Abstract: A mobile device that is able to locate itself in a topological map using a combination of visual and radio information is provided. The mobile device captures an image of its environment, detects receivable radio transmitters and builds an observation vector that defines visual words and radio words that are present at the current location of the mobile device. It then compares this observation vector to reference vectors corresponding to reference location and identifies, based on correlations between visual words and radio words, the location of the mobile device among reference locations.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing rubber crumb comprises the following steps: (a) suspending rubber granules having a given size in an autoclave (1) containing a supercritical fluid; (b) agitating the mixture for a predetermined time at constant pressure and constant temperature; (c) carrying out an isenthalpic expansion of the mixture from step (b) by spraying it through a nozzle (20).

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: 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: A method of preparing a transparent polymer material includes i) obtaining composite nanoparticles having mineral nanoparticles at least partially coated with at least one monomer and/or at least one polymer suitable for promoting physicochemical interactions at the interface between the mineral nanoparticles and a thermoplastic polycarbonate matrix, the mineral nanoparticles being surface-modified by the monomer and/or the polymer, either directly by grafting or directly by adsorption of the monomer and/or polymer onto the surface of the mineral nanoparticles; or via a coupling agent selected from a chlorosilane or an organosilane including a functional group that is capable of reacting by a radical pathway. The composite nanoparticles obtained in step i) are mixed with the thermoplastic polycarbonate matrix in the molten state to obtain the transparent polymer material.

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: 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 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: The present invention relates to a proton-conductive electrochemical cell (10), comprising an electrolytic membrane (13) made of a ceramic and an electrode (11, 12) made of a cermet, said electrochemical cell (10) being obtained directly by a method of co-sintering a ceramic layer, capable of forming the electrolytic membrane (13), and a cermet layer, capable of forming the electrode (11, 12), in a sintering tool at a sintering temperature of the ceramic that makes it possible to render said ceramic layer, capable of forming the electrolyte (13), gas-tight, wherein said cell (10) is characterised in that said cermet consists of the mixture of a ceramic and an electronically conductive passivatable alloy including at least 40 mol % chromium capable of forming a passive layer, the nature and the chromium content of said passivatable alloy enabling said electrochemical cell to be co-sintered with a membrane densification of more than 90% without melting said alloy.

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 method for detecting and optionally a method for quantifying drilling anomalies in a metal part. The drilling method includes determining a value set of at least one of the two following parameters, depending on the time: the penetration axial stress of a drill bit into the metal part and the torque generated during at least one portion part of the drilling.

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: A method for detecting and optionally a method for quantifying drilling anomalies in a metal part. The drilling method includes determining a value set of at least one of the two following parameters, depending on the time: the penetration axial stress of a drill bit into the metal part and the torque generated during at least one portion part of the drilling.

Abstract: The invention provides alloys or superalloys based on nickel essentially comprising the following elements in the amounts indicated as percentages by weight: Cr: 11.5% to 13.5%; Co: 11.5% to 16.0%; Mo: 3.4% to 5.0%; W: 3.0% to 5.0%; Al: 2.2% to 3.2%; Ti: 3.5% to 5.0%; Nb: 0.5% to 2.0%; Hf: 0.25% to 0.35%; Zr: 0 to 0.07%; C: 0.015% to 0.030%; B: 0.01% to 0.02%; and Ni: complement to 100%. The alloy is for use in the production of turbine or compressor disks for turbo-machines, using powder metallurgy techniques.

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).