Abstract: The telescoping parts of a rotary measuring arm mounted on an axis between wo centering devices enable the outer part of the measuring arm, which is equipped with a scanning roller, to be let out or pushed in by the contour of the bore as the arm is swung around by a remote control drive. During such a scan of the bore wall, an inductive or capacitive transducer provides signals representative of the radius measured to a remote location. The three legs of each centering device can be retracted or extended together by the same amount when the measuring device is removed from or set into place in the bore. A drive is also provided for retracting the measuring arm when the apparatus is being moved in the bore.

Abstract: A waste liquid is dripped down into a shaft chamber 1 of a shaft furnace 2 t the bottom of which chamber is a rotating conical grate 3 on which is an incandescent bed of carbon-rich material 6 than can be supplied from the top of the shaft. Oxygen is supplied through holes 17 of a raised head 15 of the grate. The liquid, vaporized as it reaches the incandescent bed, is drawn through the bed 6 where it is gasified and where high molecular weight components are cracked, forming a gas mixture that is drawn off through the duct 18 at the bottom of the shaft while solid residues of the liquid collect in the bed 6 from which ashes pass through a peripheral gap 5 and drop down through the duct 18 to a collecting hopper 21. The gas mixture then flows upward through a second incandescent bed 24 of carbon-rich material, such as coke or wood charcoal, where the oxygen, exhausted along with the gas mixture from the shaft 1, maintains a temperature between 900.degree. and 1000.degree. C.

Abstract: The addition of a small quantity of ammonium chloride to an ammonium sulf etching solution results in shortening the regeneration time of the spent etching solution when air or oxygen is bubbled through it to reoxidize it, and it also results in accelerating the etching rate. The extent of this improvement deteriorates with increasing chlorine ion content, disappearing when the chlorine ion content substantially exceeds 0.4% by weight of the solution and still greater chlorine ion additions are distinctly undesirable. The electrolysis of the etching solution to remove etched-away metal cathodically produces enough oxygen at the anode to prevent any substantial evolution of chlorine from the electrolytic action on the small chlorine ion content.

Abstract: A process for the separation of krypton from a radioactive waste gas mixt which is released during the chemical dissolution of burned-down nuclear fuel particles, and which in a carrier gas such as air, in addition to krypton, also contains xenon, argon, nitrous oxide and residual gas components. The waste gas mixture flowing out from a resolver has xenon removed therefrom after purifying the waste gas of nitrous oxides and radioactive residual gas components, such as aerosols, iodine, tritium and carbon(C-14) dioxide; and wherein krypton is finally withdrawn from the residual gas mixture and then stored. The invention also relates to an arrangement for the implementation of the inventive process.

Abstract: The invention concerns a NiO-based ceramic oxide diaphragm for the alkaline water electrolysis. The diaphragm, in accordance with the invention, contains 0.5 to 10% by weight (estimated as Ti based on the oxide mass) of titanium oxide in the porous NiO layer. Diaphragms of this type are obtained, in particular, by the oxidative sintering of a mass of nickel powder which has been applied under pressure to a nickel support, especially one consisting of nickel wire gauze. In the process the titanium is in the form of titanium metal, titanium oxide or a titanium compound which is added to the initial nickel powder. The titanium is present in the form of its oxide after the oxidation sintering treatment. In an alternative embodiment of the process, an already sintered porous mass of nickel or nickel oxide can be impregnated with a titanium compound and calcined to convert the titanium compound to its oxide.

Abstract: The intermittent electrolysis of a portion of the used ammoniacal etching solution generates oxygen at the anode which is mixed into the remainder of the circulated etching solution for reoxidation and regeneration before it is returned to the etching chamber. The portion of the solution which goes through the electrolysis cell, and has its metal content reduced, is returned to the beginning of the circulation loop rather than to the etching chamber, in order that the metal content of the circulated solution may be quickly reduced. This reduction is quickly picked up by a metal content measuring device in the branch supplying solution to the electrolysis cell.

Abstract: For the separation and recycling of NO.sub.x gas constituents through adstion and desorption on a molecular sieve the molecular sieve is passed through in sequential, alternating process steps. Initially, the NO.sub.x is retained up to saturation of the molecular sieve. Thereafter the molecular sieve is regenerated through the introduction of gas. In order to reduce the demands during scavenging of the molecular sieve, and then to facilitate the provision of a closed separating and recycling system, the molecular sieve for regeneration is heated to a temperature for desorbing the adsorbed NO.sub.x and scavenged with a portion of the waste gas containing the NO.sub.x which is to be cleaned. The scavenging gas flow is recycled after passing through the molecular sieve.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the continuous anaerobic decomposition of organic compounds in an aqueous liquid is effected, in accordance with the invention, in a fixed-bed reactor by microorganisms, which are grown upon a support with the admixture of recycled reactor discharge in such an amount that practically uniform conditions exist throughout the reactor. The volume/time yield can be increased to a surprisingly large extent by means of the process if, after breeding sufficient adhering microorganisms with a residence time equal to or greater than 50% of the doubling time, an iterative reduction is efected in the residence time with the onset of equilibrium conditions at each stage until the volume/time yield can be increased no further.

Abstract: Refractory parts or articles, even of very large dimensions, are made with starting material of carbon particles mixed with silicon particles in a predetermined ratio which is suspended in a solution of a binder, after which the suspension is squirted into a precipitating liquid to coat the particles with the binder, the solids then being separated and dried, molded under slight pressure, and coked (at 800.degree.-1,000.degree. C.), and then rapidly raised in temperature (to 1,400.degree.-1,600.degree. C.) for formation of silicon carbide throughout the article. It is useful to add powdered silicon carbide and mix it in before the coking step and, also, to hold the heated body at a temperature somewhat below 1,400.degree. C. long enough to remove temperature gradients within it, followed by rapid heating up to a carbide-forming temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus charges weakly acidic cationic ion exchange resin particles with uranyl ions by contacting the particles stepwise with aqueous uranyl nitrate solution at higher uranium concentrations from stage to stage. An alkaline medium is added to the uranyl nitrate solution in each stage to increase the successive pH values of the uranyl nitrate solution contacting the particles in dependance upon the uranium concentration effective for maximum charging of the particles with uranyl ions.

Abstract: An anode for electrolytic oxidation of sulfur dioxide is made by coating an lectrode of a graphite-like carbon material with a layer of cokable organic material such as sugar, phenolic resin, and asphalt pitch, heating the coated electrode body in an inert atmosphere to a temperature of between 400.degree. to 800.degree. C. and thereafter heating the coated electrode to a temperature in the range of 1400.degree. to 2000.degree. C., so that the material is first coked on the graphite to produce a porous flow-through electrode body which, thereafter, is heated to a higher temperature, followed by cooling.

Abstract: Removal of the graphite structure from the nuclear fuel material of fuel elements of gas-cooled high-temperature reactors is performed by heat-treatment of the fuel elements in oxygen-containing gas at temperatures below 700.degree. C. until the carbon or graphite structure is loosened up and converted into a mechanically removable material. During heat-treatment, mechanical forces are preferably applied for continually removing the outer layers that are most heavily attacked and transport of the dust into cooler temperature zones. For this purpose, the fuel elements are agitated during heat-treatment, as by an oscillating sieve or by brushes. Pre-impregnation with a material catalyzing the combustion is useful if it is important to have the heat-treatment temperature as low as possible.

Abstract: For separation of hydrogen and its isotopes by diffusion through a membrane irtually impermeable to other gases, a non-porous hydrogen-permeable metallic membrane is provided on the gas access side with a coating of an alloy of palladium with at least 45 atomic % Cu or at least 50 atomic percent Ag or at least 7 atomic % Y, the membrane itself containing Cu, Ag or Y respectively in a concentration at least equilibrated with the coating at operation temperature. Preferably the membrane consists of a metal of niobium and/or tantalum bases especially of an alloy containing from 10 to 30 % Ti, 3 to 10 % V, 0 to 25 % Nb and at least 30 % Ta, all by weight, and preferably it is of a composition of 20 to 25 % Ti, 5 to 7,5 % V, 0 to 25 Nb, and at least 50 % Ta, being saturated with copper and or silver, while a copper and/or silver palladium alloy coating is used.

Abstract: A methane-powered vehicle can utilize methane which is stored as the fuel in a pressurizable tank containing a solid filling which enables a packing density of methane in adsorbed or otherwise trapped form to exceed 10 times the density of the methane at room temperature and a pressure of about 10 bar. The filling can be readily charged with the methane or can release the methane for powering the vehicle.

Abstract: A fluidized bed furnace for coating fuel particles for nuclear reactors, ticularly high temperature reactors, can be emptied without cooling down the reaction tube by substituting an inert gas for the coating gas and then lowering the inner tube through which this gas is fed so as to clear a passage in the surrounding outer gas feed tube through which the kernels may fall down to a diverting device in the intermediate space between the inner and outer tubes that guides the kernels to a discharge tube. The reaction tube is emptied by lowering the feed gas pressure by cutting off the carrier gas flow and regulating the escape of the inert gas through an overflow pipe. After the reactor is emptied, the flow of carrier gas can be restored and the overflow pipe shut, so that the reactor can be refilled, after which the flow of coating gas is restored and another coating operation can begin without delay.

Abstract: An apparatus utilized for separating hydrogen isotopes from a gas mixture separate isotopes contained in a hydrogen isotope mixture. The apparatus is provided with two chambers closable by valves and surrounded on all sides by walls and separated from each other by a wall or partition of material differing from palladium though permeable preferably for atomic hydrogen and permeable only to a lesser extent for molecular hydrogen. One of the chambers is connected with a gas supply line as well as a gas discharge line, and the other chamber, provided for collecting isotope mixture coming through the permeable wall, is capable of being evacuated. The remaining walls of the chambers consist of material which is not or is only poorly permeable for hydrogen isotopes.

Abstract: Exchange-discharge bodies provided with reactive material, especially for ace-material concentration from large water masses. The exchange bodies comprise a mechanically stable outer contour, and have a fluid accessible reactive upper surface protected against mechanical access by adjacent bodies.

Abstract: A process and an arrangement for the formation of an ignitable mixture from iquid fuel and combustion air, wherein preheated combustion air is conducted with a flow chamber along a surface which is moistened with fuel for take-up of fuel. In the process and arrangement, combustion air is conveyed into the flow chamber in the flow direction of the fuel which streams off the surface moistened by the fuel under the effect of gravity. Achieved hereby is an intensive contacting between the combustion air and the fuel. The fuel is dosed in excess so as to constantly afford a sufficient quantity of fuel for vaporization. During the through flow of the combustion air, there is formed, in the contact with the fuel, a saturated fuel-air mixture in conformance with the temperature of the preheated combustion air and the temperature of the fuel.

Abstract: A process for the consolidation or stabilization of radioactive wastes in a glass matrix, wherein a glass smelt which has been enriched with the active material is solidified through cooling. The process is distinguished in that the maximally 1200.degree. C. hot gas smelt with the active waste within the final respository container is brought into contact prior to its cooling, at least along its surface, with a solid viscosity-increasing oxide up to at least a partial dissolution thereof. Among such oxides are aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide, wherein unsintered aluminum oxide is preferred.

Abstract: A method of solidifying waste materials, such as radioactive or toxic matals, which are contained in aqueous solutions. To accomplish this solidification, an inorganic, non-metallic binding agent such as gypsum is intermixed with the aqueous solution and a substance such as pumice or ceramic tile which promotes the intermixing of the binding agent and the aqueous solution.