Abstract: Method of manufacturing a directionally solidified columnar grained article (3) with a reduced amount of secondary misorientation of the columnar grains with a casting assembly comprising a mold with a cavity, a selector section (1) at lower end of the mold, a heating chamber and a cooling chamber, wherein the mold is fed with a liquid metal and the mold is removed from the heating chamber to the cooling chamber and thereby the columnar grained article (3) is solidified, characterised in that the columnar grained article (3) is solidified with at least two dendrites (or grains) coming out of the selector section (1) and entering the main cavity of the shell mold in such a way that it is not possible for any dendrite or grain to grow from the bottom of the selector section (1) to the columnar grained article (3) defined by the shell mold cavity along a continuous path of purely vertical growth.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor element (6) having a cathode (3) and an anode (5), the starting material used is a relatively thick wafer (1) to which, as a first step, a barrier region (21) is added on the anode side. It is then treated on the cathode side, and the thickness of the wafer (1) is then reduced on the side opposite to the cathode (3), and an anode (5) is produced on this side in a further step. The result is a relatively thin semiconductor element which can be produced economically and without epitaxial layers.

Abstract: A semiconductor component including a housing for a semiconductor substrate, an anode, a cathode, an annular gate electrode flange, which laterally protrudes from the housing and concentrically surrounds the housing, and an annular auxiliary cathode flange, which protrudes from the housing and makes contact with the cathode.

Abstract: In a process for melting inorganic materials (7) in a rotary horizontal converter or a rotary kiln (1) by adding fuel (8), oxygen or oxygen-enriched gases (10) and the inorganic materials (7) to a liquid bath (5), solid fuel (8) is added in piece form. The oxygen or the oxygen-enriched gas (10) is blown at high velocity (v) onto the surface of the bath (5), reacts with the solid fuel (8) and releases heat in the course of this. By means of the process of the invention, high temperatures can be achieved with the use of inexpensive fuels.

Abstract: A method for cooling the flow in radial gaps formed between rotors and stators of turbomachines, which method is improved with regard to its cooling effect. In addition, a simple, cost-effective and robust arrangement for realizing the method is to be specified. According to the invention, this is achieved in that a first cooling fluid is admitted to a stator part adjacent to the radial gap and a second, gaseous cooling fluid is introduced into the radial gap. To this end, either at least one recess is formed in the interior of the stator part adjacent to the radial gap or at least one cavity is arranged at the stator part. The recess or the cavity is connected to both a feed line and a discharge line for the first cooling fluid. In addition, at least one feed passage as well as a discharge device for the second cooling fluid are arranged at the radial gap.

Abstract: In a method of, and an appliance for, operating a burner (26), in which a combustion air flow (14) transports fuel into a combustion chamber (28) where the fuel is burnt, the formation of coherent flow instabilities of the combustion air flow (15) after emergence into the combustion chamber (28) is prevented by perturbation air (22) being injected into the combustion air flow (15).

Abstract: A reclosing apparatus for the auxiliary systems of a plant, in particular a power station, has drive modules (81) for actuating electrical drives (23a, 23b, 33, 53a, 53b, 63, 73) of the auxiliary systems. Each drive module (81) of a reclosable drive (23a, 33, 53a, 63, 73) is assigned a reclosing module (82). When a voltage interruption occurs, the reclosing modules (82) switch the drives (23a, 33, 53a, 63, 73) by opening switches (22a, 32a, 52a, 62, 72). If the end of the voltage interruption is detected within a predetermined time, the reclosing modules (82) switch the drives (23a, 33, 53a, 63, 73) on again. Each busbar (2, 3, 5, 6, 7) which supplies a drive (23a, 33, 53a, 63, 73) provided with a reclosing module (82) is equipped with a microprocessor-controlled voltage monitoring device (21).

Abstract: A steel profile clamp is used to join flanged component parts. The profile clamp has at least partially conical side walls that are bent radially inwardly. The profile clamp has welding joints to maintain the shape of the clamp. The steel is martensitic for increased load-carrying capacity of the joint. The steel material, in an ambient temperature range of 20° C. to 750° C., has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is at least 0.3×10−6 m/m° C. lower than that of the coefficient of thermal expansion of a ferritic casting material. The method for manufacturing the profile clamp includes prequenching and tempering the material of the profile clamp when it is in the form of a strip. After forming and welding the profile clamp, the weld is subject to induction tempering.

Abstract: In a method of operating a gas turbine, in which a gaseous fuel is burned in a combustion chamber and the hot combustion gases which are produced in the process are directed through the gas turbine, and in which method the gaseous fuel is fed to the combustion chamber via a plurality of controllable burners, working in parallel and arranged on one or more concentric, essentially circular rings, and is sprayed into the combustion chamber via fuel holes, high safety and availability within various operating ranges is achieved in a simple manner owing to the fact that the burners are divided into at least two groups (40-42) of burners, these groups in each case include the burners of one of the rings, and these groups are individually activated as a function of the operating state of the gas turbine.

Abstract: An iron aluminide coating consists essentially of: 5-35% by weight aluminum 15-25% by weight chromium 0.5-10% by weight molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum and niobium 0-0.3% by weight zirconium 0-1% by weight boron 0-1% by weight yttrium the remainder being iron and also impurities and additaments arising from its production.

Abstract: A method for detecting installation and/or calibration errors in signal output units of a partial-discharge measurement system, where the signal output units are arranged at various points in an electrical insulation system, includes: Calibrating a selected one of the signal output units by injecting a first calibration pulse between a high-voltage side of the insulation system and ground. Storing calibration data obtained during the step of calibrating. Recording and storing a first set of partial discharge signals and an amplitude of the first calibration pulse via the selected signal output unit. Adopting the stored calibration data for the selected signal output unit, for calibrating the other signal output units. Recording and storing, via the other signal output units, a second set of partial discharge signals and an amplitude of a second calibration pulse. And, comparing the stored partial discharge signals for all the signal output units with one another.

Abstract: A cooling passage of a component subjected to high thermal loading, which is formed as a cavity (2, 20, 30), running in a longitudinal direction (L) and curved orthogonally to the longitudinal direction (L), between a first wall (5) and a second wall (6), which in each case are connected to one another in a laterally adjacent manner, which has ribs (7, 17, 27), which are arranged on the first wall (5) and the second wall (6) such that they alternate in a longitudinal direction (L) and are staggered relative one another and, at least in sections, assume a non-orthogonal angle relative to a projected center axis (10′), and through which a cooling fluid (K) can flow in a longitudinal direction (L), in which case, when the profile of the cavity (2, 20, 30) is curved orthogonally to the longitudinal direction (L), the ribs (7, 17, 27) are formed in such a way that, in each case locally with regard to the adjacent rib of the opposite wall, they maintain a distance (a) which is half a respective local rib spac

Abstract: The resistor is designed in the form of a column and has a cylindrical resistor body which is arranged between two planar electrodes, aligned parallel, and is made of a ceramic material. The resistor is preferably a varistor on a metal-oxide base, and is then used as a voltage-limiting element in an overvoltage suppressor. The strength of the ceramic material and the length of the resistor are chosen to be as great as possible. However, the length of the resistor is at most sufficiently large that damage to the ceramic resistor body caused by thermally produced pressure waves is avoided when the resistor is loaded in an electrical field of given magnitude with at least one highly energetic current pulse of defined amplitude, form and duration.

Abstract: In an ignition appliance for a heat generator, the supply lines for air (70) and fuel gas (60) are led directly into a flame tube (40). The igniter (51) is arranged in an ignition space (50) remote from the flame tube (40) and connected to the flame tube (40). The ignition space (50) is connected to the air supply passage (70) and the gas supply passage (60) via connecting ducts (55, 56). If the supply passages for air and fuel gas (70, 60) are dimensioned so as to be sufficiently large, the pressure drop between the inside of the ignition space (50) and the feed lines (60, 70) is small. The fuel/air ratio present at the igniter (51) is therefore essentially determined only by the ratio of the cross sections of the connecting ducts (55, 56). The flow relationships in the ignition space (50) are likewise substantially decoupled from the air and fuel gas flows supplied overall to the ignition appliance.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide an axial-flow turbine having an improved efficiency. In addition, the assembly and dismantling possibilities are to be extended. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the parting seam (17) between the outer ring (12) of the nozzle ring (15) and the cover (8) is arranged on the moving-blade side of an imaginary plane (20) passing through the center of the gap width (19) of the axial gap (18).

Abstract: Described is a sealing arrangement for reducing leakage flows inside a rotary fluid-flow machine, preferably an axial turbomachine, having moving and guide blades, which are in each case arranged in at least one moving- or guide-blade row respectively and have blade roots, via which the individual moving and guide blades are connected to fastening contours. A sealing element having felt-like material is provided between at least two adjacent blade roots within a guide- or moving-blade row or between guide and/or moving blades and adjacent components of the fluid-flow machine.

Abstract: A method of casting a directionally solidified article such as a component of a gas or steam turbine. The casting is performed in a casting furnace comprising a heating chamber, a liquid cooling bath as a cooling chamber and a shell mold. During casting, shell mold is fed with liquid metal and withdrawn from the heating chamber to the cooling chamber while the interior of the casting furnace is supplied with an inert atmosphere of Ar and/or He in the pressure range of 0.01 to 1 atmosphere, with a preferred range of 0.05 to 0.25 atmosphere. The method can provide improved heat transfer across the shell mold allowing a higher withdrawal rate, reduction in defects and/or improvement in properties of the cast articles.

Abstract: The temperature can nowadays be reduced by about 400° C. as a result of the cooling of the guide vane (15) of the first guide wheel. The many film bores leading outward from the guide vane (15) must therefore remain free of blockages or deposits caused by suspended matter in the cooling medium. Only pure gas must therefore be used as the cooling medium for the first guide wheel. This purpose is served by a dust separator which is designed advantageously as an axial cyclone (24, 24′). The latter has no moving structural parts, has a simple design, is therefore insusceptible to faults and can be exposed to high temperatures. The axial cyclone is a centrifugal deduster without gas stream reversal.

Abstract: A cooled vane for a gas turbine or similar device including a vane blade constructed of a suction side wall and a pressure side wall that are connected via a leading edge and a trailing edge with each other, which has an essentially radially extending cavity through which a cooling medium is capable of flowing. The vane blade has multiple cooling channels that, starting from the cavity, extend through a vane section adjoining the trailing edge and formed by sections of the suction side wall and the pressure side wall, and end at the trailing edge. A first row of cooling channels is associated with the suction side (SS) of the vane blade, and a second row of cooling channels is associated with the pressure side (DS) of the vane blade. The cooled vane has improved cooling efficiency and can be produced entirely with a casting process while complying with basic geometric conditions.

Abstract: A method for transmitting digitized payload data and signalling data over a common channel. The signalling data are multiplexed with the payload data using a suitable coding. The signalling bytes are preceded by at least one header bit, and confusion between the payload data and the header byte is prevented by inverting at least one bit of the payload data byte when a payload data byte corresponding to the header byte occurs.