Superlubricious carbon films derived from natural gas
AssigneeU.S. Department of Energy
InventorsAli Erdemir, Osman Eryilmaz, Jair Giovanni Ramirez Gonzalez
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Abstract
A nanocomposite coating that in turn extract self-replenishing (or -healing), superlubricious carbon film directly from natural gas or hydrocarbon gas in mechanical systems. The coating deposits on sealing and sliding surfaces reducing friction and wear. The result is a reduction in inefficiency, machine breakdown, and adverse environmental impact.
Claims9
A method of extracting lubricious carbon films from a hydrocarbon gas in a mechanical system comprising the steps of:
- coating sliding surfaces in a mechanical system with a catalytically active material wherein the catalytically active material is selected from the group consisting of VN—Ni, VN—Cu, MoN—Ni, MoN—Cu, VN—Co, MoN—Co and combinations thereof;
- pressurizing the mechanical system to a predetermined pressure;
- maintaining the temperature of the mechanical system in a predetermined range;
- filling the mechanical system with the hydrocarbon gas, the hydrocarbon gas containing approximately 70-90 percent methane, approximately 0-20% ethane, approximately 0-8% carbon, approximately 0-0.2% oxygen, approximately 0-5% nitrogen and approximately 0-5% hydrogen sulphide;
- and
- operating said mechanical system.
A method of extracting lubricious carbon films from a hydrocarbon gas in a mechanical system comprising the steps of:
- coating sliding surfaces in a mechanical system with a catalytically active material;
- pressurizing the mechanical system to a pressure greater 3500 psi;
- maintaining the temperature of the mechanical system in a predetermined range;
- filling the mechanical system with the hydrocarbon gas, the hydrocarbon gas containing approximately 70-90 percent methane, approximately 0-20% ethane, approximately 0-8% carbon, approximately 0-0.2% oxygen, approximately 0-5% nitrogen and approximately 0-5% hydrogen sulphide;
- and
- operating said mechanical system.
A method of extracting lubricious carbon films from a hydrocarbon gas in a mechanical system comprising the steps of:
- coating sliding surfaces in a mechanical system with a catalytically active material;
- pressurizing the mechanical system to a predetermined pressure;
- maintaining the temperature of the mechanical system in a predetermined range;
- filling the mechanical system with the hydrocarbon gas, the hydrocarbon gas containing approximately 70-90 percent methane, approximately 0-20% ethane, approximately 0-8% carbon, approximately 0-0.2% oxygen, approximately 0-5% nitrogen and approximately 0-5% hydrogen sulphide wherein the hydrocarbon gas further includes moisture and sulfur dioxide;
- and
- operating said mechanical system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.