Abstract: Methods and systems for treating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated in a hydrocarbon treating process are disclosed. An effluent stream containing the VOCs, as well as carbon dioxide (CO2) is combined with hot exhaust gas from a turbine and provided to a waste heat recovery unit (WHRU). The WHRU is adapted to contain a catalyst bed containing oxidation catalyst capable of effecting the oxidation of the VOCs. The temperature of the catalyzing reaction can be tailored based on the position of the catalyst bed within the temperature gradient of the WHRU. The methods and systems described herein solve the problem of effecting the removal of VOCs from the effluent. Heating the CO2-containing effluent in the WHRU also lend buoyancy to the effluent, thereby facilitating its dispersal upon release.

Abstract: Methods and systems for treating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated in a hydrocarbon treating process are disclosed. An effluent stream containing the VOCs, as well as carbon dioxide (CO2) is combined with hot exhaust gas from a turbine and provided to a waste heat recovery unit (WHRU). The WHRU is adapted to contain a catalyst bed containing oxidation catalyst capable of effecting the oxidation of the VOCs. The temperature of the catalyzing reaction can be tailored based on the position of the catalyst bed within the temperature gradient of the WHRU. The methods and systems described herein solve the problem of effecting the removal of VOCs from the effluent. Heating the CO2-containing effluent in the WHRU also lend buoyancy to the effluent, thereby facilitating its dispersal upon release.

Abstract: A clamp for a flexible pipe is provided that provide a load bearing flange on the flexible pipe permitting buoyancy jackets to be joined thereto. The clamp has a longitudinal axis arranged to extend along the length of the flexible pipe and a radial axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The clamp includes: a plurality of separate clamp elements being supported together in a radial array extending at least partially around the longitudinal axis; engagement means located between neighboring clamp elements to movably interconnect the clamp elements; and a strap being adapted to surround the clamp elements, in use for exerting a compressive force thereon. Also provided is a clamp element for use in the aforementioned clamp.

Abstract: A clamp for a flexible pipe is provided that provide a load bearing flange on the flexible pipe permitting buoyancy jackets to be joined thereto. The clamp has a longitudinal axis arranged to extend along the length of the flexible pipe and a radial axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The clamp includes: a plurality of separate clamp elements being supported together in a radial array extending at least partially around the longitudinal axis; engagement means located between neighboring clamp elements to movably interconnect the clamp elements; and a strap being adapted to surround the clamp elements, in use for exerting a compressive force thereon. Also provided is a clamp element for use in the aforementioned clamp.

Abstract: A clamp element is provided that has a T-shaped body with laterally extending portions on either side of a radially projecting tang. A plurality of the clamp elements are joined together in an array to form a clamp assembly with the tangs facing outwardly. Straps having looped ends are disposed around the array. The looped ends of the straps are engaged with respective cross bar members. Adjacent cross bar members are connected together by means of a threaded bar which is arranged to tighten the straps around the array of clamp elements.

Abstract: A sea-bed anchor of the plug-and-socket type, in which the depth of the socket (2) needed to keep the plug in the socket against tidal force is reduced by the downwards force from a hydrofoil (5). The same force is used to lock the plug and socket positively together. The effective area of hydrofoils (5) can be increased when the tide is flowing and reduced when it is not. Downwards force from the hydrofoils is also used to enable submersible vessels to drill sockets in rock or to embed suction anchors in sediment.

Abstract: A sea-bed anchor of the plug-and-socket type, in which the depth of the socket (2) needed to keep the plug in the socket against tidal force is reduced by the downwards force from a hydrofoil (5). The same force is used to lock the plug and socket positively together. The effective area of hydrofoils (5) can be increased when the tide is flowing and reduced when it is not. Downwards force from the hydrofoils is also used to enable submersible vessels to drill sockets in rock or to embed suction anchors in sediment.

Abstract: A tidal energy capture means connects a turbine to its anchor by telescopic members which pivot about the anchor as axis in the plane of the tidal flow and whose combined length depends upon the force of this flow. These members can be locked at prescribed lengths by a remote signal, to control the level of the turbine during this movement. The anchor consists of a plug and socket, with buoyancy means for positioning the plug in the socket, and the telescopic members can be a rotatable shaft which drives equipment in the plug.

Abstract: A sea bed anchor of the plug-and-socket type, in which the depth of the socket (2) needed to keep the plug in the socket against tidal force is reduced by downwards force from a hydrofoil (5). The same force is used to lock the plug and socket positively together. The effective area of hydrofoils (5) can be increased when the tide is flowing, and reduced when it is not. Downwards force from hydrofoils is also used to enable submersible vessels to drill sockets in rock or to embed suction anchors in sediment.

Abstract: A tidal energy capture means connects a turbine to its anchor by telescopic members which pivot about the anchor as axis in the plane of the tidal flow and whose combined length depends upon the force of this flow. These members can be locked at prescribed lengths by a remote signal, to control the level of the turbine during this movement. The anchor consists of a plug and socket, with buoyancy means for positioning the plug in the socket, and the telescopic members can be a rotatable shaft which drives equipment in the plug.

Abstract: A sea bed anchor of the plug-and-socket type, in which the depth of the socket (2) needed to keep the plug in the socket against tidal force is reduced by downwards force from a hydrofoil (5). The same force is used to lock the plug and socket positively together. The effective area of hydrofoils (5) can be increased when the tide is flowing, and reduced when it is not. Downwards force from hydrofoils is also used to enable submersible vessels to drill sockets in rock or to embed suction anchors in sediment.

Abstract: An anchor for use in a tideway, in which one of a pair of mating components is fixed to the sea bed and the other is held in contact with it by means actuated by reciprocal movement in the plane of the tide of a member which offers resistance to the flow. This allows the components to be separated at the tidal null points. The components may also be sealed together by the reciprocal movement.

Abstract: A completely submersed means of extracting energy from a tidal flow is particularly adapted to pump water to be stored and used around tidal change periods or to stabilize the output of offshore windmills. It can be retrieved and brought to the surface for maintenance and also repositioned on the sea bed, by remote control. Operation of its reaction means is automatically limited to prescribed water depths.

Abstract: A method of delivering messages between application programs is provided which ensures that no messages are lost and none are delivered more than once. The method uses asynchronous message queuing. One or more queue manager programs (100) is located at each computer of a network for controlling the transmission of messages to and from that computer. Messages to be transmitted to a different queue manager are put onto special transmission queues (120). Transmission to an adjacent queue manager comprises a sending process (130) on the local queue manager (100) getting messages from a transmission queue and sending them as a batch of messages within a syncpoint-manager-controlled unit of work. A receiving process (150) on the receiving queue manager receives the messages and puts them within a second syncpoint-manager-controlled unit of work to queues (180) that are under the control of the receiving queue manager.

Abstract: A current limiting PTC device (10) has two electrodes (14) with a thin film of electric conducting polymer material (20) disposed between the electrodes, the polymer material (20) having superior flexibility and short circuit performance, where the polymer material contains short chain aliphatic diepoxide, conductive filler particles, curing agent, and, preferably, a minor amount of bisphenol A epoxy resin.

Abstract: A modular adsorption plant comprises one or more transportable cargo containers which hold the various adsorbent beds, pumping apparatus and so on which comprise the plant. The containers are easily transportable, and may be rapidly assembled in modular fashion to produce a large capacity plant.

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic braking system for motor vehicles. The system includes a brake pedal and a braking device associated with at least one vehicle wheel which is brought into communication with an electronically controlled valve arrangement in order to apply hydraulic fluid under pressure to the braking device. A fluid pressure accumulator fed by the pump provides a pressurized hydraulic fluid which can be passed to the braking device by way of an electronically controlled valve arrangement in order to apply hydraulic fluid in proportion to the driver braking demand as sensed at the brake pedal in the “brake by wire” mode. A first device within the system provides a level of fluid pressure supply within the electro-hydraulic system whose highest value is less than that sufficient for the maximum possible braking demand level which may be required.

Abstract: A novel multi-layer current limiting PTC polymer device comprising at least two layers of a conductive polymer composition with electrodes attached thereto characterized by having a low contact resistance and a method of producing the same. The invention provides for the selective treatment of portions of the surface of each layer of the conductive polymer composition by at least one of plasma/corona etching and plasma sputtering/plasma spray to create a site for attachment of the electrodes resulting in a low contact resistance. The electrical devices of the invention are particularly useful in circuit protection applications.

Abstract: A novel current limiting PTC polymer device comprising a conductive polymer composition with electrodes attached thereto characterized by having a low contact resistance and a method of producing the same. The invention provides for the selective treatment of portions of the surface of the conductive polymer composition by at least one of plasma/corona etching and plasma sputtering/plasma spray to create a site for attachment of the electrodes resulting in a low contact resistance. The electrical devices of the invention are particularly useful in circuit protection applications.

Abstract: A high voltage current limiting fuse has improved low fault current interruption due to an end-sealed sleeve separating a fusible length from pulverulent sand in a casing of the fuse while permitting venting of gas and vaporized metal plasma due to melting and arcing at the fusible length. The fuse can have one or more fusible elements, of which at least one, preferably each one, is surrounded along at least a selected portion along its length by a polytetrafluoroethylene polymer, fluoroethylene polymer, or derivatives thereof, which can be heat shrinkable or not. The sleeve is sealed so as to allow escape of gases upon arcing from the sleeve but to prevent pulverulent materials from penetrating within the sleeve. The sleeve seals are either melted and crimped together with the fusible element, heat shrunk down onto the fusible element, or taped over the fusible element so as to leave a gap small enough to exclude the pulverulent material while venting gas and plasma.