6-C9 paraffin as the re-extractant. Also referred to are the removal of mercaptans from a hydrocarbon stream using caustic alkali, the removal of alkynes or butadiene using Cu or Ag salts, the removal of aromatics from mixtures with paraffins with diethylene glycol, olefins with benzene sulphonic acids, and the removal of CO2 or H2S from a gas stream with mono- or di-ethanolamine and air for re-extraction. Diffusion cells according to the invention may have multiple barriers operated in parallel. Pressures are normally substantially equal on both sides of the barrier, but if not barriers may be strengthened by metal supports 31 (Fig. 5, not shown). The porous material may be paper, asbestos a natural or synthetic fabric, felt, glass, mineral wool, a natural or synthetic sponge or a sintered plastic, ceramic or metal.

Semi-permeable membrane extraction

The power output from a nuclear power plant or fossil fuel power plant operating under constant reactor (or furnace) and boiler conditions is varied by regulating the rate of turbine extraction steam and primary high pressure steam used to heat boiler feed water (BFW). During periods of low power demand excess extraction steam is drawn off to heat excess quantities of boiler feed water. One portion of the BFW is fed to the boiler while the other portion is used to reheat a low vapor pressure (LVP) organic material which hot material is stored under an inert atmosphere at atmospheric pressure in a high temperature storage location means. During periods of high power demand BFW preheat duties would be taken over entirely by the moving LVP organic material, moving from hot to cold storage location means, use of extraction steam for BFW reheat being curtailed and such untapped extraction steam being allowed instead to expand itself fully in the turbines. The boiler at all times receives a constant amount of uniformly preheated BFW.

Robert P Cahn

Papers

Extraction of Copper by Liquid Membranes

Liquid membrane process for the separation of aqueous mixtures

Separations of organic compounds by liquid membrane processes

Semi-permeable membrane extraction

Thermal energy storage and utilization system