Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to formate. According one embodiment, an electrochemical process includes the catalytic electro-chemical reduction of carbon dioxide to formate utilizing a cathodic catalyst comprising tin and zinc, the zinc comprising between three and six weight percent of the catalyst. In a further embodiment, an electrochemical reactor for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to formate comprises a cathodic catalyst comprising tin and zinc, the zinc comprising between three and six weight percent of the catalyst.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to formate and formic acid. One embodiment features a three-compartment reactor which houses: a gas compartment; a catholyte compartment, which contains a porous cathode having a tin-based catalyst; and an anolyte compartment, which contains an anode having a mixed metal oxide catalyst. Further embodiments include a method for depositing tin onto a porous cathode, tin zinc cathodes, a reaction method using an acidic anolyte, and pulsed polarization to extend reactor runtimes.

Abstract: An acoustic method and apparatus detects or characterizes a medium in a structure which may be a container, such as a pipeline for transportation of oil, gas, or hydrocarbon condensate. A pulse of broadband acoustic energy is emitted towards the structure by a first transducer. A return signal is generating by a second transducer from acoustic energy returned from the structure in response to the emission of acoustic energy. A return signal spectrum representing acoustic spectral components of the acoustic energy returned from the structure is derived from the return signal, and the medium is detected or characterized by applying a return signal processing medium detection or characterization algorithm to the return signal spectrum.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining a moisture ingress in an insulating layer surrounding a pipe, the insulating layer being surrounded by a tubular jacket. The apparatus includes an acoustic transducer in communication with an exciter adapted to provide a brief and broad banded acoustic signal which includes frequencies which by their propagation in the material of the jacket has a wavelength which corresponds to twice the thickness of the jacket or an odd multiple of twice the thickness of the jacket, and to process a reverberation signal emitted from the jacket in response to sending into the jacket the brief and broad banded output signal from the transducer.

Abstract: An acoustic apparatus adapted to operate in a gas filled space from a first side of an object to be measured for making a non-contact thickness measurement thereof includes an electro acoustic transducer, a transceiver coupled with the electro acoustic transducer and adapted to excite electro acoustic transducer to output an acoustic signal towards the object to be measured and receive an acoustic response signal therefrom, and a signal processor adapted to process the response signal and determine a thickness of the object. The electroacoustic transducer has a transducer-to-gas acoustic interface, and the transceiver is adapted to operate the electroacoustic transducer so as to emit into a gas filled gap an acoustic broad band pulse towards the object and to receive an acoustic resonance response signal in the acoustic response signal at a level that allows acquisition of the resonance response signal above a predetermined signal to noise level.

Abstract: An acoustic apparatus adapted to operate in a gas filled space from a first side of an object to be measured for making a non-contact thickness measurement thereof includes an electro acoustic transducer, a transceiver coupled with the electro acoustic transducer and adapted to excite electro acoustic transducer to output an acoustic signal towards the object to be measured and receive an acoustic response signal therefrom, and a signal processor adapted to process the response signal and determine a thickness of the object. The electroacoustic transducer has a transducer-to-gas acoustic interface, and the transceiver is adapted to operate the electroacoustic transducer so as to emit into a gas filled gap an acoustic broad band pulse towards the object and to receive an acoustic resonance response signal in the acoustic response signal at a level that allows acquisition of the resonance response signal above a predetermined signal to noise level.

Abstract: An acoustic method and apparatus detects or characterizes a medium in a structure which may be a container, such as a pipeline for transportation of oil, gas, or hydrocarbon condensate. A pulse of broadband acoustic energy is emitted towards the structure by a first transducer. A return signal is generating by a second transducer from acoustic energy returned from the structure in response to the emission of acoustic energy. A return signal spectrum representing acoustic spectral components of the acoustic energy returned from the structure is derived from the return signal, and the medium is detected or characterized by applying a return signal processing medium detection or characterization algorithm to the return signal spectrum.

Abstract: An acoustic apparatus adapted to operate in a gas filled space from a first side of an object to be measured for making a non-contact thickness measurement thereof includes an electro acoustic transducer, a transceiver coupled with the electro acoustic transducer and adapted to excite electro acoustic transducer to output an acoustic signal towards the object to be measured and receive an acoustic response signal therefrom, and a signal processor adapted to process the response signal and determine a thickness of the object. The electroacoustic transducer has a transducer-to-gas acoustic interface, and the transceiver is adapted to operate the electroacoustic transducer so as to emit into a gas filled gap an acoustic broad band pulse towards the object and to receive an acoustic resonance response signal in the acoustic response signal at a level that allows acquisition of the resonance response signal above a predetermined signal to noise level.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining a moisture ingress in an insulating layer surrounding a pipe, the insulating layer being surrounded by a tubular jacket. The apparatus includes an acoustic transducer in communication with an exciter adapted to provide a brief and broad banded acoustic signal which includes frequencies which by their propagation in the material of the jacket has a wavelength which corresponds to twice the thickness of the jacket or an odd multiple of twice the thickness of the jacket, and to process a reverberation signal emitted from the jacket in response to sending into the jacket the brief and broad banded output signal from the transducer.

Abstract: The invention regards a tank for storing of fluid at low temperature of insulated self carrying plate structure, where the plates comprises a sandwich structure, comprising two surface sheets of a metal or a material with similar properties and a core material with properties allowing for the variation of thermal deformation between the inner and outer surface sheets, which core material also provides for at least partly the insulation of the tank and which provides at least partly the necessary stiffness and strength of the wall. The invention also regard support means for the tank, a sandwich structure for use in a tank, and a method for producing the tank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a marine vessel, such as ships, floating platform etc, where the whole or part(s) comprises a layered structure and a layered structure for use in vessels, including two substantially parallel metal sheets with a concrete layer in between, where the concrete has density significantly less than that of normal concrete, preferably less than about 1200 kg/m3, where the layered structure is dimensioned as if the concrete layer in the structure carries essentially no tension but is capable of carrying compressive forces and support the metal sheets. The invention also regards a method for improving carrying capacity at existing structures, and an improved corrugated structure. The invention also includes a layered structure module, elements for building a module, and methods for producing a layered structure according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for measuring, characterizing, verifying and position-determining material properties of a selected object to be measured, in particular thickness distribution. A mobile measuring unit which is manouvered and operated manually or with the aid of a remote-control transport device senses half-wave resonance in objects to be measured and computes the thickness distribution. A new, accurate, partly acoustic positioning system determines the position of the measured area.