Michael D Stephenson

US Patent:

41294254, Dec 12, 1978

Filed:

Jul 18, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/816575

Inventors:

Michael J. Stephenson - Oak Ridge TN
Robert S. Eby - Oak Ridge TN

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

B01D 5316

US Classification:

55 44

Abstract:

This invention is an improved gas-absorption process for the recovery of a desired component from a feed-gas mixture containing the same. In the preferred form of the invention, the process operations are conducted in a closed-loop system including a gas-liquid contacting column having upper, intermediate, and lower contacting zones. A liquid absorbent for the desired component is circulated through the loop, being passed downwardly through the column, regenerated, withdrawn from a reboiler, and then recycled to the column. A novel technique is employed to concentrate the desired component in a narrow section of the intermediate zone. This technique comprises maintaining the temperature of the liquid-phase input to the intermediate zone at a sufficiently lower value than that of the gas-phase input to the zone to effect condensation of a major part of the absorbent-vapor upflow to the section. This establishes a steep temperature gradient in the section. The stripping factors below this section are selected to ensure that virtually all of the gases in the downflowing absorbent from the section are desorbed.

US Patent:

57359326, Apr 7, 1998

Filed:

Jul 19, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/683895

Inventors:

Michael J. Stephenson - Oak Ridge TN
Waldo R. Golliher - Knoxville TN
Paul A. Haas - Knoxville TN
Lark A. Lundberg - Knoxville TN

Assignee:

M4 Environmental Management Inc. - Oak Ridge TN

International Classification:

C22B 6000

US Classification:

75399

Abstract:

A process for preparing uranium metal or alloy thereof suitable for use in a metal-based uranium enrichment plant or other use requiring a superdense metal comprising providing a molten metal bath containing the alloy metal and feeding uranium oxide and a reactive metal reductant into the molten metal bath so that the oxide is reduced to elemental uranium and alloying the thus formed uranium with the bath metal.

US Patent:

43057357, Dec 15, 1981

Filed:

Jan 11, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/111495

Inventors:

Brant E. Kanak - Knoxville TN
Michael J. Stephenson - Oak Ridge TN

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

B01D 5316

US Classification:

55 37

Abstract:

This invention is a method for improving dissolution efficiency in processes in which a feed fluid is introduced to a zone where it is contacted with a liquid solvent for preferentially removing a component of the feed and where part of the solvent so contacted undergoes transfer into the feed fluid to saturate the same. It has been found that such transfer significantly impairs dissolution efficiency. In accordance with the invention, an amount of the above-mentioned solvent is added to the feed fluid being introduced to the contact zone, the solvent being added in an amount sufficient to effect reduction or elimination of the above-mentioned transfer. Preferably, the solvent is added to the feed fluid in an amount saturating or supersaturating the feed fluid under the conditions prevailing in the contact zone.

US Patent:

57521581, May 12, 1998

Filed:

May 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/657937

Inventors:

Michael J. Stephenson - Oak Ridge TN
Waldo R. Golliher - Knoxville TN
Paul Haas - Knoxville TN

Assignee:

M4 Environmental L.P. - Oak Ridge TN

International Classification:

C01G 4301

US Classification:

423261

Abstract:

A single-step process for producing solid uranium oxide and gaseous HF from UF. sub. 6 which comprises bringing together two gaseous reactant streams, one of said streams comprising UF. sub. 6 optionally admixed with oxygen as O. sub. 2, and the second reactant stream comprising a mixture of hydrogen as H. sub. 2 or as a hydrogen-containing compound and oxygen as an oxygen-containing compound, said gaseous reactant streams being brought together at a temperature and composition such that the UF. sub. 6 is converted rapidly by flame reaction into readily separable solid uranium oxide and a gaseous HF product.

US Patent:

59355280, Aug 10, 1999

Filed:

Jan 14, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/783512

Inventors:

Michael J. Stephenson - Oak Ridge TN
Paul A. Haas - Knoxville TN
David A. Everitt - Oak Ridge TN

Assignee:

Molten Metal Technology, Inc. - Fall River MA

International Classification:

C01G 4302

US Classification:

422159

Abstract:

A multicomponent fluid feed apparatus is disclosed that independently preheats and then mixes two or more fluid streams being introduced into a high temperature chemical reactor to promote more rigorous and complete reactions using assemblies of inert tubular elements and an integral mixing orifice plate. The design allows use of ceramic and speciality alloy materials for high temperature service with particularly corrosive halide feeds such as UF. sub. 6 and HF. Radiant heat transfer to the tubular elements from external means gives the necessary system high temperatures without excessive temperatures to cause material failure. Preheating of the gaseous reactants in a separate step prior to mixing and injecting the gaseous reactants into a high temperature chemical reactor was found to provide an improved thermal conversion of UF. sub. 6 to uranium oxides.

US Patent:

45466114, Oct 15, 1985

Filed:

Dec 21, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/564113

Inventors:

Robert S. Eby - Oak Ridge TN
Michael J. Stephenson - Oak Ridge TN
Deborah H. Andrews - Harriman TN
Thomas H. Hamilton - Knoxville TN

International Classification:

F17C 1300

US Classification:

62 54

Abstract:

The invention is a UF. sub. 6 -recovery process of the kind in which a stream of substantially pure gaseous UF. sub. 6 is directed through an externally chilled desublimer to convert the UF. sub. 6 directly to an annular solid ring adhering to the interior wall of the desublimer. After accumulation of a desired amount of solid UF. sub. 6, the desublimer is heated to liquefy the solid. Subsequently, the liquid is recovered from the desublimer. It has been found that during the heating operation the desublimer is subjected to excessive mechanical stresses. In addition, it has been found that the incorporation of a very small percentage of relatively noncondensable, nonreactive gas (e. g. , nitrogen) in the UF. sub. 6 input to the desublimer effects significant decreases in the stresses generated during the subsequent melting operation.

US Patent:

58753850, Feb 23, 1999

Filed:

Jan 15, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/783264

Inventors:

Michael J. Stephenson - Oak Ridge TN
Paul A. Haas - Knoxville TN
Robert S. Eby - Oak Ridge TN

Assignee:

Molten Metal Technology, Inc. - Fall River MA

International Classification:

C01G 4301

US Classification:

423260

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method for varying and controlling the chemical composition and physical properties of the uranium oxide solids produced by the thermal conversion of UF. sub. 6. The method allows the production of predominantly UO. sub. 2, U. sub. 3 O. sub. 8, or UO. sub. 3 interchangeably from the same reactor simply by controlling the hydrogen and oxygen contents of the feed relative to uranium. The temperature profile of the thermal reactor is established by specifying the preheat of the feed prior to mixing, the feed composition, and the reactor wall temperature to thus vary and control the physical properties of the resulting solids according to the end use of the uranium product.

US Patent:

20190063719, Feb 28, 2019

Filed:

Aug 29, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/689917

Inventors:

- Escondido CA, US
Michael Stephenson - Escondido CA, US

International Classification:

F21V 1/04
F21V 7/22
F21V 19/00

Abstract:

A lamp includes: a base; a lampshade support coupled to the base, the lampshade support including: a hub; and a set of spokes extending radially outward from the hub; and a ceramic lampshade. A ceramic lamp includes: a ceramic base; and a ceramic lampshade that rests on a top surface of the ceramic base. A lamp includes: a ceramic cylindrical base with an open top and a set of through holes along a circumference of the ceramic cylindrical base; a light source coupled to the ceramic cylindrical base such that light is able to pass through the set of through holes and through the open top; and a ceramic lampshade having an open bottom and a top hole through which light is able to pass.