Abstract: In a process for the use of a hydrocarbon feedstock (10) by reacting the feedstock in a reactor (11) with oxygen (9) to form a synthesis gas containing at least carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen and subjecting the synthesis gas to a conversion process comprising an exothermic reaction to produce dimethyl ether in a converter (15), the converter operating at an operating pressure, said oxygen being provided to the reactor at an oxygen pressure, the synthesis gas is produced at a pressure higher than the operating pressure of the converter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for production of a mixture comprising hydrogen and CO by partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon by an oxygenated medium, according to which the processing is carried out under autothermal conditions with the heat given off by said oxidation being recovered to maintain the endo-thermic reactions which take place between the non-oxidized fraction of said hydrocarbon and the CO2 and the steam produced by said oxidation, being characterized in that the reaction gas mixture comprising the hydrocarbon and the oxygenated medium is passed through a porous medium (4) which has been preheated beforehand, thus making it possible to heat the reaction gas mixture by heat exchange with the porous medium to a temperature threshold sufficient to initiate combustion reactions, rendering unnecessary an external heat supply when operating continuously.

Abstract: In a process-for the use of a hydrocarbon feedstock (10) by reacting the feedstock in a reactor (11) with oxygen (9) to form a synthesis gas containing at least carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen and subjecting the synthesis gas to a conversion process comprising an exothermic reaction to produce methanol as a final product in a converter (15), the converter operating at an operating pressure, said oxygen being provided to the reactor at an oxygen pressure, the synthesis gas is produced at a pressure higher than the operating pressure of the converter.

Abstract: Methods of converting a sulfide in a composition to polysulfide are described, one method comprising the steps of exposing the composition to conditions and for a time sufficient to cause conversion of at least a portion of the sulfide, to polysulfide to form a modified composition; and controlling the conversion to polysulfide by measuring a color parameter of the modified composition.

Abstract: In a process for separation of air by cryogenic distillation integrated with an associated process, air is separated in a separation unit (1), fluid is sent from the separation unit to an associated process, steam (3) is derived from the associated process, at least part of the steam is used in the separation unit and at least one fluid stream (11) is sent from the air separation unit to the atmosphere, at least when the steam is used in the air separation unit.

Abstract: A rectilinear collector into which open the outlets of the cells and which is provided with a pressure regulator, a removal tube extending rectilinearly within the collector and connected from the outside to a recovery vat into which it opens through an outlet located at a height h relative to its axis, at least one constriction presented by the tube and calibrated such that the residual pressure downstream of the pressure regulator will be greater than that of a column of water having a height corresponding to the height h.

Abstract: Method for real-time control of the fabrication of a thin-film structure comprising a substrate by ellipsometric measurement in which: variables directly linked to the ellipsometric ratio ?=tan? exp(i?) are measured; and the said variables are compared with reference values. The comparison relates to the length of the path traveled at a time t in the plane of the variables with respect to an initial point at time t0, for each layer participating in the thin-film structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a diagram of an installation using apparatuses, each apparatus being supplied with gas, comprising: the consultation of one or more databases (5) comprising, for each apparatus, data on the flow rate, the nature, the purity of the gas supplying the apparatus, and the supply pressure of that gas for that apparatus, the selection, for each apparatus, of a value, or of a limit value, of duration or of frequency of use, the calculation, for each apparatus, of the consumption, or of the limit consumption, according to the utilisation value and to the flow rate data, the calculation, for each gas and for each gas purity, of the total of the consumptions of all of the apparatuses, the indication of technical constraints, the consultation of a database (5) for proposing, for each gas and each gas purity, a packaging, as a function of the consumption and of the technical constraints relating to the storage of the gas and/or to their delivery.

Abstract: An outfit for the construction of several complex industrial installations for the treatment of industrial fluids includes several assemblies of several functional modules, each adapted to perform an elementary operation. Each functional module includes at least one input and at least one output, as well as a local guide unit of the functional module provided with a communication interface. All the functional modules have the same assembly to carry out the same elementary operation and are standard. The functional modules are adapted to be associated functionally with each other in installations. The outfit moreover includes, for each industrial installation, a single central guide unit, adapted to guide the functional modules of the associated industrial installation.

Abstract: Gas separation membranes formed from polyester-polyether block copolymers which are useful for separating gases from gas mixtures. The membranes and processes are especially suited for separating polar gases from mixtures that contain polar and non-polar species. The novel membranes exhibit good permeability and permselectivity as well as durability, making them well suited for industrial applications such as removal of acid gases from natural gas and removal of carbon dioxide from synthesis gas.

Abstract: Gas separation membranes formed from polyether-urethane or polyether-urea block copolymers are useful for separating gases from gas mixtures. The membranes and processes are especially suited for separating polar gases from mixtures that contain polar and non-polar species. The novel membranes exhibit good permeability and permselectivity, as well as durability, making them well suited for industrial applications such as removal of acid gases from natural gas and removal of carbon dioxide from synthesis gas.

Abstract: The device comprises two separators (20, 30) in series in the outlet portion of the hydrogen circuit each defining at least one inlet chamber (21, 31) separated, by a hydrophilic filter (22, 32), from an outlet chamber (23, 33) connected to the hydric circuit (24) of the cell. Application to air-hydrogen fuel cells.

Abstract: A method comprising two adsorbers which follow each a phase-shifted cycle successively consisting in an adsorption phase, at high pressure of the cycle, and a regeneration phase, ending in repressurizing of the adsorber.

Abstract: In such an exchanger, in which the blocks have fluid inlet openings in communication with the interior space of a supply box which runs alongside the block and communicates with at least one analogous box of an adjacent block to form a fluid supply line, in order to even out the distribution of fluid between the openings of the blocks, the supply line contains at least one grating (30) leaving perforations (301) and solid parts (302) which are distributed in such a way as to create pressure drops which are such that the flow velocities of the fluid in the inlet openings downstream of the grating have similar values.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane gas separation apparatus of a compact design suitable for separation and purification of gases is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an outer housing that consists of a detachable bowl and a head closure, and a removable hollow fiber membrane cartridge positioned therein. The cartridge contains a concentric tubular inner core member and is surrounded by a shell and at least one end closure. The cartridge is attached by its first axial end in a sealed and removable manner to a gas flow conduit positioned coaxially in the housing closure wherein the conduit is in fluid communication with a gas inlet or product gas outlet port formed in the housing head closure and by its second axial end to a waste gas exit port in the bowl. The feed gas inlet port and the product gas outlet port in the head closure are spaced in a straight line for a short overall distance providing for a linear connection with other components of a gas separation system, which is a preferred system component packaging.

Abstract: Method of welding tailored blanks consisting of a material mostly containing steel and a proportion greater than 0.015% aluminium by weight, using at least one laser beam, in which at least one weld joint of the full-penetration type is made using a gas mixture consisting of 30% to 80% nitrogen by volume, the rest being helium (up to 100%) in order to assist the said laser beam. The method of the invention is particularly recommended for welding motor vehicle elements, especially bodywork, doors, bonnets or the like.

Abstract: To provide a process gas supply mechanism for ALCVD systems that enables the high speed switching of process gases without accompanying particulate contamination of the treatment substrate. The ALCVD system is provided with a CVD treatment section and a process gas supply section. The process gas supply section contains a reactant gas line and a carrier gas line; these are combined to form a joint flow line. A vent line is connected to the reactant gas line upstream from the joint flow position. A stop valve SV and a needle valve NV are disposed in the vent line. This needle valve NV functions as a setting means in order to set the flow rate of the gas flowing in the vent line. The stop valve SV is driven through repetitive switching operations by a drive control element, thereby effecting supply and nonsupply of the reactant gas.

Abstract: The invention provides a spinnerette assembly for forming hollow fibers. The spinnerette assembly contains an extrusion orifice and a fiber-forming material passage in communication with the extrusion orifice. A hollow needle extends through the extrusion orifice in a concentric manner to define an annular passage surrounding the needle. The fiber-forming material passage includes a fiber-forming material inlet port extending from a surface of the spinnerette assembly to an interior of the assembly and a transverse passage extending from the fiber-forming material port to the annular passage surrounding the needle. A bore forming fluid passage communicates with the interior of the needle.

Abstract: In this process, during at least one phase of the treatment cycle, the gas outflow is increased or decreased locally in at least one marginal region of the packing. Application to drying/CO2 removal of atmospheric air intended to be distilled, or to the separation of gaseous mixtures by pressure modulated adsorption.

Abstract: The invention relates to a procedure for determining the risk of flammability of a mixture of two reactive gases A, B, in an inert or base gas, which includes: a step of determining, in the flammability diagram for the A/B/base gas mixture, the change in the composition of the mixture in order to determine whether or not the composition has passed through the flammability region of the flammability diagram, when A is firstly injected into the inert or base gas to form a first mixture and then B is injected into the first mixture in order to form the final mixture; a step of comparing the mixing time, should the region have been passed through, with the chemical induction time for the mixture.