Abstract: A method for predicting the secondary porosity system (SPS) porosity, and thereby permeability, of a coal bed involves determining an initial condition in the coal bed, including an initial SPS pressure and an initial sorbed gas composition, determining a pressure strain effect due to increasing the SPS pressure to a value greater than the initial SPS pressure, and determining a sorption strain effect due to changes in the sorbed gas composition resulting from decreasing the methane content and increasing the content of a stronger adsorbing fluid (SAG) relative to the initial sorbed gas composition. Preferably, the method uses data from test injections of water and/or a weaker adsorbing fluid (WAG) and a SAG. The data is used in the inventors' model to compute a SPS porosity and an absolute permeability at a reference SPS pressure and a reference sorbed gas composition. Preferably, the reference pressure is atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The invention concerns a detector for detecting malfunction in a peristaltic pump wherein a flexible tubing (44) containing a fluid is locally compressed against a support part by rollers (32) mounted on a rotor (28) driven by a motor. Said detector is characterized in that it comprises: a ring (68) mounted sliding on the tubing between two extreme positions; driving means (64, 80, 84), actuated by the rotor, for subjecting said ring to a specific reciprocating motion between said positions; and detection means (74a, 74b, 84) reacting to an abnormal reciprocal motion by producing a warning signal.

Abstract: The invention concerns a control system for a d.c. motor (10), powered by an actuating system (14) comprising: a position detector (30, 32) co-operating with the motor's rotor; a power supply circuit (34) to apply to the terminals of the motor coils a supply voltage to generate the electric current, and a control circuit (36). This system is designed to actuate the motor to move a moving part (24), with a view to reaching a target position Pc defined by a number of steps dc to be executed. During a so-called positioning phase, the control circuit (36), after observing that target position Pc has been reached, interrupts the current powering the coils and applies to them a braking pulse (If) of reverse polarity, then short-circuits them until stoppage observed by the detector (30, 32).

Abstract: This switching device comprises at least one cell made up of a moving structure consisting in a flexible cantilever beam (14) and an integral screen (16) attached to said beam, being able to move between two end positions (A, B) and of actuating electrodes (20) for subjecting said structure to forces of attraction to control its movements. The electrodes (20) are located on each side of the beam (14) in such a way as to follow its exact shape when it is in one of its two end positions. A regular movement of the moving structure and a reliable operating of the switching device are thus obtained This invention may be used in optical switching applications.

Abstract: A networked polymer/clay alloy is produced from a monomer/clay mixture comprising a monomer, a cross-linking agent and clay particles. An initiator means is used to initiate polymerization of the monomer/clay mixture. The clay is chemically integrated with the polymer such that, on exposure to water, the networked polymer/clay alloy swells with substantially no clay separating from the alloy.

Abstract: A quantum cascade laser comprising two electrodes (10, 18) for applying an electric control field and a waveguide placed between the two electrodes and which comprises: a gain region (14) consisting of several layers (20) which each comprise alternating strata (22) of a first type each defining a quantum barrier and strata (24) of a second type each defining a quantum well, and two optical confinement layers (12, 16) placed on each side of the gain region (14). According to the invention, each layer (20) of the gain region (14) is arranged so that the active region has three subbands, the potential differences between them being such that the transition of an electron between the two furthermost emits an energy (EGH, EHJ) corresponding to that needed for the emission of two optical phonons.

Abstract: A reinforced networked polymer/clay alloy composite is produced by contacting a monomer/clay mixture with a reinforcing agent. The monomer/clay mixture comprises a monomer, a cross-linking agent and clay particles. An initiator means is used to initiate polymerization of the monomer/clay mixture, while the cross-linking agent concurrently acts to network oligomeric and polymeric species formed during polymerization to produce a networked polymer/clay alloy in the presence of the reinforcing agent. The networked polymer/clay alloy is intimately integrated with the reinforcing agent such that, on exposure to water, the networked polymer/clay alloy swells with substantially no clay separating from the composite.

Abstract: A method is provided for blocking high permeability regions in subterranean geological formations, using a reinforced swelling clay gel. A reinforced clay slurry is prepared by mixing swelling clay, such as bentonite, an aqueous solution containing the salt of certain cations, which inhibit clay swelling, and a reinforcing agent. The cations K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cs2+, Fe2+, Al3+ and NR4+, where each R can independently be H, CH3, C6H5, or CH2CH3, and combinations thereof, among others, are clay swelling inhibitors. The reinforcing agent is non-swelling particles, including, without limitation, particles of produced sand, silica sand, sandy or silty soil, crushed rock, minerals, mine tailings, and combinations thereof. The reinforced clay slurry is introduced into a geological formation, where it preferentially enters high permeability regions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a quantum cascade laser, comprising a substrate, a stack of layers, having a prismatic shape with substantially trapezoidal cross-section, comprising a lower surface arranged on the substrate, an upper surface and lateral surfaces, said stack forming a gain region and two walls between which the region is interposed, two electrodes arranged on either side of the stack, one of which is formed by an electrically conductive material layer covering at least partially the surface of the stack opposite the substrate, and an electrically insulating layer interposed between the two electrodes. The invention is characterised in that the electrically insulating layer completely covers the lateral surfaces of the prism, without overlapping on the upper surface, and its thickness is equal to at least a third of the stack thickness.

Abstract: The invention concerns an RF-type contactless chip card, comprising a sensor coil (1), an electronic circuit (2) connected to the coil and an antenna (3) made form a material with high magnetic permeability, including a first part located substantially in the plane of the coil upper surface (A), a second part located substantially in the plane of the coil lower surface (B) and a connecting part (C) located in the center of the coil. The latter part is dimensioned relative to the antenna (3) such that the voltages induced at its terminals are of the same order of magnitude, whether the antenna is parallel or perpendicular to the lines of flux generated by a reader.

Abstract: A wet electric heating (“WEH”) process involves establishing electrode zones (“e-zones”) around conductors (e.g., wells) for distributing electric current and thereby generating and distributing heat accordingly through a target region in a subterranean formation having hydrocarbons. The inventive WEH process takes into account e-zone geometric shape, spacing and/or spatial orientation to provide a more diffuse distribution of increased temperature values within the target region, compared to conventional electric heating processes, during at least the first 10% of a time interval when an electric potential is applied.

Abstract: A receiver designed to pick up an electromagnetic signal, comprises: a passive receiving antenna; a resonant circuit connected to the antenna, formed of passive components and replying, by transmitting an electric signal, to the electromagnetic signal picked up, and an electric signal processing circuit. This receiver also comprises a threshold comparator circuit defining a reference threshold and connected directly to the terminals of the resonant circuit to compare the electric signal, not amplified, with the reference threshold and to activate said processing circuit only when the amplitude of the electric signal exceeds the threshold. An object tracking system making use of the receiver described above is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a non-precious dental alloy, including the following components, with the approximate proportions, in weight, given in %: gold, between 0.5 and 4, molybdenum, between 4 and 6, tungsten, between 2 and 7, indium, between 0.5 and 4, gallium, between 0.5 and 4, tin, between 0 and 4, titanium, between 0 and 2, copper, between 0 and 2, the remainder being obtained with a mixture containing approximately 70% cobalt and 30% chromium.

Abstract: A networked polymer/clay alloy is produced from a monomer/clay mixture comprising a monomer, a cross-linking agent and clay particles. An initiator means is used to initiate polymerization of the monomer/clay mixture. The clay is chemically integrated with the polymer such that, on exposure to water, the networked polymer/clay alloy swells with substantially no clay separating from the alloy.

Abstract: A reinforced networked polymer/clay alloy composite is produced by contacting a monomer/clay mixture with a reinforcing agent. The monomer/clay mixture comprises a monomer, a cross-linking agent and clay particles. An initiator means is used to initiate polymerization of the monomer/clay mixture, while the cross-linking agent concurrently acts to network oligomeric and polymeric species formed during polymerization to produce a networked polymer/clay alloy in the presence of the reinforcing agent. The networked polymer/clay alloy is intimately integrated with the reinforcing agent such that, on exposure to water, the networked polymer/clay alloy swells with substantially no clay separating from the composite.

Abstract: A method for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation comprises injecting a heated injection fluid composition into the formation. The heated injection fluid composition comprises at least steam and/or hot water (“W”) and a solvent (“S”) into the formation. Suitable solvents include C1 to C30 hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and combinations thereof. The heated injection fluid composition has a first W to S volume ratio, (W:S)1, greater than or equal to about 5:1. The W to S volume ratio is subsequently reduced, at least once, to a different W to S volume ratio, (W:S)n, wherein at least one (W:S)n is less than (W:S)1 and each (W:S)n is greater than or equal to about 1.5:1 and n is in the range of from about 2 to about 12,000.

Abstract: A gas stream containing at least about 90% (vol.) hydrogen and at least one halogen-containing compound is contacted with a nickel hydrogenation catalyst. When the gas stream contacts the hydrogenation catalyst substantially all halogen-containing compounds are dehalogenated.

Abstract: A bracing device for bracing a first surface against a second surface is useful for emergency response, commercial, industrial and residential environments. The bracing device has a bracing member with a first end and a second end. A first end member affixed to the first end has a sufficient curvature to produce a substantially convex shape over at least a portion of the end member's external surface for frictionally engaging the first surface. The radius of the convex curvature is predetermined so that the bracing device may be readily adapted to a predetermined range of bracing distances between the first and second surfaces so that the desired bracing strength can be obtained.