DOE Patents Database - Search Results

Patent Title	Inventor(s)	Issue Date	Patent Number
The present New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for utility boilers limit particulate emissions to 0.03 pound of total suspended particles per million BTU of heat input. To meet NSPS the particulate removal efficiency of a control device must be 99.0 to 99.9%, depending upon the heating value of the coal. Methods and apparatus are disclosed for the removal of particulate solids from a gas stream at high separation efficiency, including the removal of submicron size particles. The apparatus includes a cyclone separator type of device which contains an axially mounted perforated cylindrical hollow rotor. The rotor is rotated at high velocity in the same direction as the flow of an input particle-laden gas stream to thereby cause enhanced separation of particulate matter from the gas stream in the cylindrical annular space between the rotor and the sidewall of the cyclone vessel. Substantially particle-free gas passes through the perforated surface of the spinning rotor and into the hollow rotor, from whence it is discharged out of the top of the apparatus. Separated particulates are removed from the bottom of the vessel. 4 figs., 5 tabs. Method and apparatus for improved gas-solids separation	Kusik, C.L. , He, Bo X.	08/04/1989	PATENTS-US-A7389471
A method for controlling hydrogen charging of hydride forming metals through a window of a superimposed layer of a non-hydriding metal overlying the portion of the hydride forming metals to be charged. Method for controlled hydrogen charging of metals	Cheng, Bo-Ching , Adamson, Ronald B.	05/29/1984	US 4451445
Methods are disclosed for the removal of particulate solids from a gas stream at high separation efficiency, including the removal of submicron size particles. The apparatus includes a cyclone separator type of device which contains an axially mounted perforated cylindrical hollow rotor. The rotor is rotated at high velocity in the same direction as the flow of an input particle-laden gas stream to thereby cause enhanced separation of particulate matter from the gas stream in the cylindrical annular space between the rotor and the sidewall of the cyclone vessel. Substantially particle-free gas passes through the perforated surface of the spinning rotor and into the hollow rotor, from when it is discharged out of the top of the apparatus. Separated particulates are removed from the bottom of the vessel. Method for improved gas-solids separation	Kusik, Charles L. , He, Bo X.	01/01/1990	US 4969934
A solar cell module includes interconnected solar cells, a transparent cover over the front sides of the solar cells, and a backsheet on the backsides of the solar cells. The solar cell module includes an electrical insulator between the transparent cover and the front sides of the solar cells. An encapsulant protectively packages the solar cells. To prevent polarization, the insulator has resistance suitable to prevent charge from leaking from the front sides of the solar cells to other portions of the solar cell module by way of the transparent cover. The insulator may be attached (e.g., by coating) directly on an underside of the transparent cover or be a separate layer formed between layers of the encapsulant. The solar cells may be back junction solar cells. Module level solutions to solar cell polarization	Xavier, Grace , Bo	05/29/2012	8,188,363
An improved method for producing nuclear fuel containers of a composite construction having components providing therein a barrier system for resisting destructive action by volatile fission products or impurities and also interdiffusion of metal constituents, and the product thereof. The composite nuclear fuel containers of the method comprise a casing of zirconium or alloy thereof with a layer of copper overlying an oxidized surface portion of the zirconium or alloy thereof. Method for forming nuclear fuel containers of a composite construction and the product thereof	Cheng, Bo-Ching , Rosenbaum, Herman S. , Armijo, Joseph S.	01/01/1984	US 4445942
An improved method for producing nuclear fuel containers of a composite construction having components providing therein a barrier system for resisting destructive action by volatile fission products or impurities and also interdiffusion of metal constituents, and the product thereof. The composite nuclear fuel containers of the method comprise a casing of zirconium or alloy thereof with a layer of copper overlying an oxidized surface portion of the zirconium or alloy thereof. Composite construction for nuclear fuel containers	Cheng, Bo-Ching , Rosenbaum, Herman S. , Armijo, Joseph S.	01/01/1987	US 4659540
Surface modification of magnetic recording heads using plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition is disclosed. This method may be carried out using a vacuum arc deposition system with a metallic or carbon cathode. By operating a plasma gun in a long-pulse mode and biasing the substrate holder with short pulses of a high negative voltage, direct ion implantation, recoil implantation, and surface deposition are combined to modify the near-surface regions of the head or substrate in processing times which may be less than 5 min. The modified regions are atomically mixed into the substrate. This surface modification improves the surface smoothness and hardness and enhances the tribological characteristics under conditions of contact-start-stop and continuous sliding. These results are obtained while maintaining original tolerances. Surface treatment of magnetic recording heads	Komvopoulos, Kyriakos , Brown, Ian G. , Wei, Bo , Anders, Simone , Anders, Andre , Bhatia, Singh C.	01/01/1995	US 5476691
Surface modification of magnetic recording heads using plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition is disclosed. This method may be carried out using a vacuum arc deposition system with a metallic or carbon cathode. By operating a plasma gun in a long-pulse mode and biasing the substrate holder with short pulses of a high negative voltage, direct ion implantation, recoil implantation, and surface deposition are combined to modify the near-surface regions of the head or substrate in processing times which may be less than 5 min. The modified regions are atomically mixed into the substrate. This surface modification improves the surface smoothness and hardness and enhances the tribological characteristics under conditions of contact-start-stop and continuous sliding. These results are obtained while maintaining original tolerances. Surface treatment of magnetic recording heads	Komvopoulos, Kyriakos , Brown, Ian G. , Wei, Bo , Anders, Simone , Anders, Andre , Bhatia, C. Singh	01/01/1998	US 5838522
A process for producing an article with improved ceramic surface properties including providing an article having a ceramic surface, and placing the article onto a conductive substrate holder in a hermetic enclosure. Thereafter a low pressure ambient is provided in the hermetic enclosure. A plasma including ions of solid materials is produced the ceramic surface of the article being at least partially immersed in a macroparticle free region of the plasma. While the article is immersed in the macroparticle free region, a bias of the substrate holder is biased between a low voltage at which material from the plasma condenses on the surface of the article and a high negative voltage at which ions from the plasma are implanted into the article. Surface treatment of ceramic articles	Komvopoulos, Kyriakos , Brown, Ian G. , Wei, Bo , Anders, Simone , Anders, Andre , Bhatia, C. Singh	01/01/1998	US 5851475
Manipulation of DNA molecules in solution has become an essential aspect of genetic analyses used for biomedical assays, the identification of hazardous bacterial agents, and in decoding the human genome. Currently, most of the steps involved in preparing a DNA sample for analysis are performed manually and are time, labor, and equipment intensive. These steps include extraction of the DNA from spores or cells, separation of the DNA from other particles and molecules in the solution (e.g. dust, smoke, cell/spore debris, and proteins), and separation of the DNA itself into strands of specific lengths. Dielectrophoresis (DEP), a phenomenon whereby polarizable particles move in response to a gradient in electric field, can be used to manipulate and separate DNA in an automated fashion, considerably reducing the time and expense involved in DNA analyses, as well as allowing for the miniaturization of DNA analysis instruments. These applications include direct transport of DNA, trapping of DNA to allow for its separation from other particles or molecules in the solution, and the separation of DNA into strands of varying lengths. Microfluidic DNA sample preparation method and device	Krulevitch, Peter A. , Miles, Robin R. , Wang, Xiao-Bo , Mariella, Raymond P. , Gascoyne, Peter R. C. , Balch, Joseph W.	01/01/2002	US 6352838
A microfabricated instrument for detecting and identifying cells and other particles based on alternating current (AC) impedance measurements. The microfabricated AC impedance sensor includes two critical elements: 1) a microfluidic chip, preferably of glass substrates, having at least one microchannel therein and with electrodes patterned on both substrates, and 2) electrical circuits that connect to the electrodes on the microfluidic chip and detect signals associated with particles traveling down the microchannels. These circuits enable multiple AC impedance measurements of individual particles at high throughput rates with sufficient resolution to identify different particle and cell types as appropriate for environmental detection and clinical diagnostic applications. Microfabricated AC impedance sensor	Krulevitch, Peter , Ackler, Harold D. , Becker, Frederick , Boser, Bernhard E. , Eldredge, Adam B. , Fuller, Christopher K. , Gascoyne, Peter R. C. , Hamilton, Julie K. , Swierkowski, Stefan P. , Wang, Xiao-Bo	01/01/2002	US 6437551