Abstract: A method for monitoring health of a hydraulic fluid subsystem is presented. The method includes determining a plurality of forces acting on an actuator of the hydraulic fluid subsystem, determining a plurality of parameters based on at least one of an actuator inlet flow rate, an actuator outlet flow rate, and the plurality of forces acting on the actuator, receiving a valve inlet pressure of at least one of oil and gas flowing through a pipe while entering a valve operationally coupled to the actuator and a valve outlet pressure of the at least one of the oil and the gas flowing through the pipe while flowing out of the valve, and monitoring the health of the hydraulic fluid subsystem based on at least one of the plurality of parameters, the valve inlet pressure, and the valve outlet pressure.

Abstract: A customisable, modular storage system is described where goods are stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. The stacks are contained within towers formed of stacks of bin receiving units. A grid network of tracks is provided on the top of the bin receiving units upon which load handling devices run. The load handling 30 devices take containers from the stacks and deposit them at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked out.

Abstract: Use of diverse biomass feedstock in a process for the recovery of target C5 and C6 alditols and target glycols via staged hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis processes is disclosed. Particular alditols of interest include, but are not limited to, xylitol and sorbitol. Various embodiments of the present invention synergistically improve overall recovery of target alditols and/or glycols from a mixed C5/C6 sugar stream without needlessly driving total recovery of the individual target alditols and/or glycols. The result is a highly efficient, low complexity process having enhanced production flexibility, reduced waste and greater overall yield than conventional processes directed to alditol or glycol production.

Abstract: An electrical device includes a substrate with a compressive layer, a neutral stress buffer layer and a tensile stress compensation layer. The stress buffer layer and the stress compensation layer may each be formed with aluminum nitride using different processing parameters to provide a different intrinsic stress value for each layer. The aluminum nitride tensile layer is configured to counteract stresses from the compressive layer in the device to thereby control an amount of substrate bow in the device. This is useful for protecting fragile materials in the device, such as mercury cadmium telluride. The aluminum nitride stress compensation layer also can compensate for forces, such as due to CTE mismatches, to protect the fragile layer. The device may include temperature-sensitive materials, and the aluminum nitride stress compensation layer or stress buffer layer may be formed at a temperature below the thermal degradation temperature of the temperature-sensitive material.

Abstract: An electrical device includes an aluminum nitride passivation layer for a mercury cadmium telluride (Hg1-xCdxTe) (MCT) semiconductor layer of the device. The AlN passivation layer may be an un-textured amorphous-to-polycrystalline film that is deposited onto the surface of the MCT in its as-grown state, or overlying the MCT after the MCT surface has been pre-treated or partially passivated, in this way fully passivating the MCT. The AlN passivation layer may have a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that closely matches the CTE of the MCT layer, thereby reducing strain at an interface to the MCT. The AlN passivation layer may be formed with a neutral inherent (residual) stress, provide mechanical rigidity, and chemical resistance to protect the MCT.