Abstract: The method comprising measuring the rate at which working fluid is expelled from a cavity through a central tubing to a well head under atmospheric pressure at the well head; determining the shape of a zone of the well selected for positioning an interface between a test fluid and the working fluid; performing temperature measurements and pressure measurements over the full height of a cavity under atmospheric pressure at the well head; injecting additional working fluid into the central tubing or into the annular space until a predetermined test pressure is reached; measuring the compressibility of a cavity during the preceding step; injecting test fluid into the annular; measuring the depth of the interface between the test fluid and the working fluid for a first time at the end of injecting test fluid; measuring the test fluid and the working fluid pressures at the well head; measuring the level of the interface between the test fluid and the working fluid for a second time; and evaluating the real leakage

Abstract: A gas cookstove having in its top face an opening forming a recess for accommodating a removable container below which is mounted at least one gas burner supported by a tray retained on the edge of the recess like opening and interposed between a casing and the bottom of the removable container, the cookstove being applicable to the cooking of any foodstuff in a container removably fitted into the top of the cookstove.

Abstract: A pushing device which includes a frame supporting at least one powered train of wheels the drive surface of which is made from rubber for driving a plastics tubing through friction and for imparting thereto a continuous motion inside of a metal piping to be renovated, the invention being applicable to the renovation of systems of fluid-conveying buried metal pipings.

Abstract: A method for the catalytic removal of nitrogen oxides, methane and carbon monoxide out of oxygen-rich exhaust gases emitted from motors that may combust natural gas by contacting the exhaust gas with a zeolite of the NFI structure that contains palladium. The palladium containing zeolite has been activated under oxygen prior to use by calcining the palladium containing zeolite at about 300.degree. C. for about one hour, then calcining the palladium containing zeolite at about 500.degree. C. for about one hour, and cooling the palladium containing zeolite to about 300.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing flange (14) which comprises a tubular structure which has an axis (22) and consists of an integral tubular outer body (20) which contains a series of annular seals (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d) which are disposed substantially coaxially according to the axis, these seals being suitable for surrounding a tube when the latter is inserted in the structure. The invention applies in particular to repair of gas pipes.

Abstract: An integrated air conditioning and hot water supply system for conditioning air and supplying hot water to a building is described. The system incorporates a hot water tank in the system which feeds a heat exchanger to heat air which is recirculated from the building when required during cool weather periods. A combined air dehumidification device and cooling device are also provided to dehumidify and cool return air from the building in a recirculation circuit when required by the building during warm weather periods. The cooling devices incorporate coils connected to the city water supply whereby to preheat a supply of water to the hot water tank. The combined circuit also cools fresh air and treats it to provide a source of heated air to regenerate a desiccant wheel which is used as the dehumidification device. A heat recovery ventilator is also incorporated in the integrated system to treat exhaust air from the building during cool weather periods and to admit warmed fresh air thereto.

Abstract: A liquid is vaporized by a device having at least one porous substrate exposed to a certain ambient pressure, means for supplying the substrate with liquid in order for it to be loaded with liquid starting from an upstream portion of the substrate, and at least one energy source for heating the substrate so that at least some of the liquid is vaporized. According to the invention, the means for supplying the substrate with liquid may include means for pressurizing the liquid to a pressure greater than ambient pressure, thereby creating a flow-rate greater than the flow-rate induced by capillarity and vaporization of the liquid alone when the substrate is held in a horizontal position. The invention may be applied to the production of water-vaporization equipment, particularly with electrical or gaseous energy supply.

Abstract: A dual direct contact water heater is described and consists of a heater housing having two sections, each section having a water reservoir. One section provides hot water at a high temperature and provides a source of heat exchange to heat an external source of water for commercial use. A burner is provided in the first section to provide the heat source to a packing through which water percolates. The source of water for the first section is the outlet of a heat exchanger whereby water from the reservoir is recirculated in a closed circuit in the first section. Hot gases rising from the first section is directed to a second section which also includes a second packing and a reservoir and it also has a closed loop whereby a second source of hot water, at a lower temperature, is utilized in a closed loop and in heat exchange with a second external source to produce domestic hot water or without heat exchanger to produce hot water for various processes.

Abstract: Each gas expansion station of a distribution network fed with gas in accordance with the invention comprises at least one regulator-expander provided with a valve member disposed on a main duct, a pilot valve, a safety valve provided with a valve member disposed in the main duct, and a differential member co-operating with the pilot valve and the safety valve which is disposed upstream from the regulator-expander to close the safety valve automatically under the control of the pilot valve in the event of the downstream pressure in the main duct downstream from the expansion station concerned exceeding a predetermined threshold value, and to operate automatically, after the downstream pressure has been restored to below the predetermined threshold value, either to reopen the safety valve if the regulator-expander of the expansion station concerned is not itself giving rise to a leak at its valve member, or else to keep the safety valve closed if the regulator-expander is not itself providing gastight sealing a

Abstract: A boiler for heating a working fluid includes a first module containing the hearth, a burner fed by said fuel gas, and an internal water circuit for wetting the hearth and creating a first level of mass and heat exchange due to vaporization without heat transfer to the working fluid; a second module including an exchanger-condenser associated with the circuit portion for circulating the working fluid and receiving the combustion gases laden with water vapor coming from the hearth of the first module and a third module including a water vapor pump providing a third level of mass and heat exchange between the combustion gases coming from the second module and the oxidizing air injected into the enclosure via an air inlet, with a device for directing the oxidizing air to the first module after it has been heated and wetted by passing through the third module.

Abstract: A gas-fired water heater is comprised of a vertical housing (11) having a circumferential side wall (12), a closed bottom end (13), and a flue (14) connected to a top end portion (15) thereof. A packing (17) of heat exchange elements (18) is supported inside the housing (11) in an uppermost region (19) thereof. A water discharge orifice or nozzle (21) is disposed above the packing (17) and connected to a water supply (22) for releasing water to be heated on the packing. An axial burner (23) is disposed substantially centrally with the housing under the packing (17). A feed pipe (24) is connected to the burner (23) and extends at least partly axially within the housing. A gas-air mixture is fed to the burner (23) through the feed pipe (24). An ignitor device (25) is provided to ignite the burner (23).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for detecting and locating leaks of fluids circulating in a pipe system. The technical field of the invention is that of fluid leak detection devices. The device comprises a pick-up sensor not in contact with the pipe system, signal-processing means for processing the signals delivered by said pick-up sensor and headphones equipped with speakers supplied by said signal-processing means, said headphones further comprising a microphone connected to said signal-processing means, and said signal-processing means comprising electronic noise-reducing means.

Abstract: Within the scope of operations of long-term regular monitoring of an underground area, a seismic emission-reception device is installed in a fixed position on the production site, so as to have time stable operating conditions of identical emission-reception locations, identical quality of coupling with the formations, etc. The device includes a plurality of seismic sources (S1 . . . Sn) in fixed places at the surface or buried beneath the surface, on either side of a production well (1), and at least one array of receivers (R) set in a fixed position at the surface or in at least one well. Explosive sources, hydraulic overpressure sources, electromechanical sources, etc, can be used and connected to a plant (3) providing energy using an explosive gaseous mixture, which may be a constituent taken from the monitored area, fluid under pressure transmitting hydraulic shocks or vibrations, etc, by means of buried pipes or cables (2).

Abstract: The apparatus enables a saddle-shaped parallel connection tapping to be installed on a pipe from the top of a hole in the ground. The apparatus comprises a frame having a tipping thrust device in the form of a spade controlled by rodding and designed to take up a position beneath the pipe, and a removable tapping positioner guided in the frame and including a tubular column that is split along one of its generator lines and that is fitted at its bottom end with a disconnectable module engaging the rims of the tapping. Means are provided on the frame to exert downwards pressure on the tapping support module in selective manner, and the removable module includes means for welding the tapping to the pipe. A device for driving a plug or a perforator device can be inserted in the cylindrical column of the tapping positioner from above.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a method of butt-welding two plastic parts each equipped with an identifying code, using an automatically controlled electro-welding machine. A device for performing a welding program is associated with said machine, said program being implemented as a function of the data contained within the identification codes. The data are defined on the basis of a welding law or standard to be applied as a function of various values for parameters relating at least to the thickness and diameter (or cross section) of the part considered at its abutment end, to the temperatures, lengths of time and welding pressure to be employed, the type of material constituting the part and the index or range of indices of fluidity of said material therefore defining the dynamic viscosity so that it would be possible to butt-weld tube parts if the codes of the parts are recognized as being compatible per se.

Abstract: In this process, which incorporates an integral cascade, the coolant mixture issuing from the penultimate stage (1B) of the compressor cycle (1) is delivered to a distillation apparatus (5) the head vapor of which is cooled (in 24) to a temperature significantly lower than the ambient temperature, then separated into two phases (in 6C); the vapor stage is supplied to the last stage (1C) of the compressor, and the liquid phase constitutes a coolant fluid for the hot part (8) of the heat exchange line (7).

Abstract: A device for selective detection of gas, enabling a first gas to be detected relative to a second gas, the device having a solid state sensor provided with an insulating substrate having a first face and a second face, a heater element deposited on the first face of said substrate, metal electrodes deposited on the second face of said substrate, and a semiconductor layer formed on said electrode and over the second face of said substrate. Detection is performed by simultaneously determining a voltage U representative of the resistance of the semiconductor element of the solid state sensor and the voltage difference S between a voltage representative of the temperature of the heater element of said solid state sensor and a voltage representative of the temperature of a heater element of a reference sensor, the voltage U and the voltage difference S each being compared with a different and predetermined threshold voltage in order to enable selective detection of gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus comprising a reactor, elongated along one axis, preferably of square or rectangular cross section. The reactor has, at one extremity, at least one supply line for at least one reactant and at least one evacuation outlet at the other extremity for removal of produced effluents. In a first zone (near the first extremity of the reactor), a plurality of heat exchangers, substantially parallel to each other, are disposed in substantially parallel layers perpendicular to the reactor axis, thereby defining spaces or passages for circulation of reactant(s) and/or effluents between the heat exchangers and/or layers formed by the heat exchanger. The heat exchangers are adapted to exchange heat in the passages through successive transverse sections, which are independent and substantially perpendicular to the reactor axis.

Abstract: In this process, which incorporates an integral cascade, the coolant mixture issuing from the penultimate stage (1B) of the compressor cycle (1) is delivered to a distillation apparatus (5) the head vapor of which is cooled (in 24) to a temperature significantly lower than the ambient temperature, then separated into two phases (in 6C); the vapor stage is supplied to the last stage (1C) of the compressor, and the liquid phase constitutes a coolant fluid for the hot part (8) of the heat exchange line (7).

Abstract: An equipment for the anaerobic fermentation of organic materials, which includes a plurality of nozzles for injecting biogas under pressure into a fermenter, which nozzles are fitted on the periphery of the fermenter to improve the flow of the materials within this fermenter as well as its efficiency and are fed with biogas by a pipeline shaped as two half-rings surrounding the fermenter and connected to a biogas supply, the equipment solving the problems of transit and fermentation of organic materials within fermenters with a large volume.