Abstract: A network element include one or more modules each supporting one or more pluggable modules; and a first manifold and a second manifold each configured to connect to a conduit associated with a coldplate, wherein one of the first manifold and the second manifold is an inlet manifold and the other is an outlet manifold for a cooling fluid that flows through the conduit to cool the one or more pluggable modules. The one or more pluggable modules can be each a pluggable optical module that is one of compliant to any of XFP, SFP, XENPAK, X2, CFP, CFP2, CFP4, CFP8, QSFP, QSFP+, QSFP28, OSFP, and QSFP-DD and have a housing that has dimensions similar to any of XFP, SFP, XENPAK, X2, CFP, CFP2, CFP4, CFP8, QSFP, QSFP+, QSFP28, OSFP, and QSFP-DD.

Abstract: A tube seal device suitable for use in a heat exchange reactor comprising one or more tubes is described, said tube seal device comprising a seal tube and an inner tube disposed within the seal tube to provide an overlapping region, said inner tube having within said overlapping region, (i) an interior constriction of reduced cross sectional area forming a low-pressure region, (ii) an expansion region adjacent the constriction of cross sectional area greater than that of the constriction, and (iii) one or more passages through the wall of the inner tube connecting said low-pressure region to the exterior of the inner tube, wherein the tube seal device further comprises one or more grooves formed around an inner face of the seal tube in the overlapping region corresponding to the low-pressure region of the inner tube.

Abstract: A computing device includes a read cache file to store a network driver, and a processor to execute the read cache file to run the network driver to connect the computing device to a communications network. A streamed base disk image is received from a server via the communications network that is used to boot the computing device.

Abstract: A reactor tube for a tubular reactor and a retaining device associated with the reactor tube; the reactor tube comprising an elongate tube defining a bore for receiving in use a catalyst and having an outlet at one end of the bore for discharging the catalyst out of the bore; the retaining device being configured to be rotatable between a first position and a second position; wherein in the first position the retaining device at least partially obstructs the outlet for retaining the catalyst within the bore; and in the second position the outlet is unobstructed sufficiently for permitting discharge of the catalyst out of the outlet.

Abstract: A method of installing catalyst carriers into a first selected reactor tube of a tubular reactor. The method comprising the steps of: i) providing an installation tool, the installation tool comprising: a) an installation frame; b) a movable ram mounted to the installation frame and configured for pushing one or more catalyst carriers into the first selected reactor tube; and c) one or more anchors for releasably attaching the installation frame to the tubular reactor; ii) attaching the installation tool to the tubular reactor by engaging the one or more anchors in one or more reactor tubes located alongside the first selected reactor tube so as to align the movable ram with the first selected reactor tube; and iii) actuating the movable ram to push the one or more catalyst carriers into the first selected reactor tube.

Abstract: A virtual disk is provided to a computing environment. The virtual disk includes identity information to enable identification of a virtual machine within the computing environment. A size of the virtual disk is increased within the computing environment to enable the virtual disk to act as a storage for the identity information and as a cache of other system data to operate the virtual machine. The virtual machine is booted within the computing environment. The virtual machine is configured to at least access the virtual disk that includes both identity information and caches other system data to operate the virtual machine. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: A computing device includes a read cache file to store a network driver, and a processor to execute the read cache file to run the network driver to connect the computing device to a communications network. A streamed base disk image is received from a server via the communications network that is used to boot the computing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a cloud based computing system. The methods comprise: receiving, by a cloud server, a request for accessing Virtual Hard Disk (“VHD”) data associated with a first location in the VHD of a Virtual Machine (“VM”) hosted by a remote computing device; extracting, by the cloud server, at least a first address specifying the first location from the request; translating, by the cloud server, the first address into a second address specifying a second location in a cloud storage where the VHD data is stored; and communicating from the cloud server the second address to the remote computing device for facilitating access to the VHD data stored in the cloud storage.

Abstract: A computing system includes a server to stream a base disk image over a communications network, and a client machine. The client machine includes a read cache to store preboot data including a network driver, and a processor coupled to the read cache. The processor initiates prebooting of the client machine using the preboot data, and after the network driver is running, receives the streamed base disk image from the server via the communications network to continue booting the client machine.

Abstract: A virtual disk is provided to a computing environment. The virtual disk includes identity information to enable identification of a virtual machine within the computing environment. A size of the virtual disk is increased within the computing environment to enable the virtual disk to act as a storage for the identity information and as a cache of other system data to operate the virtual machine. The virtual machine is booted within the computing environment. The virtual machine is configured to at least access the virtual disk that includes both identity information and caches other system data to operate the virtual machine. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: A virtual disk is provided to a computing environment. The virtual disk includes identity information to enable identification of a virtual machine within the computing environment. A size of the virtual disk is increased within the computing environment to enable the virtual disk to act as a storage for the identity information and as a cache of other system data to operate the virtual machine. The virtual machine is booted within the computing environment. The virtual machine is configured to at least access the virtual disk that includes both identity information and caches other system data to operate the virtual machine. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: A computing system includes a server to stream a base disk image over a communications network, and a client machine. The client machine includes a read cache to store preboot data including a network driver, and a processor coupled to the read cache. The processor initiates prebooting of the client machine using the preboot data, and after the network driver is running, receives the streamed base disk image from the server via the communications network to continue booting the client machine.

Abstract: A virtual disk is provided to a computing environment. The virtual disk includes identity information to enable identification of a virtual machine within the computing environment. A size of the virtual disk is increased within the computing environment to enable the virtual disk to act as a storage for the identity information and as a cache of other system data to operate the virtual machine. The virtual machine is booted within the computing environment. The virtual machine is configured to at least access the virtual disk that includes both identity information and caches other system data to operate the virtual machine. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: A device suitable for use as a distributor or collector in a radial-flow reaction vessel is described, comprising an open end and a plurality of rigid columnar portions, each columnar portion comprising a cylindrical outer screen formed from parallel spaced wires and a perforate inner screen fixed to the outer screen, said inner screen formed from a plurality of adjacent perforate support members that support the spaced wires, wherein the rigid columnar portions further comprise means for controlling a flow of a gaseous process fluid to or from the device. The device may be used in radial-flow vessels used in chemical processes such as methanol synthesis.

Abstract: A device suitable for use as a distributor or collector in a radial-flow reaction vessel is described, comprising an open end and a plurality of rigid columnar portions, each columnar portion comprising a cylindrical outer screen formed from parallel spaced wires and a perforate inner screen fixed to the outer screen, said inner screen formed from a plurality of adjacent perforate support members that support the spaced wires, wherein the rigid columnar portions further comprise means for controlling a flow of a gaseous process fluid to or from the device. The device may be used in radial-flow vessels used in chemical processes such as methanol synthesis.

Abstract: A load coupling device for a power train including: a rotatable shaft; a first flange on a first end of the shaft, wherein the first flange is adapted to couple to a first rotating shaft of at a torque producing turbine or a torque driven electrical generator; a second flange on an opposite end of the shaft, wherein the shaft is adapted to couple to a second rotating shaft of the other of the turbine and the generator, and an annular ring extending radially outward from the first flange, wherein the mass of the annular ring is selected to shift a torsional natural frequency of the power train away from an operational condition of the power train. Trim masses may be added to make fine adjustments to the torsional natural frequency of the power train.

Abstract: A first computing device is provided for virtual disk provisioning. The first computing device includes one or more processors configured to provide a first virtual disk and a first publish differencing disk. The one or more processors are further configured to obtain meta data associated with the first virtual disk and the first publish differencing disk, and generate one or more first differencing patches and one or more second differencing patches. The first and second differencing patches having a binary format. The first computing device further includes a storage configured to store data associated with the first virtual disk and the first publish differencing disk, the meta data, and the one or more first and second differencing patches. The first computing device further includes a communication subsystem configured to provide one or more first and second differencing patches to provision the virtual machine associated with a second computing device.

Abstract: A camera array and method are disclosed for capturing and processing images of an area of terrain. For each of a plurality of time-steps within a time period, using each of a plurality of cameras in a camera array, an exemplary method includes: generating an image of a respective portion of terrain, wherein the cameras in the camera array have substantially fixed positions relative to each other, and the portions of terrain are such that the whole of the area of terrain has been imaged by the end of the time period; selecting a subset of the images such that the whole of the terrain is covered by the portions of the terrain in the images in the subset; and for an image not in the subset, if an object of interest is in that image, extracting a sub-image containing the object from that image.

Abstract: A camera assembly is disclosed for mounting on a vehicle (e.g. an aircraft). An exemplary camera assembly can include: a fixture (e.g. a rotatable drum); a camera; and a mirror; wherein the fixture is arranged to be rotated relative to the vehicle about an axis; the camera is mounted on the fixture such that the camera has a substantially fixed position relative to the fixture; the mirror is mounted on the fixture such that, if the fixture rotates, the mirror rotates; the mirror is rotatable relative to the fixture about a further axis, the further axis being substantially perpendicular to the axis; and the camera is arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by the mirror. The axis and the further axis may intersect.

Abstract: Load couplings, power trains, and methods for adjusting torsional natural frequencies of power trains are provided. In one embodiment, a load coupling includes a first flange, a second flange, and a shaft extending between the first flange and the second flange. The load coupling further includes an annular ring extending radially outward from one of the first flange, the second flange, or the shaft, the annular ring including a plurality of bore holes defined therein, each of the plurality of bore holes including a first opening. The load coupling further includes a first cap connected within one of the plurality of bore holes proximate the first opening, the first cap deformable such that an interference fit is created with the one of the plurality of bore holes.