Abstract: A porous electrode for an electric cell, said electrode including a support layer and an active or catalytic layer, the thickness of the electrode (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) lying between about 50 and 600 microns and preferably between 100 and 250 microns, the active or catalytic layer (2) and the support layer (3) each including 60 to 99% by weight of a hydrophobic polymer or binder and 40 to 1% by weight of a carbon-based divided conductive compound the two layers being, in the aggregate, hydrophobic and intimately joined, current being drawn off at points or lines which are spaced apart by a distance of about one millimeter from one another by an electronically conductive collector (4) in contact at the points or lines with the support layer (3).

Abstract: Device for compacting fluid sludges containing fibrous materials, consisting in slowly stirring the sludge mechanically in the top part of a device, then pressing it moderately in a conical intermediate part of the device and then compacting it in a bottom cylindrical chamber of the device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for electrochemically producing electricity. Ion contivity is established between an oxygen-reducing electrode, and adjacent ion pervious insulating membrane, a paste which has flow characteristics comprising particles of an oxidizable metal and a liquid electrolyte, and an inert electrode in physical contact with said paste. In said paste, the metal particles are in an amount constituting from 60% up to the critical pigment volume composition. The metal paste is moved from a first reservoir through the electrochemical battery wherein it is oxidized to the corresponding metal oxide paste and passed to a second reservoir. The battery may be recharged by reversing the movement and electrolyzing, or by reducing the metal oxide paste in an external circuit.

Abstract: This invention provides a multi-compartment fuel cell wherein each cell has an anode and a cathode separated by a membrane partly immersed in the electrolyte and contains means for the progressive removal of carbonates formed during operation of the fuel cell.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electrolyzer power supply, especially for use in the industrial production of hydrogen. It is constituted by four sub-assemblies placed side-by-side in a filter-press type structure. These sub-assemblies each comprise electrodes coupled two by two, electrolytic compartments being defined between two groups of electrodes. One group of these electrodes, preferably half of them being made of a metal that has a rectifying effect on AC current, and preferably being aluminum, aluminum-zinc alloys, niobium or tantalum. The counter-electrodes are adapted to evolve oxygen. They are preferably iron, nickel or carbon. A generator providing an alternating current is connected between the end electrodes and between the second and third sub-assemblies. DC is taken from between the first and second and from between the third and fourth sub-assemblies.

Abstract: Electrochemical device for producing very pure oxygen. The device contains at least one electrochemical cell comprising an anode compartment and a cathode compartment separated by a semi-permeable membrane. The apparatus also includes an oxidation reactor chamber wherein air oxidizes the reduced form of a compound to form a peroxide capable of spontaneously decomposing into water and into the oxidized form of said compound. A portion of said decomposed peroxide is fed to the anode compartment and another portion to the cathode compartment. Oxygen is formed at the anode by electrolysis of water. The cathode reduces the oxidized form of said compound. Oxygen is removed from the anode compartment products. The remaining products of the anode compartment and the cathode compartment are returned to the oxidation reactor chamber.

Abstract: The invention concerns salient poles of synchronous electric machines. It characterized in that the pole shoe of these poles is solid, whereas the polar body is deformable and can follow the thermal expansions of the pole shoe. It is applied to synchronous machines which can start up as asynchronous motors.

Abstract: The floating apparatus comprises a cyclone carrying a normally submerged forming with the body of the cyclone a water compartment containing the cyclone inlet orifice. The sill of the dam is situated below but close to the free surface of the body of water from which the pollutant is to be removed and such sill is formed to create a continuous flow of water and pollutant into the compartment to form therein a level of the mixture lower than that of the free surface of the body of water. The dam has a height enabling the level of the water in the compartment to be maintained constantly higher than the inlet orifice of the cyclone.

Abstract: The circulation of a low temperature cooling fluid is insured by thermal hon effect in a cryoalternator from within a closed loop circuit containing an inner rotating seal of the "bayonet" type with a very small radial gap. Longitudinal and radial piping within the rotor permits internal circulation of cooling fluid by thermal siphon effect across the "bayonet" type rotating inner seal in the absence of positive circulation by leakage of the coolant across the inner seal radial gap.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing high purity oxygen comprising an oxidizing reactor coupled to at least one compartment of an electrochemical cell. Air is used to oxidize a reduced form of a special compound to form a peroxide which spontaneously decomposes to a mixture of the oxidized form of said compound and hydrogen peroxide. This mixture is positoned in the anode compartment of said cell and oxidized to cause the hydrogen peroxide to give off oxygen which is removed and recovered. The oxidized form of said compound is transferred to the cathode compartment wherein it is reduced and then recycled to the oxidizing reactor. The apparatus also provides a filter press-type cell containing a plurality of side-by-side compartmented electrochemical cells formed by alternating bipolar electrodes separated by porous membranes.

Abstract: Integrated nuclear reactor cooled by a liquid metal and constituted by a n tank, which contains a central inner tank containing the core and the hot liquid metal, this inner tank being connected to individual cylindrical chambers each containing a heat exchanger wherein the surfaces of the inner tank and of the cylindrical chambers bulge radially outwards at the level of supply orifices for transferring the hot liquid metal from the inner tank to the heat exchangers and wherein the cylindrical chambers are fixed directly onto the inner tank by neck portions interconnecting the two bulges and providing a path for liquid metal flow.

Abstract: A method for simulating cavitation on models by hydraulic testing with seate micro-bubbles which produce effects similar to those of a prototype operating at the same cavitation number wherein the micro-bubble content of the test liquid around at least a predetermined part of the model is adjustable in number per unit volume and the bubbles are homogeneously distributed thereabout and have dimensions of less than 200 microns.

Abstract: A self-resistant light-alloy sectional member for an articulated fitting, ich can be formed by extrusion. The sectional member is characterized in that its cross-section is closed to form an elongated box and in that at least one of the thickness edges of the sectional member has a rigid longitudinal fastening portion, enabling a fitting without any deformation together with a sectional member whose thickness edge is contiguous, provided with a corresponding fastening part running along it.

Abstract: The component plates stacked in a filter press type structure in a repeated cathode, separator, anode and conductive plate sequence are of hexagonal or duodecagonal shape with an outer frame carrying the channels for supplying and withdrawing the reagents. Hollowed-out inlet and outlet portions communicating with appropriate channels passing through the frames are provided for passing the reagents across the active portions of the components at a desired cross-feed angle between adjacent units, 30.degree. in some cases and 60.degree. in others.

Abstract: The invention provides an electric cell having an anode compartment, a cathode compartment, and a membrane separating said compartments. The cell also has a peroxidation vessel in which sodium anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonate is peroxidized. The peroxide then decomposes to form a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and the anthraquinone oxide. This mixture is fed to the cathode compartment. When the electric cell is operated as a fuel cell, the anthraquinone oxide from the cathode compartment is conveyed to a reduction vessel in which it is reduced by contact with fuel. All or a portion of the reduced anthraquinone is then contacted with oxygen to form the anthraquinone oxide. The electric cell may also be utilized as a storage battery. The invention also includes the method of operating these electric cells.

Abstract: Device for fixing winding bars on a stator of an electric rotating machine herein bundles of bars are fixed by straps pulled at their ends by a system of chocks and wedges providing also for the holding of the bundles of bars in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: Static switching device for two machines making it possible to effect antkid control during drive operation and the controlling of the braking torque during brake operation. It comprises two circuits in parallel on the direct current source, a first circuit comprising, in the following order, a first chopper, a first smoothing inductance, an inductance of the first machine, a first distributing thyristor and an armature of the first machine and a second circuit comprising, in the following order, an armature of the second machine, a second distributing thyristor, a second smoothing inductance and an inductance of the second machine, the two circuits being connected together by two connections arranged on either side of the said first and second distributing thyristors, each of the connections bearing a distributing thyristor. Applications -- Controlling of electric motors used for the propulsion of vehicles.

Abstract: Method for preparing very pure oxygen, consisting in making air in a basic medium react with the reduced form of a compound so as to form a peroxide which is capable of decomposing spontaneously into hydrogen peroxide and into the oxidized form of the said compound, and electrochemically oxidizing said hydrogen peroxide to evolve oxygen, and reducing the said oxidized form to regenerate the reduced form of the said compound. The invention is implemented in the chemical industry.

Abstract: The component plates stacked in a filter press type structure in a repeated sequence of cathode, separator, anode and conductive plate are of cylindrical shape with an outer frame carrying the channels for supplying and withdrawing the reagents. Hollowed-out inlet and outlet portions communicating with appropriate channels pressing through the frames are provided for passing the reagents across the active portions of the components at a desired cross-feed angle between adjacent units, 30.degree. in one case and 60.degree. in another.

Abstract: The invention concerns the regulation of an electrochemical system of the Redox type. It consists in immersing three electrodes in a stream to or from a cell in the said Redox system. Two of the electrodes, referred to as measuring electrodes, are connected by two resistors defining a junction point therebetween. A direct current is applied across these electrodes. The potential of the other electrode, called the reference electrode, is compared with the potential of said junction point. The ratio between the resistors is determined so that the potentials of the said junction point and of the said reference electrode is equal, this being so for a determined power supplied by the said electrochemical system. Variation of the potential are used to regulate the flow of fuel and/or of oxidizing agent to the said electrochemical system. The invention is more particularly implemented in fuel cells using the Redox system containing anthraquinone 2-7 sodium disulphonate.