Abstract: Methods are provided for making asphalt from crude oils derived from mined oil sands that have been subjected to a solvent froth treatment as part of the process for making a crude oil that is suitable for pipeline transport. A froth treatment is used that preserves a greater percentage of the asphaltene content of the crude oil derived from the mined oil sands.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solar cell capable of significantly reducing the amount of wastewater generated during a wet-etching process and improving the efficiency of the solar cell. A method comprising: texturing to form an uneven structure on one semiconductor substrate surface by etching the semiconductor substrate surface with a texturing device; forming a temporary layer at an upper portion of the semiconductor substrate surface to surround a first byproduct layer formed at a predetermined region of the semiconductor substrate surface during the texturing; and doping the semiconductor substrate surface with a predetermined dopant using a doping device to form a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer disposed above the first semiconductor layer and having a different polarity than the first semiconductor layer. The first byproduct layer and the temporary layer are simultaneously removed.

Abstract: A sensing system for use with a subsea actuator has an actuator with a cylinder having a piston therein, and a piston rod extending outwardly of the cylinder, a magnetic member connected to or cooperative with an end of the piston rod, and a magnetic field sensor positioned over the magnetic member so as to sense magnetic field changes in relation to a movement of the magnetic member relative to the magnetic field sensor. A data acquisition system is cooperative with the magnetic field sensor for receiving a signal from the magnetic field sensor. A housing is positioned over the magnetic field sensor and over the magnetic member. The magnetic member moves through the housing in relation to a movement of the piston rod.

Abstract: An apparatus for the shearing of pipe in a subsea environment has a housing with an interior passageway suitable for allowing a pipe to extend therethrough, a shell positioned in the interior passageway of the housing, and a shape charge positioned in the shell so as to be directed toward an outer diameter of the pipe. The shaped charge includes a plurality of shape charges positioned in the shell so as to be directed to the outer diameter of the pipe. The plurality of shape charges extend radially within the shell. The plurality of shape charges are positioned in a common horizontal plane. The shell can be movable between a first position in which the shape charge is spaced from the pipe and a second position in which the shape charge bears against an outer diameter of the pipe.

Abstract: The removal of fluoroalkanes from fluoroalkane-containing hydrocarbon streams, preferably C3 to C5 hydrocarbon streams. The fluoroalkane-containing hydrocarbon stream is contacted with an adsorbent containing a strong acid function, preferably a silica gel or a strong cation ion-exchange resin having sulfonic acid functionality.

Abstract: The synthesis of high performance polyvinyl ether (PVE) synthetic fluids using a Lewis acid based cationic polymerization process is disclosed. The polyvinyl ether fluid have repeating vinyl ether units of the general formula —[CH2—CH (O—R)]n, wherein R is comprised of a branched or linear alkyl group having at least 4 carbon atoms and n is a whole number representing the average number of repeating units in the polyvinyl ether. The resulting PVE fluids exhibit excellent lubricant properties, similar to poly-alpha olefins (PAOs), but the PVE fluids have the benefit of higher polarity than PAOs and thus have better solubility and dispersity of polar additives.

Abstract: A double-center quaternary ammonium salt ion liquid having the structural formula (I), wherein n=2, 3 or 6, Y? is BF4?, PF6?, (FSO2)2N?, (CF3SO2)2N? or CF3S3?. Also provided is a method for preparing a double-center quaternary ammonium salt ion liquid. The double-center quaternary ammonium salt ion liquid has high stability, and thus an electrolyte containing the double center quaternary ammonium salt ion liquid has a high decomposition voltage.

Abstract: A connector for interconnecting or mutually isolating two or more electrical circuits is provided. The connector comprises first and second inter-engageable connector parts. A first part comprises a spigot and first contact pins for connection to an electrical circuit. The second connector part comprises a socket and second contact pins for connection to an electrical circuit. The second part has a lock ball projecting into the socket. The first part defines a groove for receipt of the lock ball. The first contact holder has a first shroud disposed around the first contact pins. The first shroud extends beyond the first contact pins. The second contact holder has second shrouds disposed around the each second contact pin. The second shrouds extends beyond the second contact pins. The contact holders are arranged such that when the spigot is received in the socket, the connector parts are moveable between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A rotary agitation type heat treatment apparatus includes: a cylindrical member for performing heat treatment on a material to be treated supplied inside the cylindrical member from one end thereof; a rotating unit for rotating the cylindrical member; a heating unit for heating the material supplied inside the cylindrical member; and agitation members arranged in the cylindrical member. Each agitation member has a shaft structure and two or more blades provided on the shaft structure. The cylindrical member and the agitation members are constituted of a ceramic material. The material inside the cylindrical member is heated and the cylindrical member is rotated, so that the material is heat treated while agitated by the agitation members in the cylindrical member, and discharged out from the other end thereof.

Abstract: The method for stopping operation of a reactor is provided with a stop step of stopping supply of a synthesis gas containing a carbon monoxide gas and a hydrogen gas into the reactor; a slurry discharge step of discharging slurry from the reactor; a steam supply step of supplying steam higher in temperature than the decomposition temperatures of metal carbonyls into the reactor, thereby discharging gaseous matters inside the reactor; and a carbon monoxide gas detecting step of detecting an amount of carbon monoxide gas contained in the gaseous matters discharged from the reactor. In the steam supply step, supply of the steam is stopped when an amount of the detected carbon monoxide gas continuously declines to be lower than a predetermined reference value.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process involving hydrocracking and dewaxing of a feedstream in which a converted fraction can correspond to a majority of the product from the reaction system, while an unconverted fraction can exhibit improved properties. In this hydrocracking process, it can be advantageous for the yield of unconverted fraction for gasoline fuel application to be controlled to maintain desirable cold flow properties for the unconverted fraction. Catalysts and conditions can be chosen to assist in attaining, or to optimize, desirable product yields and/or properties.

Abstract: An assembly for closing the discharge nozzle of a syringe which is pre-filled with a drug or medication. A syringe in combination with a connecting structure removably maintain and support the closure in an operative orientation, which facilitates the rotational attachment of the syringe and the closure when the closure is in mating engagement with the connecting structure. A subsequent removal of the syringe and connected closure from the container or other type of connecting structure is thereby facilitated. The need for an individual to directly handle or touch the closure during its attachment to the syringe is restricted or eliminated. The closure assembly preferably also includes a tamper evident structure which reduces the chances of tampering with the syringe in order to access its contents.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrowinning of aluminium from cryolite-alumina melts, and can be used in the shunt design of a cathode assembly. In an aluminium electrolysis cell, cathode vertical metal shunts, are designed such that their top part is melted aluminium, and the bottom part is solid aluminium. Shunts are located in conduits made in a hearth slab lining which has a widening in the middle part which is wider than both parts of the shunts. The widening in the shunt conduit can be filled with a composite material, i.e. titanium diboride-carbon. The shunts can be designed as a tube, and the widening in the conduit and the space inside the tube can be filled with the composite material titanium diboride-carbon. The invention makes it possible to increase the electrical efficiency due to the absence of contact assemblies, reduced current loss, and achieving an effective current distribution and current shunting.

Abstract: A tower packing element, a tower packing, a packing tower, and a mixer comprising the tower packing element are provided. The tower packing element are manufactured by a deformed plate and comprises a plurality of strip assemblies arranged along a longitudinal direction of the tower packing element and a connecting plate portion connected between adjacent strip assemblies. Each of the strip assemblies defines a central passage therein, and the central passage is extended in a lateral direction of the tower packing element. The connecting plate portion is extended along the lateral direction of the tower packing element. The adjacent strip assemblies and the connecting plate portion connected therebetween define a side passage parallel to the central passage.

Abstract: The object is to reliably remove dirt and/or stains on the nozzle surface of a printer head. To accomplish the object, an inkjet printing device (100) is provided with a rotating brush (50) in a cap (103) mounted on a printer head (1), and a piezoelectric element (150) disposed on the side wall of the cap (103). The piezoelectric element (150) is ultrasonically vibrated at a predetermined frequency by means of a controller (20) and a power source (9). The ultrasonic vibration is transmitted into a cleaning solution in the cap (103) to remove dirt and/or stains adhered to a nozzle surface (3a). The rotating brush (50) is rotated by a motor, and its bristles (53) are vibrated by the ultrasonic vibration. Accordingly, dirt and/or stains on the nozzle surface (3a) are mechanically removed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an imprint mold which can prevent accumulation of the transferring resin onto the transferring roll is provided. A method for manufacturing an imprint mold, including: a resin coating step to coat a photo-curing resin composition or a thermosetting resin composition onto a pattern transferring mold having a fine concave-convex pattern; and a transferring step to transfer the resin composition throughout the entire circumference of a cylindrical transferring roll and cure the resin composition so that a reverse pattern of the concave-convex pattern is formed throughout the entire circumference of the cylindrical transferring roll, is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related to pipeline freespan support are described. For example, some embodiments may contain an upper structure, which contains at least four legs connected to one another by a number of bracing members, and a number of attachment points through which the upper structure can be lifted, and a lower structure, which contains at least four posts that can be connected to, and disconnected from as needed, the four legs of the upper structure, two spaced mud mats on which the posts stand, and at least two horizontal arms that can be attached to the posts, rotate about the posts, connect to and be locked with the posts on the other mud mat, and be lifted to an appropriate height to provide suitable support at the pipeline freespan location.

Abstract: Chunks that commonly occur in each content type are aggregated in a first container. To be more specific, a storage device used for content backup is configured with: (1) a memory device that provides a memory region for one or a plurality of first containers used to store first chunks that commonly occur in each content type among chunks extracted from the contents of writing targets, and for one or a plurality of second containers used to store other chunks than the first chunks; and (2) a backup unit that decides whether each of the chunks extracted from the contents of the writing targets is a first duplication chunk duplicating a chunk stored in the first container, and further decides, for only a chunk that is decided not to be the first duplication chunk, whether each of the chunks is a second duplication chunk duplicating a chunk stored in the second container, and then stores only a chunk that is decided not to be the second duplication chunk in the second container.