Abstract: A system for power and data transmission in a body of water to unmanned underwater vehicles comprises a floating surface station for generating electric energy and receiving and transmitting data; an underwater station connectable to at least one unmanned underwater vehicle; at least one submerged depth buoy; and an umbilical, which comprises a power transmission line and a data transmission line, is mechanically and electrically connected to the surface station and to the underwater station, and is mechanically coupled to the depth buoy so that the umbilical comprises a first umbilical section that is stretched between the underwater station and the depth buoy and a second umbilical section that extends loose between the depth buoy and the surface station.

Abstract: A connection device for joining two pipe sections in a body of water has a first tubular body having a spherical face; a second tubular body having at least one spherical face; a tubular pusher arranged about the second tubular body and having a spherical face; a first mechanism for coupling the second tubular body between the first tubular body and the tubular pusher and providing a spherical coupling between the first and the second tubular body; and a second mechanism for blocking any movement about the spherical coupling of the second tubular body with respect to the first tubular body and the tubular pusher.

Abstract: A system for temporarily connecting an underwater station arranged on the bed of a body of water and a surface facility has an elongated conducting member with one end connected to the underwater station and one free end selectively and temporarily connectable to the surface facility; a marker buoy; and a cable connected to the free end of the elongated conducting member and to the marker buoy to quickly recover the free end of the elongated conductor element when it is necessary to connect the underwater station via the elongated conducting member to the surface facility.

Abstract: Intensification techniques are described for enhancing biocatalytic CO2 absorption operations, and may include the use of a rotating packed bed, a rotating disc reactor, a zig-zag reactor or other reactors that utilize process intensification. Carbonic anhydrase can be deployed in the high intensity reactor free in solution, immobilized with respect to particles that flow with the liquid, and/or immobilized to internals, such as packing, that are fixed within the high intensity reactor.

Abstract: A machine for making a protective joint has a guide system, which is selectively clampable about a pipeline on opposite sides with respect to the annular junction portion and configured for defining an annular path about the annular junction portion; at least one heating unit moveable along the annular path and configured for heating the annular junction portion and moveable along the annular path; at least one spray unit moveable along the annular path and configured for applying at least one polymer material to the annular junction portion; and an extrusion die moveable along the annular path and configured for applying a protective foil about the annular junction portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for treatment of process vapours coming from a vacuum concentration section of a urea plant, comprising a vacuum system having a plurality of successive condensation stages, connected in series by respective line portions and crossed in series by process vapours to be treated; the apparatus has at least one primary steam condensate inlet for feeding steam condensate to the vacuum system and positioned, with reference to a circulation direction of the process vapours in the vacuum system, upstream of at least one selected condensation stage, or in at least one selected condensation stage.

Abstract: A desulfurization gas process includes water vapor, CO2 and SOx (x=2 and/or 3). In a treatment unit, the gas contacts a cooled alkaline aqueous solution having a temperature lower than an initial gas temperature, water and a carbonate of an alkali metal, to cool the gas, condense some water vapor and absorb SOx in the carbonate-containing solution, produce an SOx-depleted gas and an acidic aqueous solution including sulfate and/or sulfite ions. The SOx-depleted gas and a portion of the acidic aqueous solution can then be withdrawn from the treatment unit. Carbonate of the alkali metal can be added to remaining acidic aqueous solution to obtain a made-up alkaline aqueous solution. This solution can be cooled and reused as the cooled alkaline aqueous solution. An SOx absorbent solution includes a bleed stream from a CO2-capture process, sodium or potassium carbonate, and an acidic aqueous solution obtained from desulfurization.

Abstract: A transportable modular system for emergency treatment of water polluted by liquid hydrocarbon spillage comprises: at least a first containerized treatment module, comprising a container in the form of a standard size intermodal container which houses a coalescence separator device, configured to operate an oil/water separation; a suction pipe having a first end connected to the coalescence separator device and a second end provided with an inlet connected to at least one floating skimmer; a pump positioned on the suction pipe; a water drain pipe and an oil drain pipe, connected to a water outlet and an oil outlet, respectively, of the coalescence separator device.

Abstract: A method for determining the shape and position of an underwater riser extending from a floating platform includes calculating a deformed shape of the riser by means of a numerical model of the deformed shape of the riser as a function of a plurality of acceleration values and of a plurality of position values in predetermined points of the riser, detecting acceleration values of the riser in a plurality of detection points along a longitudinal extension of the riser, detecting the water pressure values in at least some of the detection points, and calculating the position values as a function of the measured water pressure values.

Abstract: A first metal pipe is welded to a second metal pipe in a method of laying pipeline, for example from a pipe-laying vessel at sea. The metal pipes may have an outer diameter greater than 150 mm and a pipe wall thickness of greater than 15 mm. The first pipe and the second pipe are brought together prior to welding so as to sandwich a third type of metal material between the pipe ends. The thickness of the third type of material, immediately before welding may be between 0.05 mm and 2 mm. The third metal material is melted together with the metal material of the first pipe and the second pipe.

Abstract: A process for liquefying a natural gas comprising a mixture of hydrocarbons predominating in methane, the process comprising a first semi-open refrigerant cycle with natural gas in which any natural gas liquids that have condensed are separated from the natural gas feed stream, which stream then passes through a main cryogenic heat exchanger (4) in order to contribute by heat exchange to pre-cooling a main natural gas stream (F-P) and to cooling an initial refrigerant gas stream (G-0), a second semi-open refrigerant cycle with natural gas for contributing to pre-cooling the natural gas and the refrigerant and also to liquefying the natural gas, and a closed refrigerant cycle with refrigerant gas for subcooling the liquefied natural gas and for delivering refrigeration power in addition to the other two cycles. The invention also provides a natural gas liquefaction installation for performing such a process.

Abstract: A lower stack assembly of a blowout preventer for a hydrocarbon extraction well includes a safety function that can be hydraulically activated to rapidly cut off a pipeline section. The assembly includes a first valve and a first fluidic connection connecting the first valve and the least one safety function, so that the first valve selectively cuts off a flow of fluid directed towards the safety function. The assembly further includes a port operatively connected to the first valve, cooperating with a remotely operated vehicle to transmit a pilot signal to the first valve, an accumulator housing pressurized fluid, and a second fluidic connection. By cooperating with the first valve, the accumulator supplies pressurized fluid to the safety function to activate it. The second fluidic connection connects the accumulator and the first valve, so that the second fluidic connection remains operative during the entire working life of the assembly.

Abstract: A system for analysis of vent gas of a urea plant, comprising: a Raman spectroscope; a sampling conduit that connects the spectroscope to a main pipe of the urea plant configured to convey a sample stream to be analysed to the spectroscope; and a temperature-adjusting device, operated by a temperature controller and acting on at least one thermal treatment portion of the conduit configured to adjust the temperature of the sample stream circulating in the conduit.

Abstract: A desulfurization gas process includes water vapor, CO2 and SOx (x=2 and/or 3). In a treatment unit, the gas contacts a cooled alkaline aqueous solution having a temperature lower than an initial gas temperature, water and a carbonate of an alkali metal, to cool the gas, condense some water vapor and absorb SOx in the carbonate-containing solution, produce an SOx-depleted gas and an acidic aqueous solution including sulfate and/or sulfite ions. The SOx-depleted gas and a portion of the acidic aqueous solution can then be withdrawn from the treatment unit. Carbonate of the alkali metal can be added to remaining acidic aqueous solution to obtain a made-up alkaline aqueous solution. This solution can be cooled and reused as the cooled alkaline aqueous solution. An SOx absorbent solution includes a bleed stream from a CO2-capture process, sodium or potassium carbonate, and an acidic aqueous solution obtained from desulfurization.

Abstract: A plant for recovering metals and/or metal oxides from industrial process waste, in particular oil product refining waste, comprises a furnace; a feed line connected to a main inlet of the furnace and configured to feed the furnace with a solid waste containing metals, in particular in oxide form; an outlet line, connected to a solid phase outlet of the furnace and configured to draw a metal-enriched solid phase out of the furnace; the furnace is a belt conveyor furnace having a belt conveyor closed in a loop with a substantially horizontal configuration and having a top face, which receives the waste to treat and conveys it between two longitudinal opposite ends of the belt conveyor furnace respectively provided with the main inlet and the solid phase outlet.

Abstract: A double liquid distribution device (1) suitable for use in in a fractionating or wash column (10) including a high collector tray (2) connected to a manifold support (7) via at least two longitudinal liquid downflow ducts (5, 6), the manifold support (7) supporting at least two series of transverse tubular manifolds (8, 8a 8b) and serving to feed liquid respectively to the first series of manifolds (8a) via a first longitudinal duct (5) and to the second series of manifolds (8b) via a second longitudinal duct (6), each manifold (8, 8a 8b) including distribution orifices (8c) in its under face that are suitable for distributing the liquid onto the top face of the packing bed (9). The two longitudinal liquid downflow ducts (5, 6) are connected together in a low portion (5b, 6b) by a communication device (11) fitted with a valve (12) having controlled opening that is suitable for allowing the liquid to be transferred between the two longitudinal ducts in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A machine configured to repair a pipeline extending along a longitudinal axis determined in a body of water, the machine comprising: a frame configured to be clamped to the pipeline; an applicator configured to apply material along an outer surface of the pipeline and comprising a support body shaped as an open ring and configured to be arranged about the pipeline; and an actuating assembly, which is supported by the frame, is arranged between the frame and the applicator, has a distal end configured to support the applicator in a cantilevered fashion and in a rotatable manner, and is configured to displace the applicator along the longitudinal axis and/or to rotate the applicator about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A counter-current cross-flow heat exchanger for heating a first gas and cooling a second gas, includes modules in fluid communication with one another, each module being positioned on a plane, the planes mutually overlapping. Conduits allow entry and exit of the first and second gases into and out of the exchanger. Each module has heat exchange plates, with heating and cooling faces. The plates are orthogonal to the module plane and parallel to define alternating heating and cooling spaces. The first gas crosses each heating space with a direction substantially parallel to the plane of each module and the second gas crosses each cooling space with a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of each module. The cooling spaces between adjacent modules are in direct fluid communication. The heating spaces between adjacent modules are in fluid communication with one another by conduits/conveyors, creating a serpentine path.

Abstract: A coupling system (12) between a riser (2) and an underwater supporting structure (10), includes a coupling seat (13) and a coupling head (14) which can be inserted in the seat. A pull connector (16) constrains the head (14) to the seat (13) to prevent the extraction of the head (14) but to allow rotation of the head (14). A clamping connector (18) constrains the head (14) to the seat (13) to prevent transversal translation and rotation to the head (14) and the seat (13). The pull connector (16) can be actuated alone and independently from the clamping connector (18) to make a provisional, pull-only connection between the head (14) and the coupling seat (13). The clamping connector (18) can be actuated independently from the pull connector (16) to allow postponing the complete clamping with respect to the provisional connection.

Abstract: A damping device (1) for pipelines (2) includes a compression ring (3) with three ring segments (4) that can be positioned around a pipe (2). Each ring segment (4) forms a damper seat (8) that receives at least one damping element (9) made of elastomeric material intended to be radially compressed against an outer surface of the pipe (2). The damper seat (8) is in shape connection with the damping element (9) so as to prevent the damping element (9) from being released from the damper seat (8) in an axial direction and in a radial direction.