Abstract: The bypass element is connected in parallel with a single battery cell or a group of battery cells of a high-temperature storage battery including a plurality of series-connected electrochemical battery cells and is used both for balancing the charging state of undamaged battery cells and for the irreversible bypassing of destroyed cells which have failed with high impedance. The bypass element includes two series-connected semiconductor components, in particular semiconductor diodes, varistors or NTC resistances in each case having a different current/voltage characteristic or curve. In the event of potentiostatic overcharging of a battery cell, the first semiconductor component goes to low impedance so that the current flow necessary for charging further battery cells is determined only by the leakage current of the second semiconductor component. If a destroyed battery cell fails with high impedance, both semiconductor components break down and irreversibly short-circuit the cell with a low impedance.

Abstract: An electrochemical storage cell based on sodium and sulphur includes a metallic housing. A solid electrolyte disposed in the housing defines an anode space and a cathode space mutually separated by the solid electrolyte and outwardly bounded by the housing. A felt is disposed in the cathode space to form an electrode. The felt is impregnated with sulphur and folded at least twice. The felt has graphite or carbon fibers disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the storage cell and substantially perpendicular to the surface of the solid electrolyte.

Abstract: In a pyrolysis plant having a preliminary cooling stage and a final cooling stage, in the event of an operational malfunction of the preliminary cooling stage as indicated by temperature measurement of the pyrolysis gas cooled therein, the pyrolysis gas is withdrawn upstream of the final cooling stage and previously stored, cold pyrolysis gas is drawn from a gas reservoir and fed to the pyrolysis reactor and to the final cooling stage so that these parts of the plant can remain in unaltered operation. As a result of this procedure, a shutdown of the entire plant is avoided in the event of malfunctions of the preliminary cooling stage.

Abstract: A plant for the pyrolysis of waste material containing hydrocarbons has a cooling stage. In this cooling stage, the hot pyrolysis gas coming from the pyrolysis reactor is cooled by direct heat exchange with low-boiling pyrolysis oil which is obtained in a further cooling stage by condensation of pyrolysis gas. For this purpose, a multiplicity of spray nozzles disposed in the form of a ring are provided in the heat exchange channel of the cooling stage, with a spray direction of the nozzles pointing substantially downwards. The end of the hot gas line which connects the cooling stage to the pyrolysis reactor is located above the spray nozzles. At the same time, feed lines for a protective, buffer or blanketing gas end in this region. In addition, an annular channel encloses the heat exchange channel and has orifices in the inner wall surface of the heat exchange channel, so that pyrolysis oil fed through the line cools and wets the wall of the heat exchange channel.

Abstract: A high-voltage switchgear having a fixed and a moving contact member includes a hydraulic drive for operation of the moving contact member having a piston and cylinder configuration with a piston coupled to the moving contact member. A fluid reservoir configuration supplies fluid under pressure to the piston for driving the piston. A compressor unit at ground potential charges the fluid reservoir configuration. Electrically-insulating, pressure-resistant lines respectively connect the compressor unit with the piston and cylinder configuration and with the fluid reservoir configuration. The piston and cylinder configuration and the fluid reservoir configuration are disposed spatially close to and at the same electrical potential as the moving contact member.

Abstract: A method for protecting the electric drive of a vehicle against overload when the nominal power is temporarily exceeded includes measuring the traveling speed of the vehicle. The traveling speed is automatically limited for preventing a continuous speed obtained at nominal operation of the electric drive corresponding to traveling resistances independent of acceleration, from being exceeded.

Abstract: A method for removing an insulating fluid containing polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) which was used as an insulating medium, from the pores of a porous solid electrical insulating part which had been immersed in PCB-containing insulating fluid of an electrical apparatus from the group consisting of electrical transformers, chokes and capacitors includes the steps of removing the insulating part from the electrical apparatus and subsequently immersing the insulating part in a bath containing at least one fluid solvent for PCB selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, aromatic, chlorinated and fluorinated hydrocarbons. The insulating part is moved within the bath for a period of from 8-60 minutes at a speed of from 0.02 to 0.5 meters per second, and the solvent of the bath is heated during the movement of the insulating part from the ambient temperature to a final temperature of from 5.degree. to 25.degree. C. below the boiling temperature of the solvent at the pressure prevailing in the bath.

Abstract: A high-temperature storage battery includes a housing and a stack of at least two storage cells disposed in the housing. Each of the storage cells has components loosely disposed on top of one another in the stack. The components include two reactant chambers, a planar ion-conducting solid electrolyte mutually separating the reactant chambers, and planar components serving as electrodes and bordering the storage cells toward the outside. At least one common resilient structural element presses the components of all of the storage cells together in a leakproof manner.