Abstract: A method of preparing a composite includes the following steps. A powder blend is sintering while an oxygen partial pressure (pO2) of a gaseous atmosphere surrounding the powder blend is controlled. Before the sintering, a shape is formed from the powder blend. After the forming and before the sintering, binder is removed from the powder blend. The powder blend comprises binder, a mixed electronic/oxygen O2? anionic conducting compound (C1) and a compound (C2) chosen from MgO and BaTiO3. The resultant composite comprises at least 75 vol % of compound (C1), from 0.01 to 25 vol % of compound (C2), and from 0 vol % to 2.5 vol % of compound (C3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for melting vitrifiable materials in a low-capacity oven, wherein at least part of the melting energy is supplied by two oxy-burners projecting into the melting chamber through the upstream wall and arranged on opposite sides of a vertical plane in which a longitudinal axis of the melting chamber is situated, in such a way as to create two flames, the respective injection axes thereof crossing at a distance from the upstream wall, between ? and ¾ of the length L of the melting chamber.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for melting raw material in an electric arc furnace using a flame of variable direction, the apparatus comprising a burner and a lance whereby the lance outlet opening and the burner outlet opening are not concentric and are located at a distance from one another, and whereby the lance axis forms an angle with the burner axis in the range from 10° to 40.

Abstract: A jet of gas injected from a lance is fluidically deviated with a gas flowing in either the same or opposite direction as the jet of gas. The gas used to fluidically deviate the jet is the same as or different from the gas in the jet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for supersonically injecting oxygen into a furnace, in particular a cupola furnace, in which the total oxygen required for the furnace operation is injected with the aid of two distinct circuits, i.e., the first circuit comprising at least one supersonic oxygen injecting nozzle and a second circuit which comprises additionally oxygen injecting means and is connected to the first circuit by pressure-sensitive means, such as a discharging device (or upstream pressure adjuster), in such a way that a stable pressure is obtained in the first circuit upon the attainment of the maximum flowrate thereof, wherein the first circuit can consists of several supersonic nozzle groups.

Abstract: Hydrogen filling station, in particular, for refilling vehicle tanks with hydrogen gas, comprising a source reservoir designed to hold liquid hydrogen (LH2), a pipe for withdrawing liquid hydrogen from the source reservoir to at least one user station, an electric cryogenic pump arranged within the withdrawing pipe and an electric power supply connected to the cryogenic pump to supply the same with electricity, characterized in that the electric energy supply comprises at least one fuel cell.

Abstract: A method to prepare a thin ceramic or metallic solid-state composition comprising three phases: a material (A), a material (B), and pores, wherein the porous matrix of material (A) has a porosity gradient in the range of about 0% to about 80%, and wherein the pores are partially or completely filled with material (B). Various compositions and methods of use for the prepared composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for filling pressurized gas tanks, characterized in that the filling process is interrupted when the input pressure reaches a maximum filling pressure, the maximum filling pressure in the cylinder being calculated to match the most serious of the two following conditions: nominal filling capacity or design temperature of the cylinders.

Abstract: A suspension of inorganic particles, a copolymer comprising soft segments and hard segments, and a solvent may be extruded through a spinnerette to produce inorganic/organic composite hollow precursor fibers. The precursor fibers may be sintered. The fibers may be utilized in a gas separation module for separation of a gas mixture or production of syngas. The fibers may be installed in the gas separation module after sintering or they may be sintered after installation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for melting a composition of raw materials including introducing the composition in an oven to form a layer (2) at the surface of the molten pool (4). An oxycombustion burner (10) is arranged above the pool and directed towards the composition layer (2) to produce a melting front (3). Parameters of the burner are adjusted to produce a large covering flame (12) causing an essentially radiation-based thermal transfer. Additionally, a plane containing a longitudinal section of the flame (Z-Z) and a horizontal direction perpendicular to the axis of the oven (X-X) intersects the melting front (3) at a height (h) included ranging between one third and half of the thickness of the composition (e). Such a method provides for a stable operation of the oven and is particularly adapted to a large-capacity oven.

Abstract: A fermentation process uses substantially pure oxygen. The oxygen is the only reactive gas which is injected into a fermentation vessel. The oxygen is moved through the vessel solely by its own pressure. The process can be used with both mechanically-agitated and air-lifted fermenters. The mechanically-agitated fermenter includes an analyzer for measuring oxygen concentration in the exhaust line, and adjusting the flow of fresh oxygen into the vessel accordingly. In the air-lifted fermenter, an analyzer measures the oxygen concentration in the head space of the vessel, and operates valves which either recycle the gas from the head space, or vent that gas to the outside, according to the measured concentration. A stream of nitrogen is periodically injected into the vessel to drive out carbon dioxide and other gases, to control the pH of the fermentation medium. The present invention substantially improves the efficiency of a commercial fermentation process.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for generating heat energy includes injecting a stream having a concentration of at least 50% oxygen (O2 stream) into a primary gas stream through a mixer, the mixer discharging the O2 stream as two or more spaced jets traversing the primary stream, thereby enriching the primary gas stream. The method further includes mixing fuel with the enriched primary gas stream, thereby forming a fuel stream; and combusting the fuel stream, thereby forming a flue gas stream.

Abstract: A method and system for providing nitrogen-enriched air (NEA) to aircraft fuel tanks using multiple air separation modules (ASMs). The ASMs employ membranes having different permeabilities and selectivities which are particularly selected to meet the varying NEA needs of the fuel tanks during flight.

Abstract: The invention concerns a combustion method for industrial furnace comprising an arrangement of two substantially parallel and symmetrical burner assemblies (G, D). Each burner assembly comprises a fuel injector (10<SUB>G</SUB>, 10<SUB>D</SUB>) and three oxidant injectors (1<SUB>G</SUB>, 2<SUB>G</SUB>, 3<SUB>G</SUB>, 1<SUB>D</SUB>, 2<SUB>D</SUB>, 3<SUB>D</SUB>) arranged at increasing distances from the fuel injector. An oxidant supply system cyclically distributes a specific flow of oxidant among some at least of the second and third injectors of the burner assemblies (2<SUB>G</SUB>, 3<SUB>G</SUB>, 2<SUB>D</SUB>, 3<SUB>D</SUB>). The amount of nitrogen monoxide produced upon combustion is thus reduced, while ensuring a good distribution of the heating power in the furnace.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling flat glass forming by flowing a molten glass over a liquid tin layer contained in a forming vat wherein a forming characteristic quantity is measured above the glass surface during forming by means of beams generated by at least one absorption spectroscopy-based analyser, wherein the light beams generated by said analyser form a net above the glass surface. A device for carrying out the inventive method comprising an arm for supporting a vessel which comprises a retroreflecting means for receiving a light beam and transmitting it in an opposite direction parallel to an incident optical path is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing clinker from a raw mix, implementing the following: preheating of the raw mix by combustion flue gases; precalcination of the raw mix; and calcination of the precalcined raw mix in a rotary kiln, in which process the precalcination and the calcination in the rotary kiln produce combustion flue gases that contain CO2, in which the combustion flue gases created by the precalcination undergo a CO2-removal treatment without said flue gases mixing with the combustion flue gases created by the calcination in the rotary kiln.

Abstract: Cryogenic tank insulation system comprising blocks of insulating materials placed, at low temperature, so as to be essentially touching on one face of the structure of said tank, the blocks being placed between said face of the structure and an impervious deformable wall which defines at least one portion of the volume where the cryogenic fluid is stored and is actuated by return means for returning it to the face of the structure, characterized in that a first portion of the blocks is at ambient temperature in contact with the face of the structure and away from the impervious deformable wall, a second portion of the blocks being at ambient temperature, in contact with the impervious deformable wall and away from the face of the structure, the edges of the blocks of the first portion; and those of the second portion being, at ambient temperature, in partial contact and having complementary shapes so as to form an essentially continuous layer of insulating material at low temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calcination of a material in which said material is heated by contact with a heat source essentially generated by means of a flame produced with at least one flow of fuel and primary air and a flow of secondary air, the flame comprising a first combustion zone with a temperature below 1500° C. and a second combustion zone with a temperature above 1500° C., where at least one flow of at least one inert gas is injected into the flame at the beginning of the second combustion zone and/or at least one flow of oxygen or a gas enriched in oxygen is injected into the second combustion zone.

Abstract: A system and method of purifying gaseous carbon dioxide from a gaseous mixture obtained at low pressure from a flue gas by passing the gaseous mixture through a vacuum swing adsorption unit and then a gas purification unit to produce carbon dioxide having a purity of approximately 97% by volume or more.

Abstract: This abstract discusses membranes needed to separate fluids for the production of oxygen-enriched air, nitrogen-enriched-air, for the separation of carbon dioxide from hydrocarbons, and the separation of hydrogen from various petrochemical and oil refining streams. Membranes are needed that provide a resistance to interaction with process components or contaminants, provide the mechanical strength required to withstand high membrane differential pressures and high process temperatures, and exhibit sufficient maximum strain such that membranes are not brittle and can easily be formed into desirable membrane forms. Membranes of polyimide polymers, particularly polyimide polymers sold under the trade name P-84, are annealed in a controlled annealing step to improve the mechanical properties of the polymers used to make separation membranes.