Abstract: A method for detecting a malfunction during a drilling operation is carried out by making use of a drill bit, the method including the following: a) the comparison of a first magnitude (E) representative of the mechanical specific energy (MSE), with a first threshold value (Emax); b) when the first magnitude is greater than the first threshold value, the comparison of the ratio (E/S) between the first magnitude and a second magnitude (S) representative of the drilling force with a second threshold value ((E/S)max); c) the detection of a malfunction in the drilling operation when the ratio (E/S) between the first magnitude (E) and the second magnitude (S) is greater than the second threshold value ((E/S)max). The method provides the ability to ensure more precise detection of a malfunction during drilling operations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for converting a polycondensed elastomeric thermoplastic polymer, including a step of extruding the polycondensed elastomeric thermoplastic polymer in the presence of water. The polycondensed elastomeric thermoplastic polymer is in particular chosen from copolymer block amides, copolyethers or copolyester block urethanes, copolyether block esters and the mixtures thereof, and is preferably a copolyether block amide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing the conductivity provided by the displacement of H+ protons and/or OH? ions in a conductive membrane made of a material permitting the insertion of steam into said membrane, wherein said method comprises the step of inserting under pressure gaseous flow containing the steam into said membrane in order to force said steam into said membrane under a certain partial pressure so as to obtained the desired conductivity at a given temperature, said partial pressure being higher than or equal to 1 bar, a drop in the operational temperature being compensated by an increase in said partial pressure in order to obtain the same desired conductivity. The invention can be used in particularly interesting applications in the fields of high-temperature water electrolysis for producing hydrogen, of the manufacture of fuel cells using hydrogen fuel, and of hydrogen separation and purification.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing cubic diamond nanocrystals (10) comprising the following successive steps: (a) providing crystalline diamond powder where the maximum particle size of the powder is equal or more than 2 um and equal or less than 1 mm; (b) milling said crystalline micron diamond powder using nitrogen jet milling micronization so as to manufacture a fine powder; (c) nanomilling the fine powder of step b) using a planetary tungsten carbide ball mill; (d) acid treating the nanomilled powder of step c); (e) extracting the cubic diamond nanocrystals (10) by centrifugation. Advantageously round-shaped cubic diamond nanocrystals are manufactured.

Abstract: Method to produce diamonds containing Nitrogen-Vacancy centers from diamonds grown by a high pressure and high temperature process and containing isolated substitutional nitrogen, comprising: —Irradiating (12) said diamonds by an electron beam such that the irradiation dose is comprised between 1017 and 1019 electrons per square centimeter; —annealing (14) the irradiated diamonds in vacuum or in a inert atmosphere at a temperature above 700° C. and for at least 1 hour; characterized in that said electron beam has an acceleration energy above 7 MeV.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a plurality of heat exchangers (E1, E2, E3) in cascade, each of said heat exchangers including: a flow (150) of cold-producing liquefied methane; a high-pressure flow (122) of a two-phase mixture of refrigerant fluids giving up in heat and including refrigerant fluids having a low normal boiling temperature; and a low-pressure flow (100) of a cold-producing two-phase mixture of said refrigerant fluids.

Abstract: The information system concerning traffic in a road network (R) comprises a server (30) comprising: means (34) for obtaining at least one real duration (DEAB) of a run traveled by at least one vehicle (5) between two points (A, B) of the network, on the basis of information transmitted by a device (10) on board said vehicle (5); means (31) for statistically calculating, on the basis of said real durations (DRAB), an estimated duration (DEAB) for a run between two points (A, B) of the network; and means (34) for making the estimated duration (DEAB) available to at least one terminal (40, 10).

Abstract: The information system concerning traffic in a road network (R) comprises a server (30) comprising: means (34) for obtaining at least one real duration (DEAB) of a run traveled by at least one vehicle (5) between two points (A, B) of the network, on the basis of information transmitted by a device (10) on board said vehicle (5); means (31) for statistically calculating, on the basis of said real durations (DRAB), an estimated duration (DEAB) for a run between two points (A, B) of the network; and means (34) for making the estimated duration (DEAB) available to at least one terminal (40, 10).

Abstract: This invention concerns a high temperature fuel cell with mixed anionic and protonic conduction having a protonic conduction reforming membrane directly coupled to a solid oxide fuel cell with conduction by oxygen ions, enabling use of a gradually reforming anode generating carbon deposits to be avoided. The reverse operation of the present invention outside the reforming stage forms a high water temperature electrolyser to produce hydrogen efficiently without having to separate it from water as is the case with current systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to photocatalysis. It concerns a composite system, comprising a photocatalytic component (10) in an amorphous state and an active medium (12) designed to neutralize the free charge carriers of a first type, electrons or positive holes, in order to protect the charge carriers of a second type from recombination.

Abstract: A plate-type heat exchanger (1) comprising a plurality of stacked plates (2) and including a device (20) for evaluating the extent to which the fluid circuit(s) have become coated in scale, characterised in that the evaluating device (20) comprises an electrical resistor (21) which is thermally connected to plate (10) located at the end of the stack and means of measuring the temperature in the immediate vicinity of said resistor.

Abstract: Continuous process for the production of carbon-based nanotubes, nanofibres and nanostructures, comprising the following steps: generating a plasma with electrical energy, introducing a carbon precursor and/or one or more catalysers and/or carrier plasma gas in a reaction zone of an airtight high temperature resistant vessel optionally having a thermal insulation lining, vaporizing the carbon precursor in the reaction zone at a very high temperature, preferably 4000° C.

Abstract: A method and system for extracting and storing carbon dioxide from fumes derived from the combustion of hydrocarbons in an apparatus designed in particular for the production of mechanical energy comprises: exchangers (11, 25) and a dehydrator (56), for extracting water from the fumes in liquid form at a pressure more or less equal to atmospheric pressure; an integrated cascaded refrigerating apparatus (18, 22, 25, 26, 28, 32, 33, 34, 39, 40), for cooling the fumes at a pressure more or less equal to atmospheric pressure and at a temperature such that the carbon dioxide passes directly from the vapor state to the solid state, via an anti-sublimation process; a fixed (49) and/or removable (51) reservoir and suction means, in particular a pneumatic pump (48), for storing the carbon dioxide in liquid form after defrosting.

Abstract: The invention concerns a self-penetrating drilling method and a thrust-generating tool: the tool comprises N blades. Each blade comprised K drill cutters. The shapes, positions and orientations of said drill cutters are determined in the following manner: the kth drill cutter of the last blade drills, at the (q?1)th of the tool rotational cycle, a cut in the rock downstream of the one produced by the (k+1)th drill cutter of the first blade at the qth rotational cycle of the tool; the kth drill cutter of the nth blade drills, at the qth rotational cycle of the tool, a cut in the rock downstream of the one produced by the kth drill cutter of the (n+1)th blade at the qth rotational cycle of the tool; the normal to the leading edge of the drill cutter has a component along the axis of rotation oriented towards upstream.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method and an installation or system for drying fibrous material. The method comprises the step of ventilating very moist air through the fibrous material located in a drying zone. The moisture content of the moist air is less than that inside the drying zone, its pressure is close to atmospheric pressure and its temperature is higher than that of the material to be dried. The method additionally comprises the step of recovering the heat of condensation of the water vapor extracted from the fibrous material to heat the moist air, providing leaks between the outside ambient air and the ventilation circuit upstream and downstream of the drying zone, making possible a mass and heat exchange. It is possible to ensure heat and mass balance without expelling large amounts of moist air into the ambient air.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method and an installation or system for drying fibrous material. The method comprises the step of ventilating very moist air through the fibrous material located in a drying zone. The moisture content of the moist air is less than that inside the drying zone, its pressure is close to atmospheric pressure and its temperature is higher than that of the material to be dried. The method additionally comprises the step of recovering the heat of condensation of the water vapor extracted from the fibrous material to heat the moist air, providing leaks between the outside ambient air and the ventilation circuit upstream and downstream of the drying zone, making possible a mass and heat exchange. It is possible to ensure heat and mass balance without expelling large amounts of moist air into the ambient air.

Abstract: This invention relates to refrigerating or air conditioning system comprising at least one exchanger (2, 3) The system uses a refrigerant fluid according to a thermodynamic cycle comprising at least one liquid-vapor expansion phase. According to the invention, the liquid-vapor expansion phase is created by means of a diphasic turbine (4b) that actuates a ventilator (5b), causing air to circulate on said exchanger (3).

Abstract: The invention concerns glazing sheets with variable absorbing power. The glazing comprises two transparent walls providing an inter-wall space containing one of the two following fluids: either a first transparent fluid, such as air; or a second transparent fluid, absorbing solar energy over a very large part of the spectrum, in particular liquid water or liquid water with added alcohol. The glazing further compromises a circuit for discharging energy in the form of a bead, located at its periphery, preferably consisting of a heat pip-exchanger. The glazing also comprises an apparatus for filling up or emptying the inter-wall space, as well as flexible elements for absorbing the second fluid expansion depending on temperature. The glazing can in particular be used for producing car windows.

Abstract: A process for converting carbon or carbonated compounds in a plasma into carbons having a defined nanostructure consists of a reaction chamber whose head part contains three electrodes, a plasma gas supply, and a carbon or carbonated compound supply. A process for preparing carbons having a defined nanostructure. Apparatus to carry out the processes.

Abstract: A method for processing images using hierarchically organized queues is provided. In particular, the method relates to the segmentation and filtering of certain shapes whose contours appear to be imprecise due to the existence of image noise, thereby eliminating such noise and providing a more precise image. The disclosed method is applicable to all sectors of image analysis and is especially useful in the analysis of images acquired by tomographs used in the medical field, whether these images are two-, three- or even four-dimensional. The method can also be extended to numerous dimensions and to color images. The method is also of particular usefulness in the fields of traffic control, i.e., detection of vehicles and roads, and more generally to all fields of industrial vision. The disclosed method can also be essential in coding and image compression for telecommunications and archiving.