R-3 Repository :: Browsing by Author "Curl, Robert F."

Browsing by Author "Curl, Robert F."

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Allocation of Carbon in the Production of Liquid Fuels and Electricity
(James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, 2012) Brito, Dagobert L.; Curl, Robert F.; James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
The crude from Canadian oil sands provides enormous security and economic advantages to the United States, but the carbon dioxide emitted during its extraction and refinement is about double that of most conventional crudes. This paper proposes that the U.S. government formulate policies that foster the diversion of Canadian oil sands crude to U.S. Gulf refineries, offsetting the additional carbon dioxide they create by using gas instead of coal to generate electricity. The development of oil sands should reduce the U.S. trade deficit; it would also ease the economic pressure to accelerate the production of coal-to-liquid fuels, which would result in four times as much carbon dioxide per gallon of fuel as the Canadian oil sands.
Automation Does Not Kill Jobs. It Increases Inequality
(James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, 2020) Brito, Dagobert L.; Curl, Robert F.; James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
The authors have developed a model of the effects of automation upon an economy similar to the U.S. The model predicts that the most important consequence of automation is to lower the real wages of medium-skilled and low-skilled workers. Data covering the period 1984 to 2016 demonstrate, as the model predicts, that the share of these workers in domestic production has steadily, if somewhat noisily declined.
Automation Does Not Kill Jobs; It Increases Inequality
(2020) Brito, Dagobert L.; Curl, Robert F.; James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
The authors have developed a model of the effects of automation upon an economy similar to the U.S. The model predicts that the most important consequence of automation is to lower the real wages of medium-skilled and low-skilled workers. Data covering the period 1984 to 2016 demonstrate, as the model predicts, that the share of these workers in domestic production has steadily, if somewhat noisily declined.
Economics of Pricing the Cost of Carbon Dioxide Restrictions in the Production of Electricity
(James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, 2010) Brito, Dagobert L.; Curl, Robert F.; James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
One of the more difficult issues in the debate over policy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is calculating the cost of a carbon dioxide constraint. In this paper, we calculate the cost of a carbon dioxide constraint in the production of electricity by modeling the replacement of coal generators with natural gas generators. We find: 1) Replacing coal generators with natural gas generators is the most economical way to achieve a target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent. 2) Unless there is a technological breakthrough in carbon sequestration, the carbon intensity of coal means that “clean coal” cannot be a significant factor in reducing carbon dioxide. Replacing existing coal generation capacity with modern coal generation plants can only reduce total carbon dioxide by 5 percent. 3) The distribution of the efficiency of coal generators in the United States is very concentrated. This concentration restricts the range over which carbon dioxide prices effectively manage the displacement of coal by gas. At current prices for fuels, a carbon price of approximately $30/metric ton (MT) will shut down 10 percent of coal generator capacity, and a price of $45/MT will shut down 90 percent of coal generator capacity. 4) The narrow range for the price of carbon dioxide means that coal generator capacity is very sensitive to the price of carbon dioxide emissions. This creates the possibility that a market in carbon dioxide permits will result in high volatility in the market for electricity. 5) The carbon prices implied by the transition from coal to gas will have very little impact on transportation fuels. Consumption of transportation fuels would only be reduced by about 5 percent or less by carbon dioxide prices that are compatible with the transition from coal to gas.
Kinetic spectroscopy of transient species using color center lasers
(1984) Russell, Linda Ann; Curl, Robert F.; Glass, Graham P.; Tittel, Frank K.
A versatile and sensitive method of kinetic spectroscopy for the near infrared region has been developed. The system uses a computer controlled color center to investigate the high resolution infrared absorption spectra of radicals created by ArF excimer laser flash photolysis. A number of experimental schemes were investigated to determine the optimum operating conditions, and several techniques for sensitivity enhancement were applied in an effort to improve the sensitivity of the system. Varying degrees of success resulted from these investigations. The Br atom was the principle radical studied in our kinetic spectroscopy system. Relative absorptions as loir as .8% were observed. The best spectra of this radical were obtained using a collinear arrangement of the excimer and infrared beams. This arrangement is most desirable when considering the wide range of absorption coefficients of precursors in the ultraviolet region is considered. Other radicals studied include the NH^ and OH radicals.
Laser ionization studies of supersonic semiconductor clusters
(1985) Liu, Yuan; Tittel, Frank K.; Curl, Robert F.; Wilson, William L.
Cold silicon and germanium clusters have been produced in a supersonic molecular beam by laser vaporization of a silicon or germanium rod. The cluster beam is characterized by laser ionization studies and time of flight mass analysis. Both large Si and Ge clusters are found to have similar fragmentation patterns. They fisson into stable subunits rather than lose atoms sequentially. Two-color stepwise ionization experiments reveal that large Si and Ge clusters have an intermediate state with a lifetime of approximately 1 ns, thereby establishing the feasibility of resonant two photon ionization (R2PI) spectroscopy on these clusters.
Mathematica programs for "Automation: Wage Stagnation and Inequality"
(Rice University, 2020) Curl, Robert F.; Brito, Dagobert L.; Economics
This describes the calculations made to determine the effect of automation a developed economy and published as a working paper for Baker Institute of Public Policy. It includes two main types of calculation: 1. two folders with “workup” in the title containing the conversion of the works of others into the parameters needed for the other calculations. 2. three folders containing programs and results of calculations. The computer language chosen for all calculations is Mathematica. The paper itself is published by the Baker Institute.
Modulation cancellation method in laser spectroscopy
(2011-08-30) Kosterev, Anatoliy A.; Curl, Robert F.; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
Novel methods and laser spectroscopic systems for accurately measuring the concentration of compounds are disclosed herein. The disclosed methods utilize a modulation cancellation technique resulting in a significantly increase in the sensitivity and accuracy of laser spectroscopic measurements. In general, the methods and systems utilize modulation phase-shifting and amplitude attenuation to cancel the signals detected from at least two modulated light beams. Thus, any signal detected will be directly proportional to the concentration measurement.
Piezo activated mode tracking system for widely tunable mode-hop-free external cavity mid-IR semiconductor lasers
(2010-06-08) Wysocki, Gerard; Tittel, Frank K.; Curl, Robert F.; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
A widely tunable, mode-hop-free semiconductor laser operating in the mid-IR comprises a QCL laser chip having an effective QCL cavity length, a diffraction grating defining a grating angle and an external cavity length with respect to said chip, and means for controlling the QCL cavity length, the external cavity length, and the grating angle. The laser of claim 1 wherein said chip may be tuned over a range of frequencies even in the absence of an anti-reflective coating. The diffraction grating is controllably pivotable and translatable relative to said chip and the effective QCL cavity length can be adjusted by varying the injection current to the chip. The laser can be used for high resolution spectroscopic applications and multi species trace-gas detection. Mode-hopping is avoided by controlling the effective QCL cavity length, the external cavity length, and the grating angle so as to replicate a virtual pivot point.
Pulsed-multiline excitation for color-blind fluorescence detection
(2006-02-07) Scott, Graham B. I.; Kittrell, Carter W.; Curl, Robert F.; Metzker, Michael L.; Rice University; Baylor College of Medicine; United States Patent and Trademark Office
The present invention provides a technology called Pulse-Multiline Excitation or PME. This technology provides a novel approach to fluorescence detection with application for high-throughput identification of informative SNPs, which could lead to more accurate diagnosis of inherited disease, better prognosis of risk susceptibilities, or identification of sporadic mutations. The PME technology has two main advantages that significantly increase fluorescence sensitivity: (1) optimal excitation of all fluorophores in the genomic assay and (2) “color-blind” detection, which collects considerably more light than standard wavelength resolved detection. Successful implementation of the PME technology will have broad application for routine usage in clinical diagnostics, forensics, and general sequencing methodologies and will have the capability, flexibility, and portability of targeted sequence variation assays for a large majority of the population.
Pulsed-multiline excitation for color-blind fluorescence detection
(2009-03-31) Scott, Graham B. I.; Kittrell, Carter W.; Curl, Robert F.; Metzker, Michael L.; Baylor College of Medicine; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
The present invention provides a technology called Pulse-Multiline Excitation or PME. This technology provides a novel approach to fluorescence detection with application for high-throughput identification of informative SNPs, which could lead to more accurate diagnosis of inherited disease, better prognosis of risk susceptibilities, or identification of sporadic mutations. The PME technology has two main advantages that significantly increase fluorescence sensitivity: (1) optimal excitation of all fluorophores in the genomic assay and (2) “color-blind” detection, which collects considerably more light than standard wavelength resolved detection. This technology differs significantly from the current state-of-the-art DNA sequencing instrumentation, which features single source excitation and color dispersion for DNA sequence identification. Successful implementation of the PME technology will have broad application for routine usage in clinical diagnostics, forensics, and general sequencing methodologies and will have the capability, flexibility, and portability of targeted sequence variation assays for a large majority of the population.
Pulsed-multiline excitation for color-blind fluorescence detection
(2012-01-03) Scott, Graham B. I.; Kittrell, Carter W.; Curl, Robert F.; Metzker, Michael L.; Baylor College of Medicine; Rice University; United States Patent and Trademark Office
The present invention provides a technology called Pulse-Multiline Excitation or PME. This technology provides a novel approach to fluorescence detection with application for high-throughput identification of informative SNPs, which could lead to more accurate diagnosis of inherited disease, better prognosis of risk susceptibilities, or identification of sporadic mutations. The PME technology has two main advantages that significantly increase fluorescence sensitivity: (1) optimal excitation of all fluorophores in the genomic assay and (2) “color-blind” detection, which collects considerably more light than standard wavelength resolved detection. Successful implementation of the PME technology will have broad application for routine usage in clinical diagnostics, forensics, and general sequencing methodologies and will have the capability, flexibility, and portability of targeted sequence variation assays for a large majority of the population.
The catalytic cracking of cumene over silica-alumina. A study with stable and radioactive tracer compounds
(1981) Azuaje-Fernandez, Alejandro J.; Hightower, Joe W.; Brooks, Phillip R.; Curl, Robert F.
The catalytic cracking of cumene (iso-propyl benzene) over a silica-alumina catalyst (Houdry M-46) has been studied using the pulse technique in a microcatalytic reactor. The initial deactivation of the catalyst was found to follow an empirical first order equation with respect to the initial activity towards the formation of products. Cumene is given as the precursor of the coke formed at the surface of the catalyst. As in (18) the deactivation is thought to proceed by a Hinshelwood mechanism in which two sites are lost in every deactivating event or adsorption of the poison on two sites. The rate of the cracking reaction is described by a first order equation in reactant cumene and is proposed to follow a Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism in the range of 25° to 4°C and 1.67 atm. The true activation energy of the reaction was found to be 21.4 kcal mole. Experiments with H-D exchange over this catalyst showed that deuterium distribution in either benzene and cumene occurred to statistical scrambling at equilibrium, indicating the lability of the C-H bonds in the hydrocarbons. D-H exchange measurements gave as result 1.8 x 1 sites/nr and is set as an upper limit for the active sites on the catalyst surface if Br^nsted centers are thought to be the active centers for the dealkylation. Results of experiments with radioactive tracer compounds indicated that the reaction proceeded to almost equilibrium without influence of the back reaction. Values, based on a reaction model of a first order reversible process occurring near equilibrium, obtained for thermodynamic functions for the cracking reaction are reported. These values are in good agreement with the theoretical values obtained from the standard functions of formation of the reaction participant compounds.

Browsing by Author "Curl, Robert F."

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