Abstract: An apparatus (440) for use in an information retrieval system is described. The apparatus comprises a processor (500) and a memory (410) storing a plurality of information elements. The memory (410) stores a plurality of connections (117; 313, 315, 317) between at least two of the plurality of information elements (110, 115; 210) to form an element connection (100; 220; 310); one or more gestalts (230; 320) comprising a plurality of the information elements (110, 115; 210) related to each other and one or more asset-profiles (240; 330) comprises a plurality of the information elements (110, 115; 210) with weighted values. The information elements (110, 115; 210) can either represent concepts in a document, pixels in an image or one or more parts of a frame model. A method for use in an information retrieval system is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a plant for the heat treatment of solids containing iron oxide, in which fine-grained solids are heated to a temperature of 700 to 1150° C. in a fluidized bed reactor (8). To improve the utilization of energy, it is proposed to introduce a first gas or gas mixture from below through at least one gas supply tube (9) into a mixing chamber region (15) of the reactor (8), the gas supply tube (9) being at least partly surrounded by a stationary annular fluidized bed (12) which is fluidized by supplying fluidizing gas. The gas velocities of the first gas or gas mixture and of the fluidizing gas for the annular fluidized bed (12) are adjusted such that the Particle-Froude-Numbers in the gas supply tube (9) are between 1 and 100, in the annular fluidized bed (12) between 0.02 and 2, and in the mixing chamber (15) between 0.3 and 30.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for reducing solids containing iron oxide, such as iron ore, in which fine-grained solids are heated and at least partly calcined in a pre-heating stage (2, 9). In a first fluidized-bed reactor (14) downstream of the preheating stage (2, 9), the solids are prereduced and reduced further in a second fluidized-bed reactor (16). Downstream of the second reactor (16) a briquetting stage (20) is provided, in which the solids are briquetted at a temperature above 500° C. To increase the energy efficiency of the process and improve the flowability of the solids in the briquetting stage (20), magnesite is added to the preheating stage (2, 9) together with the solids containing iron oxide, which magnesite is at least partly calcined in the preheating stage (2, 9) to obtain magnesium oxide. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a plant for producing low 15 temperature coke, in which granular coal and possibly further solids are heated to a temperature of 700 to 1050° C. in a fluidized-bed reactor (2) by means of an oxygen-containing gas. To improve the utilization of energy it is proposed to introduce a first gas or gas mixture from below through at least one gas supply tube (3) into a mixing chamber region (8) of the reactor (2), the gas supply tube (3) being at least partly surrounded by a stationary annular fluidized bed (6) which is fluidized by supplying fluidizing gas. The gas velocities of the first gas or gas mixture and of the fluidizing gas for the annular fluidized bed (6) are adjusted such that the Particle-Froude-Numbers in the gas supply tube (3) are between 1 and 100, in the annular fluidized bed (6) between 0.02 and 2 and in the 25 mixing chamber (8) between 0.3 and 30.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing metal oxide from metal compounds, in particular metal hydroxide or metal carbonate, in which the metal compound is conveyed into a reactor (25) with fluidized bed, heated there to a temperature of 650 15 to 1150° C. by combustion of fuel, and metal oxide is generated, as well as to a corre-sponding plant. To improve the utilization of energy, it is proposed to introduce a first gas or gas mixture from below through a gas supply tube (26) into a mixing chamber (20) of the reactor (25), the gas supply tube (26) being at least partly surrounded by a stationary annular fluidized bed (27) which is fluidized by supplying fluidizing gas, and 20 to adjust the gas velocities of the first gas or gas mixture and of the fluidizing gas for the annular fluidized bed (27) such that the Particle-Froude numbers in the gas supply tube (26) lie between 1 and 100, in the annular fluidized bed (27) between 0.02 and 2, and in the mixing chamber (20) between 0.3 and 30.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the conveyance of fine-grained solids in a fluidized bed reactor and also to a corresponding plant. It is proposed to introduce a first gas or gas mixture from below through a central tube (3) into a mixing chamber (7) of the reactor (1), the central tube (3) being at least partly surrounded by a stationary annular fluidized bed (10) which is fluidized by supplying fluidizing gas. The gas velocities of the first gas or gas mixture as well as of the fluidizing gas for the annular fluidized bed (10) are adjusted such that the particle Froude numbers in the central tube (3) are between 1 and 100, in the annular fluidizied bed (10) between 0.02 and 2 in the mixing chamber (7) between 0.3 and 30.

Abstract: A method for the heat treatment of solids containing iron oxide, in which fine-grained solids are heated to a temperature of about 630° C. in a fluidized-bed reactor (1). To improve the utilization of energy, it is proposed to introduce a first gas or gas mixture from below through a supply tube (3) into a mixing chamber (7) of the reactor (1), the gas supply tube (3) being at least partly surrounded by a stationary annular fluidized bed (10) which is fluidized by supplying fluidizing gas. The gas velocities of the first gas or gas mixture and of the fluidizing gas for the annular fluidized bet (10) are adjusted such that the Particle-Froude-Numbers in the gas supply tube (3) are between 1 and 100, in the annular fluidized bed (10) between 0.02 and 2, and in the mixing chamber (7) between 0.3 and 30.

Abstract: Computer systems and methods for reporting and analyzing grants equity-based compensation (e.g., employee stock option grants). The systems and methods store information regarding grants down to each individual grant level. The system and methods are capable of producing reports “as of” particular dates (i.e., transaction dates, creation dates, and accounting date) that are compliant with Financial Accounting Standards Board standards and other accounting standards governing reporting of equity-based compensation without having to manually process large amounts of data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a plant for the heat treatment of solids containing titanium and possibly further metal oxides, in which fine-grained solids are heated to a temperature of 700 to 950° C. in a fluidized bed reactor (1). To improve the energy utilization, it is proposed to introduce a first gas or gas mixture from below through a gas supply tube (3) into a mixing chamber (7) of the reactor (1), the gas supply tube (3) being at least partly surrounded by a stationary annular fluidized bed (10) which is fluidized by supplying fluidizing gas. The gas velocities of the first gas or gas mixture as well as of the fluidizing gas for the annular fluidized bed (10) are adjusted such that the particle Froude numbers in the gas supply tube (3) are between 1 and 100, in the annular fluidized bed (10) between 0.02 and 2 and in the mixing chamber (7) between 0.3 and 30.

Abstract: This invention provides computer systems and methods for providing centralized employee stock plan administration. The systems and corresponding methods provide the display of an administrator's dashboard interface screen including therein an administrator's dashboard interface that provides at least one metric according to user's entitlement. The metric associated with at least one employee stock plan of a company may be processing statistics for workflow requests, processing statistics for reporting requests, plan activity for particular employee stock plans, and plan statistics for particular stock plans.

Abstract: According to the invention, a fluidizing gas is introduced upwards into the fluidized bed (3) through a valve grid (2), said stationary fluidized bed (3) containing solids with different grain sizes. A supply pipe (10) is disposed in the area of the fluidized bed, the mouth of said pipe being located above the valve grid (2) and its outlet (12) leading outwards from the fluidized bed (3). Part of the solids located above the valve grid (2) is blown into the supply pipe by a gas jet (13) which is directed upwards and fed separately from the fluidizing gas and pneumatically evacuated from the fluidized bed through the supply pipe (10). Normally, the flow speed of the gas in the supply pipe is at least two times higher than the speed of the fluidizing gas in the fluidized bed.

Abstract: A process of continuously conveying granular solids from a first zone with a pressure of 4 to 16 bar through a descending line and via an ascending line to a second zone with a pressure which is lower than in the first zone by 3 to 15 bar, by means of a gaseous medium. To ensure that the pressure between two regions can be reduced at low cost and with little maintenance effort when continuously conveying granular solids, a gaseous medium is injected into a tube through an upwardly directed nozzle at the point where the granular solids are conveyed through a descending line into an ascending line.

Abstract: Process for producing Iron carbide wherein, in a first stage, Iron ore is reduced to sponge iron using a reducing gas containing at least 90% hydrogen, on a nitrogen-free basis, to produce a sponge iron having a carbon content of less than 1% wt.; then in a second stage the sponge iron is fluidized at a temperature of 500 to 800° C. with a methane-containing fluidizing gas in a fluidized bed reactor wherein the water content of the gas in the reactor is not more than 1.5% wt., to produce a product wherein at least 85% of the iron content is in the form of Fe3C.

Abstract: An end product containing iron carbide (Fe3C) is produced from an intermediate product consisting of granular, directly reduced iron. Said intermediate product is supplied by an iron ore reduction plant and is fed to a carburization reactor. Liquid hydrocarbons are conveyed to the carburization reactor at temperatures of 500 to 900° C., at least part of the granular, directly reduced iron being subjected to a swirling movement. The end product removed from the carburization reactor consists of 5 to 90 wt. % Fe3C. A fluidization gas containing methane and hydrogen can be added to the carburization reactor in addition to the hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for producing chlorine and iron oxide from iron chloride (which may be generated as a by-product of the direct chlorination of titaniferous ores) comprises the steps of converting ferrous chloride to ferric chloride by reaction with chlorine, separating the solids from the gaseous products, reacting the gaseous ferric chloride with oxygen, condensing unreacted ferric chloride onto iron oxide particles, separating the gaseous products from the iron oxide particles and recycling the iron oxide particles to the oxidation or condensation step.

Abstract: A process of continuously conveying granular solids from a first zone with a pressure of 4 to 16 bar through a descending line and via an ascending line to a second zone with a pressure which is lower than in the first zone by 3 to 15 bar, by means of a gaseous medium. To ensure that the pressure between two regions can be reduced at low cost and with little maintenance effort when continuously conveying granular solids, a gaseous medium is injected into a tube through an upwardly directed nozzle at the point where the granular solids are conveyed through a descending line into an ascending line.

Abstract: Granular coal and preheated granular iron ore are charged into a low-temperature carbonization reactor, in which temperatures in the range from 800 to 1050 ° C. are produced by supplying gas containing oxygen and by partial oxidation of the components of the coal. In the low-temperature carbonization reactor, the granular solids are maintained in a turbulent movement. From the upper region of the reactor, hot exhaust gas is supplied to a solids separator. The granular iron ore is preheated by means of the hot exhaust gas and hot, granular mixture of iron ore and low-temperature coke is withdrawn as product from the reactor and/or from the separator. The low-temperature carbonization reactor may be designed as fluidized-bed reactor or as pneumatic conveyor section. The granular mixture of iron ore and low-temperature coke is suitable e.g. for a melt reduction process.

Abstract: Iron carbide (Fe 3 C) is produced from granulated j sponge iron which has a maximum carbon content of 2 wt. % and is supplied from an iron ore reducing plant. The sponge iron is swirled with a gas containing carbon and a maximum 1.5 vol. % water in a fluidized bed reactor at temperatures ranging, from 500 to 800° C. A product is extracted from the reactor. The total iron content of said product is fixed at a minimum of 80 wt. % Fe 3 C. Preferably, methane or a gas containing methane is fed into the fluidized bed reactor as a gas containing carbon. A waste gas can be extracted from the top area of the fluidized bed reactor and hydrogen can be separated therefrom and at least partially directed into the reducing plant.

Abstract: Phthalic acid anhydride is recovered from a gas stream containing phthalic acid anhydride vapors by passing the gas stream upwardly through a vertical tube so that the gases expand at the orifice at the upper end of the tube and mix with granules entrained above the tube by fluidizing gas of a fluidized bed of phthalic acid anhydride granules around the tube. The tube, kept free from phthalic acid anhydride granules and the fluidized bed, is indirectly cooled.

Abstract: The wet granulated iron ore is initially conducted through a drying zone. The ore leaves the drying zone at a temperature of 120-400° C. The ore is then heated in direct contact with hot gas to temperatures of 700-1,100° C. before being delivered to a reduction zone. The ore coming out of the drying zone is fully or partially guided through a separating device so as to separate the ore into fine and coarse grain fractions. The fine-grained ore fraction is conveyed to a granulating device so as to produce an iron ore granulate which is conducted to the drying zone. The coarse-grained ore fraction is heated to temperatures of 700-1,100° C. before it is guide into the reduction zone.