Abstract: The invention relates to a method for revamping a conventional refinery of mineral oils into a biorefinery, characterized by a production scheme which allows the treatment of raw materials of a biological origin (vegetable oils, animal fats, exhausted cooking oils) for the production of biofuels, prevalently high-quality biodiesel.

Abstract: Process for the removal of deposits from an oil or gas well, and/or from surface structures, and/or from the equipment connected therewith, and/or from hydrocarbon-bearing formations, comprising:—injecting at least one oil-in-water nanoemulsion into said oil or gas well, and/or surface structures, and/or equipment connected therewith, and/or hydrocarbon bearing formations; leaving said nanoemulsion in said oil or gas well, and/or surface structures, and/or equipment connected therewith, and/or hydrocarbon bearing formations, for a predetermined time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bis-thienobenzothienothiophene compounds and a process for their preparation. More in particular, the present invention relates to a new angular bis-thienobenzothienothiophene compound and the process for its preparation wherein said process comprises reacting at least one dihalogenated dithiophene compound with at least one terminal alkyne and the subsequent double annulation reaction. Said bis-thienobenzothienothiophene compounds can be appropriately functionalized and polymerized to produce electron donor compounds that can be advantageously used in the construction of photovoltaic devices or semiconductor polymers. Furthermore, said bis-thienobenzothienothiophene compounds, after functionalization, may be advantageously used as spectral converters in luminescent solar concentrators.

Abstract: A safety valve assembly for extradition of hydrocarbons includes a valve body including a passage duct, configured to be traversed by a production and/or drilling line. The valve body includes housings for a punch and counter-punch, arranged diametrically opposite to one another with a common longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the valve. The punch slides linearly in a controlled manner in the housing along the axis which intersects the longitudinal axis of the pipe, and the counter-punch slides linearly in a controlled manner in the housing along the axis which intersects the longitudinal axis of the pipe. The punch and counter-punch are configured to allow the counter-punch to slidingly receive the punch in its interior to create two different shearing planes. The counter-punch includes a hollow part to slidingly receive the section of tubular material and the punch, in the linear movement during the shearing operation.

Abstract: A safety valve for extraction wells, configured to be installed on a well head and to enclose a tubular material portion inserted inside the well. The tubular material is internally hollow to contain and transport substances extracted from the well. The safety valve includes: a central hole through which the tubular material passes; a blocking system configured to keep the tubular material to be cut fixed with respect to the safety valve; a cutting and closing group configured to cut and close the well under certain operative conditions; and a sealing mechanism configured to effect watertight closing of the well, after the cutting. The cutting and closing group includes a hole saw housed in a respective chamber of the cutting and closing group, rotated by a motorized actuator, and configured to move in a controlled mode along a substantially orthogonal direction with respect to a development direction of the well.

Abstract: Electrode comprising a conductive substrate on which a uniform layer of aggregates A, having an average diameter ranging from 40 to 100 nm, is deposited, on which a non-homogeneous distribution of aggregates B, having an average diameter ranging from 300 nm to 1,200 nm, is superimposed, both of said aggregates being composed of particles containing one or more metals Me selected from platinum, palladium and gold, having an average diameter ranging from 8 to 10 nm. The use of said electrode, as cathode, for DSSC devices produces a marked improvement in the performances of the cell with respect to the results that can be obtained with known cathodes.

Abstract: A process for the production of an optically selective coating of a receiver substrate of a suitable material for solar receiver devices particularly suitable for operating at high temperatures, more specifically for receiver tubes of linear parabolic trough, which comprises: deposition of a layer reflecting infrared radiation consisting of a high-melting metal on a heated receiver substrate of a suitable material; annealing under the same temperature and pressure conditions as the deposition of the reflecting layer; deposition on the high-melting metal of one or more layers of metal-ceramic composite materials (CERMET), wherein the metal is W and the ceramic matrix is YPSZ (“Yttria-Partially Stabilized Zirconia”); deposition on the cermet of an antireflection layer; annealing under the same temperature and pressure conditions as the depositions of the cermet and antireflection layers.

Abstract: Compound containing a pentalene unit having general formula (I) wherein R1 and R2, equal to or different from each other, are selected from: linear or branched C1-C20, preferably C2-C12, alkyl groups, saturated or unsaturated, optionally containing heteroatoms, cycloalkyl groups optionally substituted, linear or branched C1-C20, preferably C2-C12, alkoxyl groups, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted; or the groups R1 and R2 can be optionally bound to each other so as to form, together with the carbon atoms to which they are bound, a cycle or a polycyclic system containing from 3 to 14 carbon atoms, preferably from 4 to 6 carbon atoms, saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms such as, for example, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, silicon, phosphorous, selenium; R3 is selected from aryl groups optionally substituted, heteroaryl groups optionally substituted; n is 0 or 1; with the proviso that: when n is 0, X represents a covalent bond and Y represents a sulfur atom

Abstract: Apparatus for the generation of pressure waves for seismic surveys in marine environment comprising a cylinder (3), defining an axis, in which a striker piston (1) and a pump piston (2) are situated, each having two respective opposite sides with respect to said axis, of which a side of the striker piston (1) situated in front of the pump piston (2) is defined first impact side, and a side of the pump piston (2) in front of the striker piston (1) is defined second impact side, the pump piston (2) and the striker piston (1) sliding in the cylinder (3) in a direction parallel to the axis, and the pump piston (2) and striker piston (1) being such as to strike against each other, by means of the first and the second impact sides, the striker piston (1) being driven by activation means pressing on the side opposite to its own impact side, wherein the cylinder (3) comprises, at one of its ends, a chamber (15) having a diameter larger, smaller or equal to that of the portion of cylinder (3) in which the striker pist

Abstract: Catalytic system which can be used in processes for the hydroconversion of heavy oils by means of hydrotreatment in slurry phase, characterized in that it comprises: a catalyst, having the function of hydrogenating agent, containing MoS2 or WS2 or mixtures thereof in lamellar form or an oil-soluble precursor thereof; a co-catalyst, having nanometric or micronic particle-sizes, selected from cracking and/or denitrogenation catalysts. The co-catalyst preferably consists of zeolites having small-sized crystals and with a low aggregation degree between the primary particles, and/or oxides or sulfides or precursors of sulfides of Ni and/or Co in a mixture with Mo and/or W.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing an ester having formula R—COO—R? (I), wherein R represents a group selected from: (i) a linear or branched alkyl, containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, (ii) an aryl containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, (iii) a heterocycle with 4 to 12 carbon atoms containing at least one heteroatom selected from O, N, P and S, R? represents a linear or branched alkyl containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, said process comprising at least a phase of reacting a reaction mixture comprising at least one aldehyde having formula R—CHO (II), wherein R has the meanings defined above, and at least one alcohol having general formula R?—OH (III), wherein R? has the meanings defined above, in the presence of at least one solid basic catalyst, at a temperature within the range of 120° C.-300° C., obtaining said ester having formula (I).

Abstract: Luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) comprising at least one disubstituted benzoheterodiazole compound of general formula (I), in which: Z represents a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom, a selenium atom; or an NR6 group in which R6 is selected from linear or branched C1-C20, preferably C1-C8, alkyl groups, or from optionally substituted aryl groups; R1, R2 and R3, which are the same or different, represent a hydrogen atom; or are selected from linear or branched C1-C20, preferably C1-C8, alkyl groups, optionally containing heteroatoms, optionally substituted cycloalkyl groups, optionally substituted aryl groups, optionally substituted linear or branched C1-C20, preferably C1-C8, alkoxyl groups, optionally substituted phenoxyl groups, or —COOR7 groups or —OCOR7 groups in which R7 is selected from linear or branched C1-C20, preferably C1-C8, alkyl groups, or is a cyano group, provided that when the substituents R1 represents a hydrogen atom, at least one of the substituents R2 and R3 represents an optionally substitu

Abstract: A process for the extraction of lipids from algal biomass comprising: —producing an aqueous suspension of algal biomass; —adding to said aqueous suspension of algal biomass at least one organic solvent immiscible or substantially immiscible with water obtaining an organic-aqueous mixture; —subjecting said organic-aqueous mixture to evaporation of water and lipid extraction, operating at a temperature such to obtain the substantial complete removal of the water from said organic-aqueous mixture, obtaining: (i) an organic phase comprising lipids and said organic solvent; (ii) a semi-solid phase comprising a residue of said algal biomass.

Abstract: An autonomous underwater system for environmental monitoring including a multidisciplinary underwater station including onboard instrumentation, at least one autonomous modular underwater vehicle movable inside an area to be monitored along an assigned route, and at least one external instrumental modulus which can he connected the vehicle, wherein the multidisciplinary underwater station includes a docking area, an interface system, an equipping system for supplying the vehicle with instrumental moduli, and a management system.

Abstract: The emergency valve assembly (5) for extraction wells according to the invention comprises A) an external housing (50) and B) a rotating stopper (54). The pass-through duct (52) is arranged for the passage of a production and/or drilling line arranged for containing and carrying, through at least one relative pipe (9), extraction fluids such as, for example, petroleum, oil, water, sludge, rock debris and/or earth, natural gas, or other fluids extracted from an underground reservoir. The valve (5) also comprises a stopper drive (56), arranged for actuating the rotating stopper (54) making it rotate so as to shear the production or perforation line passing through it, in particular shearing the pipe (9) and closing the pass-through duct (52). The pass-through duct (52, 520) has a minimum passage section having a diameter equal to or greater than seven inches. It provides an effective additional safety measure in the case of emergencies.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus (100) for monitoring the structural integrity of a pipeline (101) comprising a central electromagnetic device (102) suitable for generating a magnetic field (106); a pair of magnetic conveyors (103?, 103?) connected to the central electromagnetic device (102) suitable for conveying the magnetic field (106) to the wall of the pipeline (101); a system of sensors (104) for revealing the magnetic field (106) conveyed on the pipeline (101); electric means (105) for feeding the inspection apparatus (100) and acquiring and storing data relating to the magnetic field (106) revealed; wherein said central electromagnetic device (102) is divided into various ferromagnetic elements (107) held together by a casing (109) made of polymeric material suitable for degrading after prolonged contact with a mixture of hydrocarbons. Method wherein an inspection apparatus according to the present invention is used for monitoring the structural integrity of a pipeline (101).

Abstract: System for generating pressure waves for deep seismic surveys operating in an underwater environment below the surface, suitable for investigating subcrustal objectives for prospecting purposes in the search for hydrocarbons and/or minerals. The system comprises one or more autonomous underwater vehicles organized in swarms, independent and coordinated, each housing one or more autonomous acoustic sea sources with self-propelled striker pistons. This system is served by a system of supporting surface stations, for reprovisioning, recovery actions, checking the well-being of the single vehicles and swarms and maintenance. The system is capable of using both conventional and non-conventional self-charged acoustic sea seismic sources. The system is capable of replicating the effect of a conventional source operated from the surface.

Abstract: An autonomous underwater system for environmental monitoring including a multidisciplinary underwater station including onboard instrumentation, at least one autonomous modular underwater vehicle movable inside an area to be monitored along an assigned route, and at least one external instrumental modulus which can be connected to the vehicle, wherein the multidisciplinary underwater station includes a docking area, an interface system, an equipping system for supplying the vehicle with instrumental moduli, and a management system.

Abstract: A process for constructing a well (1) for exploiting an oil or gas reservoir, comprising the following operations: (A) drilling a formation submerged by a water head, at least 3,600 meters deep or more, reaching the formation from the surface of the water with a drilling riser (7), and a drilling tool which passes internally through the drilling riser; and evacuating through the drilling riser (7) at least one of the circulating drilling fluid, the oil or natural gas coming from the formations and the resulting drilling materials. The drilling riser (7) has an external diameter equal to or smaller than 17 inches and reaches a wellhead (3) having an internal diameter equal to or smaller than 18.75 inches, and positioned in correspondence with or close to the seabed submerged which covers the formation.

Abstract: Provided is a system for the hydroconversion of heavy oils essentially consisting of a solid accumulation reactor and a stripping section of the products of hydroconversion outside or inside the reactor itself.