Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring tritium specific activity by gas scintillation. The specific activity is measured when the tritium is mixed in carrier streams of certain gases which serve as scintillation detection media. The apparatus comprises a detection chamber with connections for gaseous inlet and outlet, the detection chamber being optically connectable to at least one UV photomultiplier tube, which tube is connectable to means for measuring photon emittance.

Abstract: A temperature derivative sensing and regulating device and method is described which facilitates the maintainance of a very stable isothermal environment for an item, apparatus or facility or a constant rate of temperarture change. The device comprises a block of material having no internal heat sources, a thermal conductivity greater than 100 Wm.sup.1 K.sup.-1 and a specific heat capacity greater than 385 JK.sup.-1 kg.sup.-1. The block is surrounded by means for measuring the heat flow to and from the block and the device is further provided with means for generating a signal proportional to said heat flow and means for interfacing with the controller of a heating or cooling means associated with the item, apparatus or facility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an evaporative transpiration pump having an inlet for liquids, an outlet for gases, a porous body disposed between the inlet and the outlet. A heating means is disposed at the outlet side of the porous body. The thermal conductivity of the porous body is no greater than 5 Wm.sup.-1 K.sup.-1 and is preferably no greater than 1 Wm.sup.-1 K.sup.-1. The pump is particularly suitable for use in multi-column cryodistillation apparatus.

Abstract: The invention discloses a long carbon fibre reinforced ceramic matrix composite in which the matrix is an engineering ceramic, characterized in that the engineering ceramic comprises Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 as highly refractory sinter additives, the composite has a high density of at least 95% theoretical, a high fibre content of at least 30% by volume, and that substantially all the fibres are uniformly distributed within the matrix with a uniform inter-fibre spacing of 10-15 micrometer. The invention also discloses a process for preparing such a composite, characterized in that unidirectionally wound fibre tapes are cut into sections, the sections are infiltrated by the matrix material in the form of a slurry of the ceramic itself or as a precursor material, the infiltrated fibre tape sections are successively stacked and pressed wet to achieve intermeshing of the tape sections, compacted, dried and hot pressed.

Abstract: Process and device for decomposition of tritiated water and the recovery of elemental tritium (T.sub.2) in which a metal is used which oxidizes in the presence of water according to the formulaMe+xT.sub.2 O.fwdarw.MeO.sub.x +xT.sub.2.According to the invention, said metal is placed in an enclosure, a wall of which is selectively permeable to hydrogen and its isotopes; tritiated water is injected into the enclosure and the space behind said wall is made to communicate with an absorbing device for hydrogen and its isotopes. The injection of tritiated water and the communication with the absorbing device are stopped from time to time for the purpose of regenerating the metal by supplying hydrogen or deuterium to said space and by extracting water from the enclosure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2 S) and/or carbon disulfide (CS.sub.2) from exhaust gases. These exhaust gases are brought into contact with water and bromine so that H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and HBr in aqueous solution and possible CO.sub.2 are formed. Bromine is regenerated from the hydrobromic acid in an electrolysis cell. In addition, marketable hydrogen is produced.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device and a method for removing nitrogen compounds from an aqueous liquid containing nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) and/or nitrates (NO.sub.3.sup.-). It comprises an electrochemical cell (10) with a cathode and an anode and a current source applied thereto. According to the invention, the cell is divided by a cation selective membrane into a cathode compartment (2) to be filled with said liquid, and an anode compartment (3) to be filled with an anolyte containing an aqueous solution of an alkali or hydrogen halide such as sodium bromide or sodium chloride, and the membrane (1) is constituted by a microporous fabric of PTFE.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing actinium-225 and bismuth-213. According to the invention, radium-226 is irradiated in the thermal neutron flux of a nuclear reactor, the thorium fraction of the irradiation product is then chemically isolated and therefrom the actinium and radium mixture growing continuously by decay therein is chemically separated, this mixture serving as "cow" for the desired radionuclides which are growing continuously.

Abstract: An antenna system for producing a millimeter wave beam having a Gaussian distribution uses a high power source and a partial mode converter operatively coupled to the source and reviving from the source a T.sub.m,n mode wave which might either be TE.sub.m,n or TM.sub.m,n'. The converter delivers a mixture of modes including the mode T.sub.m,n at a relative power rate of 70 to 85% and at a relative phase 0, and at least one of the following additional modes, namely T.sub.m,n-1 at a relative power rate of 10 to 20% and at relative phase .pi., and TE.sub.m,n+1 at a relative power rate of 10 to 20% and at relative phase .pi.. The mixture of modes is applied to a collimation reflector (3, 10), having a concentration point (5) constituting the antenna system outlet. The antenna system can convert any T.sub.m,n mode into a linearly polarized narrow beam of very high power (about 1 MW) and and of high frequencies above 100 GHz.

Abstract: A process for separating sulfur-containing compounds other than mercaptans from gaseous streams. A gaseous stream including mercaptans and other sulfur-containing compounds is brought into contact with a solid supporting material coated with a thin layer of an amine-containing active agent capable of selectively adsorbing the sulfur-containing compounds other than mercaptans. This process permits the monitoring of mercaptans in gaseous streams without interference from other sulfur-containing compounds, as well as the purification of mercaptans.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for ultra-drying of a gas or gas mixture by bringing this into contact with a silicate containing material.In order to obtain a residual water level of 5 ppb or less, the invention is characterized in that the gas or gas mixture is brought into contact with a silcate containing material, preferably a zeolite or silicagel, that has been modified with silane, borane, and/or the alkyl and/or halogen substituted compounds thereof.The invention is further concerned with the separation of tritium oxide from gas mixtures preferably with water.

Abstract: The invention is related to a submarine vehicle for the deep ocean research. This vehicle is composed of a penetrator (1) and of a support structure (2 to 7). The vehicle descends by gravity due to a ballast disposed in the lower part (11) of the penetrator. Apart from this ballast, the vehicle can be recovered due to a discoupling of the ballast by an explosive bolt (13). After discoupling, the float clusters (8) located in the upper part of said support structure supply the mounting thrust necessary for transferring the vehicle up to the ocean surface. If this thrust is insufficient, a pyrotechnical device (15) can be provided, which inflates a bag and thus creates an additional thrust directed to the upside.The invention is particularly useful in the investigation at the deep ocean sea-bottom.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a device for purifying a gas containing hydrogen isotopes, and for recovering the different isotopes, in particular for treating a gas coming from a thermonuclear fusion reactor. According to the invention, the gas is firstly dried in a water and CO.sub.2 adsorption stage (2), the dried gas then passes through a stage (3) in which a selective adsorption of sulphur compounds takes place and finally, the gas leaving this stage, which still contains at least some of the compounds (H,D,T).sub.2, N.sub.2, O.sub.2, CO, C(H,D,T).sub.4, is processed in a hydrogen adsorption/separation stage (4) of the zeolite type.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the controlled disposal of an aerosol cloud by means of directed sound waves of high intensity in the audible frequency range. According to the invention, sound waves are emitted by an aircraft (8, 10) operating close to the periphery of the cloud (4). The frequency spectrum of the wave consists of a basic frequency and a superposing frequency of twice the basic frequency valve and phase-shifted in relation to the basic frequency at substantially 90.degree., so as to cause the particles to coagulate and to migrate towards the sound source, and to be collected at the aircraft.

Abstract: A multiconnector is composed of a stationary socket unit (FIG. 1a) and of a free plug unit (FIG. 1b). The multiconnector is able to supply both hydraulic and electric services, the hydraulic connectors being located in a sealed chamber (7). The force necessary to couple or uncouple the two units is applied via an engagement lever (10). Only one manipulator arm is necessary, first to bring the two units into alignment and then to operate the engagement lever, the two units being temporarily held by a claw (16) before the engagement lever is operated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for passive heat transfer between a heat source and a condenser (6) by means of a vaporizable liquid and a cycle with two phases controlled by a float valve (2, 4, 11). This device comprises a boiler (1) heated by said source and a liquid tank (9), the boiler furnishing, during a first cycle phase, vapor to the condenser which then supplies the tank with liquid, and receiving, during the second cycle phase, liquid from said tank. According to the invention, a vapor separator (3) is interposed between the boiler and the condenser, and the float valve (2, 4, 11) is disposed inside this separator and makes communicate, during the first cycle phase, the vapor space of the separator with the vapor space of the boiler (1), and, during the second cycle phase, the vapor space of the separator (3) with the vapor space of the tank (9), while cutting off these communications during the respective inverse cycle phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for storing and handling slides for their selective projection. The device comprises at least one storage rack (6) for slides, and means for displacing (18, 27) the racks under the control of a data processing machine (3), so that any selected slide (31) may appear in front of an extraction window (7). According to the invention, a plurality of circular storing racks (6) are stacked according to a common vertical axis, and the means for displacing the unit of racks comprise a reversible motor (27) permitting a vertical displacement of the unit of racks, and a motor (18) permitting a rotation of the unit of racks about the axis of said shaft. The data processing machine controls the extraction and the reinsertion of a slide in accordance with a memorized sequence selected previously by the user and with the instantaneous position of the unit of racks.

Abstract: A seal system between two metal pipes (1, 2) flanges (4, 5) exposed to extreme temperatures, includes at least one elastic annular lip (11, 12) which is held by one of the flanges, with its highest point (10) in contact with the other flange to form a seal line when the flanges are assembled. The lip (11, 12) is an integral part of one of the flanges (4, 5) and it is made by lathing two grooves (13, 14; 17, 18) with one groove (13, 17) radially penetrating the cylindrical surface (15, 19) of the flange, and the other groove penetrating perpendicularly to the former in the flat surface (7, 8) of the flange to define a thinned area (16, 20) between the two grooves to ensure the elasticity of the lip (11, 12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure-controlled heat pipe, consisting of a closed recipient containing a heat carrying medium, with a heat source where the heat carrying medium vaporizes, and with a heat drain formed by a cooling zone, an inert gas being intended to be fed under controllable pressure into the recipient at the upper end of the cooling zone. According to the invention, a displacement body (11) extends downwards from the upper end of the cooling zone, this body carrying at least in its upper part deflection sheets (12), which divide the interspace between the displacement body and the cooled wall of the cooling area into a plurality of interconnected volumes.

Abstract: A porous solid such as a zeolite of clay can be degassed to make it suitable as an adsorbent, after which the entrances of the pores are narrowed to a desired size by treating the porous solid with two chemisorbable materials, one of which is diborane. The treatment may be repeated.The purpose of the first such treatment is to make the pore entrances so narrow, that unduly large molecules cannot enter and the smaller ones can, while a later treatment may serve to narrow the pores still further, so that the adsorbed molecules cannot escape.