The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory is seeking licensing partners interested in implementing United States Patent Number 7,314,847 titled "Regenerable Sorbents for CO₂ Capture from Moderate and High Temperature Gas Streams."

Disclosed in this patent is NETL’s process for making a granular sorbent to capture carbon dioxide from gas streams. The sorbent is made by homogeneously mixing a reactive substrate containing an alkali metal with an alkaline earth metal-containing moiety to form a mixture; adding water to the mixture; and drying the mixture. After drying, the sorbent is placed in a container permeable to a gas stream. The sorbents produced by this method absorb up to 38 times more gas than current methods.

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking licensing partners interested in implementing United States Patent Number 7,553,517 titled "Method of Applying a Cerium Diffusion Coating to a Metallic Alloy." This invention is applicable to advanced, next-generation power plant components; solid oxide fuels cells; heaters and heat exchangers; or any other application where oxidation-resistant metals are needed.

Disclosed in this patent is NETL’s robust, inexpensive process for increasing the oxidation resistance of nickel-based superalloys, as well as ferritic and austenitic stainless steels. The process involves applying a cerium oxide (CeO₂) slurry to the metal surface, followed by heat treating to induce microstructural changes in the surface by cerium diffusion.

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking licensing partners interested in implementing United States Patent Number 7,421,166 titled "Laser Spark Distribution and Ignition System."

Disclosed in this patent is NETL’s laser spark distribution and ignition system, which reduces the high-power optical requirements normally needed for such a system by using optical fibers to deliver low-peak-energy pumping pulses to a laser amplifier or laser oscillator. Laser spark generators then produce a high-peak-power laser spark from a single low power pulse. The system has applications in natural gas fueled reciprocating engines, turbine combustors, explosives, and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy diagnostic sensors.

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking licensing partners interested in implementing United States Patent Number 7,159,841 entitled "Piezoelectric Axial Flow Microvalve."

Disclosed in this patent are the design and functionality of NETL’s piezo-electrically operated microvalves and their use in fuel cell systems, which consist of an assembly of individual fuel cells into a stack. The microvalve improves flow control over the entire fuel cell system by integrating flow distribution and controlling of individual fuel cells within the stack. By controlling fuel flow in each individual cell, the microvalve system can prevent the overheating and under-performing of a portion of the stack, thereby avoiding reduced efficiency and energy output for the entire stack.

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking licensing partners interested in implementing its patented "Real-Time Combustion Control and Diagnostics Sensor-Pressure Oscillation Monitor" technology.

Disclosed is NETL’s sensor system and process for monitoring and controlling the amplitude and/or frequencies of dynamic pressure oscillations in combustion systems during active combustion processes. The combustion control and diagnostics sensor (CCADS) is designed for gas turbine combustors that are operated near the fuel-lean flame extinction limit to minimize production of the atmospheric pollutant NOx. CCADS eliminates the problems of flashback, lean blowoff, and dynamic pressure operations sometimes experienced at these conditions.

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking licensing partners interested in implementing United States Patent Number 7,494,632 titled "Mercury Sorbent Delivery System for Flue Gas."

Disclosed in this patent is NETL’s system for the removal of elemental mercury (Hg) (and other contaminants) from flue gas streams, which involves utilizing a layer of sorbent particles contained within the filter fabric of a filter bag in a flue gas scrubbing system. Gases generated from combustion sources such as coal gasifiers, coal-fired electrical generating plants, and ore smelters are candidates, especially if the gases already need particulate removal, and if cross-contamination of fly ash by-product by sorbent/mercury is to be avoided. More than 90 percent of elemental mercury was shown to be removed when activated carbon particles were tested in this process. The particle-loaded membranes may also act as oxidizers of the elemental Hg ahead of wet scrubbers. In addition, cleanup of aqueous waste streams is possible.

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking licensing partners interested in implementing United States Patent Number 7,523,673 titled "Ionization Based Multi-directional Flow Sensor."

Disclosed in this patent is NETL’s sensor system and process for multidirectional, real-time monitoring of the flow direction and velocity of a gas stream, with minimal pressure drop, such as air flow in a hybrid power generation system. The sensor comprises an ion source accompanied by a multidirectional ion collection device near the ion source. Possible applications include power generation and weather monitoring.

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory is seeking licensing partners interested in implementing United States Patent Number 7,776,780 titled "Catalysts for Oxidation of Mercury in Flue Gas." Disclosed in this patent are catalysts for the oxidation of elemental mercury in flue gas. These novel catalysts include iridium (Ir), platinum/iridium (Pt/Ir), and Thief carbons. The catalyst materials will adsorb the oxidizing agents HCl, Cl2, and other halogen species in the flue gas stream that are produced when fuel is combusted. These adsorbed oxidizing agents can then react with elemental mercury in the stream, which is difficult to capture, and oxidize it to form Hg (II) species, such as mercuric chloride (HgCl2), which is soluble in water and more easily removed from the stream.

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory is seeking licensing partners interested in implementing U.S. Patent No. 8,391,552 titled "Method of Particle Trajectory Recognition in Particle Flows of High Particle Concentration Using a Candidate Trajectory Tree Process with Variable Search Areas.

The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking collaborative research and licensing partners interested in implementing United States Patent Number 7,839,282 titled "Capacitance Probe for Detection of Anomalies in Nonmetallic Plastic Pipe."

Disclosed in this patent is an analysis of materials using a capacitive sensor to detect anomalies in nonmetallic plastic pipe through comparison of measured capacitances. The capacitive sensor is used in conjunction with a capacitance measurement device, a location device, and a processor to generate a capacitance versus location output for the detection and localization of anomalies within the nonmetallic material under test. The components may be carried as payload on an inspection vehicle that can travel through the interior of a pipe. Supporting components are solid-state devices powered by a low voltage on-board power supply, providing for use in environments where voltage levels may be restricted.