Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and system for transferring power wirelessly to electronic devices. The system can utilize magnetic coupling between two coils at close proximity to transfer sufficient power to charge an electronic device. Embodiments of the invention pertain to an array of spiral coils that can be used to transmit power for transfer to receiver coils. Potential applications of this technology include charging consumer electronic devices (cell phones, laptops, PDAs, etc), developing hermetically sealed devices for extreme environments, and less invasive transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) systems. Various embodiments of the subject system can be referred to as PowerPad system. Embodiments can incorporate one or more of the following: planar inductors, PCB transformers, and very high frequency power supplies. Embodiments of the invention also pertain to planar inductors having characteristics that allow the production of even magnetic field, as well as systems that incorporate such planar inductors.

Method and apparatus for wireless power transmission

Due to high metal prices and increased difficulties in finding shallower deposits, the exploration for and exploitation of mineral resources is expected to move to greater depths. Consequently, seismic methods will become a more important tool to help unravel structures hosting mineral deposits at great depth for mine planning and exploration. These methods also can be used with varying degrees of success to directly target mineral deposits at depth. We review important contributions that have been made in developing these techniques for the mining industry with focus on four main regions: Australia, Europe, Canada, and South Africa. A wide range of case studies are covered, including some that are published in the special issue accompanying this article, from surface to borehole seismic methods, as well as petrophysical data and seismic modeling of mineral deposits. At present, high-resolution 2D surveys mostly are performed in mining areas, but there is a general increasing trend in the use of 3...

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Seismic methods in mineral exploration and mine planning: A general overview of past and present case histories and a look into the future

Mechano-chemical interactions in sedimentary rocks in the context of CO2 storage: Weak acid, weak effects?

Carbon geosequestration in limestone: Pore-scale dissolution and geomechanical weakening

Although seismic wave dispersion and attenuation have been found to occur in sedimentary rocks, it remains challenging to experimentally observe these effects. A new experimental setup has been developed to measure the Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of rocks over a wide range in pressure (Pc∈[0;30]  MPa) and frequency (f∈[5.10−3;102]  Hz). Calibration with standard samples determined the following: (1) no dependence of the apparatus to pressure and frequency and (2) a good fit between published data and the measured and inferred elastic properties. The measured Young’s modulus dispersion and attenuation of Plexiglas were also consistent with the published data. The Young’s modulus and the attenuation of Fontainebleau sandstone samples saturated by water and glycerin were then measured. Although small variations were observed for one sample, the second one exhibited strong pressure- and frequency-dependent variations of Young’s modulus and attenuation. A frequency-dependent fluid flow was simu...

Experimental study of Young’s modulus dispersion and attenuation in fully saturated sandstones

To provide a guide for future deep (<1.5 km) seismic mineral exploration and to better understand the nature of reflections imaged by surface reflection seismic data in two mining camps and a carbonatite complex of Sweden, more than 50 rock and ore samples were collected and measured for their seismic velocities. The samples are geographically from the northern and central parts of Sweden, ranging from metallic ore deposits, meta-volcanic and meta-intrusive rocks to deformed and metamorphosed rocks. First, ultrasonic measurements of P- and S-wave velocities at both atmospheric and elevated pressures, using 0.5 MHz P- and S-wave transducers were conducted. The ultrasonic measurements suggest that most of the measured velocities show positive correlation with the density of the samples with an exception of a massive sulphide ore sample that shows significant low P- and S-wave velocities. The low P- and S-wave velocities are attributed to the mineral texture of the sample and partly lower pyrite content in comparison with a similar type sample obtained from Norway, which shows significantly higher P- and S-wave velocities. Later, an iron ore sample from the central part of Sweden was measured using a low-frequency (0.1-50 Hz) apparatus to provide comparison with the ultrasonic velocity measurements. The low-frequency measurements indicate that the iron ore sample has minimal dispersion and attenuation. The iron ore sample shows the highest acoustic impedance among our samples suggesting that these deposits are favourable targets for seismic methods. This is further demonstrated by a real seismic section acquired over an iron ore mine in the central part of Sweden. Finally, a laser-interferometer device was used to analyse elastic anisotropy of five rock samples taken from a major deformation zone in order to provide insights into the nature of reflections observed from the deformation zone. Up to 10% velocity-anisotropy is estimated and demonstrated to be present for the samples taken from the deformation zone using the laser-interferometery measurements. However, the origin of the reflections from the major deformation zone is attributed to a combination of anisotropy and amphibolite lenses within the deformation zone.

Experimental estimation of velocities and anisotropy of a series of Swedish crystalline rocks and ores

A probe (80) for irradiating a sample with RF energy during transmitting periods and detecting an NQR or NMR signal from a substance contained within the sample during receiving periods. The probe (80) comprises a variable impedance unit (20) for changing the Q-factor of the probe and a probe coil. The probe (80) is responsive to powerful RF pulses applied thereto to excite RF magnetic field in the probe coil during the transmitting periods. The impedance (20) is controllable to provide a Q-factor for the probe (80) at: an optimal level during a prescribed transmitting period of an RF pulse for irradiating the sample with said RF energy; a minimal level during a prescribed recovery period immediately following said transmitting period to rapidly dampen transient signals from the probe; and a maximal level during a prescribed receiving period for detecting an NQR or NMR signal from the target substance if present, immediately following the recovery period.

Q-factor switching method and apparatus for detecting nuclear quadrupole and nuclear magnetic resonance signals

Quantitative knowledge of the acoustic response of rock from an injection site on supercritical CO2 (scCO2) saturation is crucial for understanding the feasibility of time-lapse seismic monitoring of CO2 plume migration. A suite of shaley sandstones from the injection interval of the CRC-2 well, Otway Basin, Australia is tested to reveal the effects of supercritical CO2 injection on acoustic responses. CO2 is first injected into dry samples, flushed out with brine and then injected again into brine-saturated samples. Such a suite of experiments allows us to obtain acoustic velocities of the samples for a wide range of CO2/brine saturations from 0% to 100%. On injection of scCO2 into brine-saturated samples, the rocks exhibit a decrease of compressional velocities by about 7% with the increase of CO2 saturation from 0% to a maximum of about 50%. Anisotropy of the shaley sandstones from the Otway Basin must be taken into account as the difference in the velocities normal and parallel to bedding is comparable with the perturbation due to CO2 injection and the samples of different orientations exhibit transition from Gassmann-Hill to Gassmann-Wood bound at different scCO2 saturations. Changes of the dry samples before and after the CO2 injection (if any) are not traceable by acoustic methods.

An experimental study of acoustic responses on the injection of supercritical CO2 into sandstones from the Otway Basin

An antenna and shield apparatus for detecting phenomenal signals using nuclear and electronic resonance detection technology, comprising: a transmit and receive antenna, an electric field shield (60) and an outer shield (52). The antenna is a multiple parallel loop transmit-receive antenna forming a main coil assembly (11) having a plurality of loop segments (20) optionally interconnected by connectors in the form of conducting bars (10), relays (16), or nothing. The electric field shield (60) comprises an inner sleeve of conducting material (60, 68) disposed on the inside of the coil assembly (11) for shielding the electric field emanating from the coil assembly (11) from the target volume circumscribed by the assembly. The outer shield (52) comprises a central screen portion (55), waveguides (57) at either end thereof and a sloping channel portion for interconnecting the two. The coil assembly 11 and the electric field shield (60) are housed within the outer shield (52).

Transmit - receive coil system for nuclear quadrupole resonance signal detection in substances and components thereof

An apparatus for exciting and detecting NQR in a substance containing quadrupole nuclei responsive to the NQR phenomenon. The apparatus includes a coil 15 for irradiating an item that may contain a substance with RF waves to excite NQR in quadrupole nuclei within the substance and for receiving an NQR signal emitted in response thereto. The apparatus also includes a transmitter unit 10, a receiver unit 11, a sensing means and a computer 12 for processing the treated received signal to identify a said NQR signal therein.

Vassili Mikhaltsevitch

Papers

Experimental estimation of velocities and anisotropy of a series of Swedish crystalline rocks and ores

Q-factor switching method and apparatus for detecting nuclear quadrupole and nuclear magnetic resonance signals

An experimental study of acoustic responses on the injection of supercritical CO2 into sandstones from the Otway Basin

Transmit - receive coil system for nuclear quadrupole resonance signal detection in substances and components thereof

Improvements for nuclear quadrupole resonance measurements