Abstract: A method of joining metal and metal, or metal and ceramic parts, wherein a first metal part is selected and then processed to form a bond coat that will effectively bond to a sealing material which in turn bonds to a second metal or ceramic part without degrading under the operating conditions of electrochemical devices. Preferred first metal parts include alumina forming alloys from the group consisting of ferritic stainless steels (such as Fecralloys), austinetic stainless steels, and superalloys, and chromia forming alloys formed of ferritic stainless steels. In the case of chromia forming ferritic stainless steels, this bond coat consists of a thin layer of alumina formed on the surface, with a diffusion layer between the first metal part and this thin layer. The bond coat provides a good bonding surface for a sealing layer of glass, braze or combinations thereof, while at the same time the diffusion layer provides a durable bond between the thin alumina layer and the first metal part.

Abstract: A solder bump fabrication method is disclosed. First, a printed circuit board, having a plurality of devices, is provided. A material is formed on the printed circuit board, and it is disposed between pins of the devices to prevent the devices from short-circuiting due to the solder bumps. Then, the solder bumps are formed on the pins of the devices so that the devices are fixed on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is passed through an infrared oven to melt the solder bumps. The material separates the solder bumps attached to the pins of the devices so that the devices are prevented from short-circuiting.

Abstract: An apparatus and process is disclosed for the separation of solids from gases in a mixture which is most particularly applicable to an FCC apparatus. The mixture of solids and gases are passed through a conduit and exit through a swirl arm that imparts a swirl motion having a first annular direction to centripetally separate the heavier solids from the lighter gases. The mixture then enters a cyclone which has a curved outer wall and imparts a second swirling angular direction to the mixture. The second angular direction is counter to the first angular direction. The apparatus and method assures that a greater proportion of the mixture entering the cyclone is incorporated into the vortex to further enhance separation between the solids and gases.

Abstract: An annular recuperator for use with an annular combustor. The annular recuperator includes a frame and an enclosure provided about its frame that defines a recuperator chamber. A plurality of involute shaped sealed and open recuperators are received in the recuperator chamber.

Abstract: In the hydrogen supply device for producing and supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell, a reforming section has a rotary thermal storage through which low and high temperature passages pass. Reforming material is supplied to the low temperature fluid passage on an upstream side of the first rotary thermal storage. A combustion gas supply section for generating and supplying a combustion gas is located in the high temperature fluid passage on a downstream side of the first rotary thermal storage. With the hydrogen supply device mentioned above, the first rotary thermal storage rotates to move alternately between the low and high temperature fluid passages so that, in the reforming section, the reforming material flowing in the low temperature fluid passage is catalytically reformed to a reformed gas containing hydrogen upon receiving combustion heat of the combustion gas flowing in the high temperature fluid conduit.

Abstract: An oven shell and a method of fabricating same includes forming molds which have a plurality of indented troughs spaced from one another for a selected interval on diagonal locations according to preset frame rims and panels. Frame rims and an upper panel, a lower panel, side panels and a rear panel of different dimensions are formed through the forming molds by die casting a metal material. The frame rims and the upper panel, the lower panel and side panels are coupled and assembled according to preset oven shell locations to form the oven shell. By coupling the elements in the diagonal fashion, oven shells of different dimensions and shapes may be made at a reduced cost and assembly is much convenient.

Abstract: A method of forming a body by deposition of a weld material comprises providing a welding head (12), providing a foundation (52) upon which the body is to be formed. A weld material is supplied from a supply (22). The welding head (12) and the foundation (52) are connected to a supply of electricity to form an arc between the welding head (12) and the foundation (52) to melt the material. A raised member (74) is provided on the foundation (52). The method further includes manipulating the foundation (52) and the welding head (12) relative to each other to deposit the material on the raised member (74) and form the body.

Abstract: A shift converter, or reactor, (16HT, 16LT) in a fuel processing subsystem (14, 16HT, 16LT, 18), as for a fuel cell (12), uses an improved catalyst bed (34, 50) and the addition of oxygen (40, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, 41A, 41B, 41C, 41D) to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide in a process gas stream. The catalyst of bed (34, 50) is a metal, preferably a noble metal, having a promoted support of metal oxide, preferably ceria and/or zirconia. A water gas shift reaction converts carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The oxygen may be introduced as air, and causes an improvement in carbon monoxide removal. Use of the added oxygen enables the shift reactor (16HT, 16LT) and its catalyst bed (34, 50) to be relatively more compact for performing a given level of carbon monoxide conversion. The catalyst bed (34, 50) obviates the requirement for prior reducing of catalysts, and minimizes the need to protect the catalyst from oxygen during operation and/or shutdown.

Abstract: An apparatus and process is disclosed for the separation of solids from gases and a mixture which is most particularly applicable to an FCC apparatus. The mixture of solids and gases are passed through a conduit and exit through a swirl arm that imparts a swirl motion to centrifugally separate the heavier solids from the lighter gases. The mixture then enters a cyclone through an inlet that has a long, straight sidewall that gradually transitions with a curved outer wall that defines a cyclone barrel and a short, straight sidewall that abruptly transitions with the curved outer wall. The short, straight sidewall is substantially tangentially disposed with respect to a gas recovery conduit which transports a mixture of solids and gases from a reactor conduit. This arrangement provides greater clearance between cyclones and a reactor vessel.

Abstract: Shift conversion of hydrogen-rich reformed gas produced by reaction including partial oxidation of feed gas in a reforming reaction section (6) is made by its water gas shift reaction with shift conversion catalyst in a shift reaction section (10) in order to reduce CO contained in the reformed gas and enhance the yield of hydrogen. In this case, for the purpose of enabling high-temperature reformed gas from the reforming reaction section (6) to undergo the shift conversion as it is and thereby simplifying the construction of a shift conversion unit, the reformed gas from the reforming reaction section (6) is introduced directly into a reformed gas passage (11) of the shift reaction section (10) and thereby undergoes the shift reaction while heat-exchanging with the feed gas.

Abstract: A metal alloy is heated to a molten state, and a grain refiner may be added. The refined molten alloy is poured into a large diameter shot sleeve of a vertical die cast press and on top of a shot piston. The shot sleeve is transferred to an injection station while the molten alloy cools to a semi-solid slurry with approximately fifty percent solids and a globular, generally non-dendritic microstructure. A center portion of the slurry is injected upwardly by the piston through a gate opening into a die cavity while an outer more solid portion of the slurry is entrapped in an annular recess. After the slurry solidifies, the shot piston retracts, and the shot sleeve is transferred to a position where the residual biscuit is removed. A second shot sleeve filled with the molten alloy is transferred to the metal transfer station, and the process is repeated.

Abstract: A catalyst element for a stacked reactor for generating hydrogen from hydrocarbons includes a catalyst disc of porous material and a solid connection element. The catalyst-side end of the connection element is at least partially enclosed by the catalyst disc and is connected to this disc. The catalyst-side end of the connection element may have a mediator layer that is joined to the connection element over the entire area by sintering, soldering, or adhesive bonding. The mediator layer is joined to the catalyst disc over the entire area by sintering. Attachment means are provided at the exposed end, which is remote from the catalyst, of the connection element.

Abstract: There is provided a flow soldering process for mounting an electronic component onto a board by a solder material, which process is appropriate for using a lead-free solder material as the solder material. In the flow soldering process, thermal efficiency of flow soldering is improved in preheating step and/or solder material supplying step thereof. In one aspect of the present invention, a heating cover is located above a preheater, and the flow soldering is conducted while the board passes between the heating cover and the preheater. In another aspect of the present invention, a gap between a preheater and a solder bath is 20 to 60 mm. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a distance between a primary wave and a secondary wave is not larger than 60 mm.

Abstract: An apparatus for purifying a gaseous product delivered from a horizontal container containing a supply of a fluid includes an elongated hollow tube inside the container and a purifying medium inside the tube. The tube has a first opening, a second opening spaced apart from the first opening, and an internal axis between the first and second openings. The first opening is in fluid communication with a port and the second opening is in fluid communication with a vapor space in the container. A portion of the internal axis adjacent the second opening is at an angle greater than zero degrees relative to the horizontal longitudinal axis of the container.

Abstract: A method and device is provided for thermal treatment of workpieces or components, in particular for producing a soldered joint between a solder material and at least one component or workpiece which is used as a carrier for said solder material, by melting of the solder material arranged on the solder material carrier. At least one component is heated in a melt chamber (12) in a process atmosphere which is sealed off from the environment. In a subsequent step the component is cooled in a cooling chamber (13) in a process atmosphere which is sealed off from the environment. The component is heated and cooled in process chamber (12, 13) which are independent of each other.

Abstract: A system (10) for conducting welding adjacent flammable materials (12) on a platform (11) is disclosed having a chamber (13) defining an interior space (16). The system also includes a welding apparatus (48) operable within the interior space. A sensor (54) is provided for sensing the presence of combustible gas within the interior space above a pre-selected level and generating a signal. An exterior sensor (57) is provided for sensing the presence of combustible gas outside the interior space above a pre-selected level and generating a signal. A controller (66) is in communication with the welding apparatus, the sensor, and the exterior sensor to control the operations of the welding apparatus in response to signals received from the sensor.

Abstract: A sonotrode for an ultrasonic welding device has an ultrasound generator that supplies high-frequency electrical energy to a converter that converts this energy into mechanical vibrations and conveys the latter, optionally via a booster, to a sonotrode (2). The sonotrode (2) is formed with a contact surface (3). In order to avoid troublesome sink marks, pegs (1) are arranged on the contact surface (3).

Abstract: A twin roll caster (11) produces thin steel strip (12) which passes through a first enclosure (37) to a pinch roll stand (14) including pinch rolls (50) through which the strip passes into a second enclosure (61). The strip passes horizontally through enclosure (61) to an in-line hot rolling mill (16) which closes the exit end of enclosure (61) and hot rolls the strip as it exits that enclosure. Enclosures (37) and (61) are sealed against ingress of atmospheric air and both maintain oxygen levels less than the surrounding atmosphere to reduce formation of scale on the strip. The second chamber (61) is fitted with water spray nozzles (67, 68) operable to spray fine mist of water droplets onto the upper face of the strip as it passes through that enclosure thereby to generate steam producing a superatmospheric pressure within the enclosure preventing ingress of atmospheric air.

Abstract: The interfacial joint area of a target/backing plate assembly is sealed so as to inhibit the migration of air and/or water vapor that may be present or trapped along the interfacial surfaces. A pool or bead of molten solder is placed along the interfacial joint and moved continuously around the full 360° circumference of the assembly so as to cover and seal the boundary area. The solder is melted, preferably, by e-beam welding in a vacuum or the like.

Abstract: A method and a device for placing a multitude of shaped parts of solder material (20) on a bond pad arrangement (29) of a substrate (23), said bond pad arrangement comprising a multitude of bond pads (28), and for subsequent re-melting of the shaped parts of solder material on the bond pads (28), with arrangement of a template device (21) comprising a multitude of template apertures (27) for accommodating shaped parts of solder material (20) opposite a substrate (23) comprising a bond pad arrangement (29), such that the shaped parts of solder material are associated with the individual bond pads (28); and application of laser energy to the shaped parts of solder material (20) accommodated in the template apertures (27) using a laser device (39) arranged at the rear of the template device (21) such that said laser energy is applied to the shaped parts of solder material through the template device.