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: 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.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sensor for detecting trace or impurity gases, the method comprising evaporating tin and/or tin oxides under a partial pressure of oxygen in order to condense vapor on an electrically insulating substrate to obtain a porous layer deposit therein. The metal or the metal oxides is/are evaporated under a flow of a mixture of gases containing both oxygen and an inert gas at a total pressure of not less than 100 pascals and with the partial pressure of the oxygen in the mixture being not more than 130 pascals.

Abstract: A method of determining the trajectory of a body (1) such as a vehicle body on a relatively plane path portion (2), the method being characterized in that it consists: in forming a main real image (4) of the path portion in a plane (19) at a non-zero angle (5) with the path portion; in decomposing said main image as formed into a plurality of points (21); in determining the relationship between the size of a unit length (30) taken substantially at the level of the path portion and the size of its image formed in the main image the size being a function of the number of points covered by the image and of the location of the unit length on said path portion; in determining a secondary image (32) in the main image, the secondary image corresponding to a longitudinal reference mark (31) related to the vehicle on the path portion; and in determining the various successive positions (32, 33, 34) of the secondary image by correlation of the number of points covered by the secondary image, given that the secondary im

Abstract: Monocrystalline alloy with a nickel base matrix without intentional addition of carbon, of boron or of zirconium, having a composition by weight: Co 0 to 10% - Cr 5 to 7% - Mo 1.5 to 2.5% - W 8.5 to 12.5% - Ta 0 to 6.5% - Al 5 to 7% - Nb 0 to 2% - Ni balance to 100. Furthermore, the summation of the atomic percentages 0.005 0.005 Xo+0.036 Cr+0.052 Mo+0.066 W+0.026 Al+0.116 Nb +0.049 Ta is less than one and the summation of the atomic percentages Ta+W+Mo+Nb lies between 5.9 and 6.3. The alloys having an elevated solidus temperature, in excess of 1325.degree. C., are particularly adapted to monocrystalline casting of the vanes of the turbine inlet nozzle array and having significantly improved properties of strength under conditions of thermal fatigue and oligocyclic fatigue.

Abstract: This material which has a hemi-cellulose content of less tha 2%, a benzopyrene content of less than 2 ug/kg and a calorific value which is about 20% greater than that of the starting material is obtained by isothermal treatment between 220.degree. C. and 280.degree. C. for a period of thirty minutes using crossed flows of treated material and of oxygen-free hot gases in an oven including stirring means (6,9) and a gas generator (1) with the gas being circulated by a fan (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal energy storage material, comprising a substantially homogeneous mixture of at least one compound having, in a temperature range of between 0.degree. C. and 200.degree.0 C., a solid-solid phase transition having a variation in enthalpy at least equal to 50 J/g, with an organic binder selected from the group consisting of polyepoxyde resins and polyurethane resins, stable at the temperature of the phase transition.