IP Library Granted Patent US 9,222,665
Granted Patent B2
US 9,222,665 · App. 13/326,482 · Granted Dec 29, 2015

Waste remediation

Inventors: Nancy J. Halas (Houston, TX); Peter Nordlander (Houston, TX); Oara Neumann (Houston, TX)
Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
F22B1/281A61L2/10A61L11/00B09B3/0075B09B3/0091C02F11/18F22B1/006F24J2/07F24J2/42F24J2/48B82Y30/00C02F2103/003C02F2103/005C02F2103/30C02F2103/32C02F2209/02C02F2209/03C02F2303/04F24J2/14F24J2/485F28F13/187Y02E10/41Y02W10/37
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,222,665
App. No.
13/326,482
Granted
Dec 29, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system including a steam generation system and a chamber. The steam generation system includes a complex and the steam generation system is configured to receive water, concentrate electromagnetic (EM) radiation received from an EM radiation source, apply the EM radiation to the complex, where the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat, and transform, using the heat generated by the complex, the water to steam. The chamber is configured to receive the steam and an object, wherein the object is of medical waste, medical equipment, fabric, and fecal matter.

Claims (33)

1. A system, comprising:

a steam generation system comprising a complex, wherein the steam generation system is configured to:

receive water;

concentrate electromagnetic (EM) radiation received from an EM radiation source, apply the EM radiation to the complex, wherein the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat, and

transform, using the heat generated by the complex, the water to steam; and

a chamber configured to receive the steam and an object, wherein the object is one selected from a group consisting of medical waste, medical equipment, fabric, and fecal matter,

wherein the complex comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of copper nanoparticles, copper oxide nanoparticles, nanoshells, nanorods, carbon moieties, encapsulated nanoshells, encapsulated nanoparticles, and branched nanostructures,

wherein the complex comprises an encapsulating layer configured to preserve a plasmon resonance of the complex wherein the encapsulating layer comprises silica, titanium dioxide, europium oxide, titanium, europium, erbium, samarium, praseodymium, dysprosium, or a polymer.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the steam generation system comprises a concentrator, wherein the concentrator is a lens.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the steam generation system comprises a concentrator, wherein the concentrator is a curved mirror and wherein the vessel is a section of pipe comprising the complex.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the complex is coated on at least a portion of an interior surface of the steam generation system.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises:

a control system comprising:

a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure inside the chamber; and

a valve that opens to release the steam from the chamber.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the pressure inside the chamber is at least 95 psi.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the control system further comprises:

a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature inside the chamber.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the temperature inside the chamber reaches at least 347 degrees Fahrenheit.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the EM radiation comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of EM radiation in an ultraviolet region of an electromagnetic spectrum, in a visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and in an infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is portable.

11. A system, comprising:

a steam generation system comprising a complex, wherein the steam generation system is configured to:

receive water;

concentrate electromagnetic (EM) radiation received from an EM radiation source,

apply the EM radiation to the complex, wherein the complex absorbs the EM radiation to generate heat, and

transform, using the heat generated by the complex, the water to steam; and

a chamber configured to receive the steam and an object, wherein the object is one selected from a group consisting of medical waste, medical equipment, fabric, and fecal matter,

wherein the complex is a carbon moiety, and

wherein the thermal efficiency of steam formation by the complex is at least 80%, and

wherein the complex comprises an encapsulating layer configured to preserve a plasmon resonance of the complex wherein the encapsulating layer comprises silica, titanium dioxide, europium oxide, titanium, europium, erbium, samarium, praseodymium, dysprosium, or a polymer.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein a thermal efficiency of steam formation by the complex is at least 80%.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the complex is at least two selected from a group consisting of copper nanoparticles, copper oxide nanoparticles, nanoshells, nanorods, carbon moieties, encapsulated nanoshells, encapsulated nanoparticles, and branched nano structures.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2012
From: HALAS, NANCY J.; NORDLANDER, PETER; NEUMANN, OARA
To: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 027516/0316 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61423417 · Dec 15, 2010
Related Publication 20120156102A1 · Jun 21, 2012