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.

Abstract: A method and an electronic circuit for measuring very weak signals at high voltage. The electronic circuit consists of a first portion (I) constituted by at least one amplifier (2) which is DC-connected directly to a source of weak signals. This amplifier is followed by at least one current amplifier (5). A second portion of the circuit (II) then transfers the amplified current signal from high potential to the ground potential of measuring apparatus by a series of transistors (12 to 14) followed by an output amplifier (22). An optional third portion (III) may be provided to sample the signal by an analog gate (25) suitably controlled from an external frequency source. This makes it possible in spectrometry to perform fast and accurate measurements on very weak signals at high potential.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing parts or powders made of a compound of silicon or of a metal by exothermally reacting parts or powders of silicon or a metal in the solid state with a gas, wherein the differential flow rate or the pressure variation of the reactive gas in contact with the part or the powder is sensed, and the reaction is performed at increasing temperatures as a function of the said differential flow rate or pressure of the reactive gas:the improvement wherein a maximum differential flow rate or a maximum speed of pressure drop of the reactive gas is predetermined as a function of the chemical nature of the parts or powders, and optionally as a function of the density and the size of the parts, and the rise in temperature is suspended when the differential flow rate or the speed of pressure drop of the reactive gas reaches the predetermined maximum value, beyond which the reaction would run away and prevent complete transformation of the parts or the powders being obtained.

Abstract: Rheometer for effecting measurement of rheological properties in a medium, comprising a hollow body (2) having an inner chamber (3) with a lower zone (3A) and an upper zone (3B) of enlarged diameter. An inner shaft (9) is located in the inner chamber (3) and is driven by a magnetic coupling (12A-13) through a cap (4) for hermetically sealing the hollow body (2). A rotor (18) is provided on the inner shaft (9) and is displaceable in a longitudinal direction between an upper position where it is located in the upper zone (3B) and a lower position where it is located in its position for measurement. A stirrer (10-11) is keyed to the lower part of the inner shaft (9) and is receivable within the rotor (18).

Abstract: Equipment (3) for centrifugal casting from a crucible (5) into a mold (8) is modified by the addition of agitation means (19) movable relative to the crucible (5) and a heating furnace (30) which is movable relative to the mold (8) in order to heat the latter, before casting, to a temperature close to that of the alloy in the thixotropic state.

Abstract: An enclosure (17) contains two ovens (18, 19) each containing a semiconductor metal oxide (SnO.sub.2 or NiO) sensor (13) previously activated using H.sub.2 S or SO.sub.2. The sensors (13) are heated to different temperatures the lower of which corresponds to a peak on the sensor conductivity curve characteristic of the gas. The signals produced are applied to a comparator (30). For many toxic gases this peak occurs at concentrations below their toxicity threshold in air.

Abstract: A process for the electrolytic deposition of chromium by means of a bath of trivalent chromium is characterized in that it uses, as electrolyte, a solution which is obtained by careful reduction of the chromic acid in a sulfuric medium by an excess of a reducing agent of the alcohol type, such as methanol. Subsequently this solution is diluted with water without indispensable addition of additional products. The electrolysis is effected without separation of the anodic and cathodic compartments at an anode-cathode potential difference greater than 6 volts, the cathodic current density being of the order of 10 to 40 amperes per dm.sup.2, the concentration of trivalent chromium ranging from 0,1 to 1 ion-gram per liter and the pH from 1 to 1,5.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for boronizing pieces made of metal or cermet and to surface-boronized pieces. The pieces are placed in a chamber at between 850.degree. and 1,150.degree. C. and they are subjected, in the presence of boron carbide, to a gaseous stream of trifluoroboroxole (BOF).sub.3. The boron carbide is advantageously pulverulent and out of contact with the pieces to be boronized.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for boronizing pieces made of metal or cermet and to surface-boronized pieces. The pieces are placed in a chamber at between 850.degree. and 1,150.degree. C. and they are subjected, in the presence of boron carbide, to a gaseous stream of trifluoroboroxole (BOF).sub.3. The boron carbide is advantageously pulverulent and out of contact with the pieces to be boronized.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing nitrided silicon parts which retain their mechanical properties after hot oxidation, said method consisting of sintering silicon powder in an atmosphere which is rich in nitrogen. 1% to 10% by weight of aluminium powder is added to the silicon before sintering thereof and preliminary hot oxidation is effected in conditions which allow acicular mullite to form by the direct action of the aluminium and of a complement of oxygen molecules supplied by the outside medium on the silicon formed.