Office of Naval Research (ONR)

An apparatus having a metallic manganese anode; a cathode capable of reducing at least one species found in marine water; and a rig coupled to the anode and the cathode capable of maintaining the anode below a marine sediment surface and maintaining the cathode above marine the sediment surface. A method of generating power by: positioning in marine sediment a metallic manganese anode; positioning in marine water a cathode capable of reducing at least one species found in marine water; and connecting electrical leads between the anode, the cathode, and an electrical load.

A bioreactor tank is internally partitioned into two chambers within which wastewater is respectively aerated and from which a bacteria purified permeate is withdrawn after filtration, while a high bacteria content remnant is recycled between the chambers to repeatedly undergo biological treatment by aeration within one of the tank chambers.

A chlorine gas generating candle in a vented container which serves as a portable means to generate heated chlorine gas for killing insects, bacteria, viruses and other dangerous biological agents. The device has application in sanitizing dwellings, swimming pools and the like, and is effective in case of accidental release and/or biological attack. The chlorine gas generating candle disinfects an enclosed space with a quantity of heated chlorine gas. The chlorine gas generator is a self contained unit including an igniter which can be activated to initiate a self propagating burn of the entire candle and a resultant distribution of toxic chlorine gas. The use of one or a plurality of chlorine generators described in this application can provide any desired concentration of the killing gas. The chlorine gas generating candle can be safely and easily transported and does not require a source of power to operate.

A method for performing work comprising the steps of providing an impellant consisting essentially of hydrogen peroxide of a strength at least 85 mass percent of total impellant, decomposing the impellant, wherein the decomposition releases energy, and, directing the released energy to perform work. A power system having an impellant consisting essentially of hydrogen peroxide of a strength at least 85 mass percent of total impellant is disclosed. The work may provide environmental conditioning, such as heat and potable water.

A system using tank corrosion sensors to provide for an overall assessment and monitoring of the electro-chemical corrosion and coatings condition in ships' tanks, and particularly in ships' seawater or compensated fuel tanks. The system includes reference half-cells mounted along a suspended cable and one instrumented sacrificial anode at the end of the cable to provide optimal sensing capability within a tank structure. The reference half-cells and the sacrificial anode measure a potential and current output, respectively. Together the measurements provide objective information that can be used to predict corrosion damage and coating deterioration occurring throughout the structure of the tank. The system may be used for an overall assessment and monitoring of the electro-chemical corrosion and coatings condition. In a preferred embodiment, the measurements are stored in a datalogger that is optimally contained within an associated instrument housing. If used with other systems in other tanks, the system may be used to monitor the relative tank condition, trend tank condition changes over time, range tank behavior into three categories and provide a direct analysis methodology for making tank maintenance decisions.

An easy access deck drain cover assembly with a strainer plate having a removable hinge at one end and a removable locking mechanism opposite the hinge where the locking mechanism includes a J-bolt coupled to the strainer plate and means for engaging the bottom of the J-bolt to secure the strainer plate in a closed position. The strainer plate cover remains connected to the deck drain even when opened so that the deck drain may be serviced.

Controlled flow of liquid is conducted between aligned inlet and outlet pipe sections through a valve housing within which a solid valve element is sealed and supported for electrically powered displacement between a fully open position establishing unrestricted flow and a fully closed position blocking inflow from the inlet pipe section and outflow from the outlet pipe section. The valve element is operatively displaced either by rotation or by linear movement under electrically powered control through a valve stem connected thereto, while a manual actuator is also connected to the valve stem outside of the valve housing for imparting reduced dithering displacement to the valve element so as to insure that it is in proper and readied working condition. Such electrically powered operational displacement of the valve element is sensed in response to movement of the valve stem.

An electrode for electrochemical uses is made of a conductive metal mesh coated with boron-doped diamond. The electrode may be used in electrochemical reactions either as a cathode or as an anode, or can be used with an alternating current.

A floating cleaning device that cleans marine growth from float and skirt type oil booms. The cleaning device is a floating platform with ramps at the front and rear with tracks that guide the movement of the oil boom past a series of spray washers supplied with pressurized water to remove the marine growth from the oil boom.

A gas generating process, which is for the continuous production of energy and hydrogen for rocket and other propulsion and is also for the continuous production of hydrogen, utilizes the reaction of metallic materials, particularly aluminum, with organic materials, particularly hydrocarbons provided as jet fuel, and with water or an oxidizer which is predominantly water. In comparison with related reactions, the reaction produces hot gases containing more hydrogen and the products have a lower temperature for the same specific impulse. The process incorporates organic liquids with metallic powders to produce desirable, lower molecular weight exhaust gas products; and the increased hydrogen is desirable for use with a fuel cell and in connection with propulsion of a super-cavitating underwater device. The process is advantageous in that a metal, in powdered form, and a hydrocarbon liquid may be provided together as a slurry or gel for effective metering. The metallic material may also be provided with the organic material in the form of a binder as used in solid propellants, and the organic material and water may be provided together in the form of a water containing liquid monopropellant. The hydrogen containing product gases from the reaction may be further reacted with suitable oxidizers for production of additional energy or steam. The reaction is particularly useful for underwater vehicles where ambient water is available and the reaction products may be used for propulsion.