Abstract: A ceramic membrane having a non-zero volume and including: a) a dense layer, having opposed faces of areas S and S′ and having a non-zero thickness e, of a solid electrolyte; b) two porous electrodes, which are hybrid conductors and have non-zero thicknesses e1 and e′1, which are identical or different, coated on non-zero areas s1 and s′1, which are identical or different, of the two opposed faces of areas S and S′ of the solid electrolyte; c) two porous current collectors, of non-zero thicknesses, e2 and e′2, which are identical or different, coated on non-zero areas s2 and S′2, which are identical or different, of the two porous electrodes; and d) at least one porous covering layer, of non-zero thickness e3, coated on a non-zero area s3, of at least one of the collectors, a thickness E of the membrane is equal to the sum of the thickness of each of the elements a)-d).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for preparing gaseous compositions comprising a metal carbonyl, preferably at ppm concentration, are disclosed. The methods comprise placing metal, preferably in the form of filings, of the metal carbonyl to be produced into a first test vessel at a first temperature, and then pressurizing the first test vessel with a gas comprising carbon monoxide from a carbon monoxide source vessel. The contents of the first vessel are then heated to a second temperature and at a rate sufficient to initiate metal carbonyl formation, thereby forming a gas composition comprising a metal carbonyl. The reaction is then quenched by transferring some of the gas composition comprising a metal carbonyl from the first test vessel to a second test vessel which is at a third temperature, the third temperature being lower than the second temperature. Finally, the gas composition is diluted in the second test vessel with an inert gas (preferably argon) from an inert gas source container.

Abstract: An installation and a method for oxygen arc cutting of a metal workpiece containing at least a ferrous material, in particular a structural steel workpiece, which consists in: pre-heating locally a priming zone of the metal workpiece to be cut by subjecting the priming zone to a plasma jet; then in producing a localized fusion and/or combustion of the ferrous material contained in the workpiece, using the plasma jet or a combination of the plasma jet and an oxidizing gas flow to obtain a perforation along the whole thickness of the metal workpiece; once the perforation has been obtained, in synchronously displacing, the plasma jet and the oxidizing gas flow along a cutting path to produce a predefined slit through the metal workpiece.

Abstract: This invention is related to a method for encapsulating bond regions in electronic components comprising, for example, metallic bond regions, the method comprising the steps of exposing an electronic component having at least one bond region through a primary gas atmosphere comprising unstable or excited gaseous species, the gaseous species being substantially devoid of any electrical charges, the primary gas atmosphere having a pressure ranging from about 0.5×105 Pa to about 3.0×105 Pa, thereby forming a treated, non-encapulated electronic component, then encapsulating the electronic component.

Abstract: A first air stream is expanded in a first turbine (D1) before being mixed with a second air stream (104) in order to form a third stream (105). At least part of the third stream is sent to a second turbine (D2) and then to the double column. The stream expanded in the first turbine is smaller than the stream expanded in the second turbine.

Abstract: A process for reducing fume, dust and/or smoke emission in transferring molten metal, entailing: a) blanketing molten metal, preferably steel or iron with, at least, solid carbon dioxide; and b) allowing the carbon dioxide to sublime, thereby restricting free air access to the molten metal, and reducing fume, dust and/or smoke emission therefrom.

Abstract: This installation comprises subgroups of permeators (SG1 to SG3), each subgroup comprising a permeator (4A to 4C) or several permeators mounted in parallel, and having an inlet (12A to 12C), a permeate outlet (14A to 14C) and a non-permeate outlet (16A to 16C). The non-permeate outlet of a first subgroup (SG1, SG2) is connected to the inlet of a second subgroup (SG2, SG3), and at least one of the subgroups has closure elements (22A to 22C) for its permeate outlet when the real feed flow rate is below the nominal feed flow rate by a predetermined quantity.

Abstract: An air separation plant producing pressurized gaseous oxygen comprises at least one column (17) having a bottom reboiler (19) and fed with a stream of air. The bottom reboiler is warmed by a nitrogen-enriched gas (25) compressed in a cold compressor (21) and pumped liquid oxygen (33) is withdrawn from the bottom of the column, pumped and vaporized. The refrigeration for the process is produced by air expansion in a turbine (15).

Abstract: A process controls oxy-boost firing and air-fuel burner firing in furnaces, including large glass furnaces such as float furnaces. The large side-fired regenerative float furnaces use oxy-boost firing for a variety of reasons, including production increase, improved glass quality, lowering of superstructure temperatures, and reduction of emissions. An adaptive controller receives input data from process parameter sensors throughout the furnace, and adjusts its control logic for controlling both the oxy-boost burners and the air-fuel port burners.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxy-fuel torch. The torch comprises a body (10) comprising a number of pipes for conveying at least two streams of gas between inlets (14, 15) and outlets; at least two valves (16, 20, 22) mounted in said body capable of adopting a closed rest position and an open active position; a single control (12) for said valves and mounted so that it can move on the body and able to be moved so that it collaborates with said valves, capable of adopting a first stable position in which all the valves are at rest and at least one second stable position in which at least one of the valves is in the active position; controllable means (40) of locking said control (12) so as to secure it, at rest, to said body; and at least one controllable delivery adjusting means (46, 48) mounted on said body for adjusting the delivery of at least one of said streams of gas.

Abstract: A support and positioning structure includes an upper cradle (3) of V shape or C shape opening outwardly and a base (1) with an abutment (6) projecting upwardly and a support surface (5) inclined relative to the horizontal and extending over a distance less than the nominal diameter of a cylinder (7). The cylinder (7) is thus easily and correctly positioned in a stable fashion in a predetermined place and can be easily withdrawn to be moved.

Abstract: Method for the determination of a level of treatment with ozone of a liquid to be treated, comprising the steps of: a) storing the liquid to be treated, the liquid having at least one of an initial dissolved oxidant and ozone content of Ci; b) manufacturing an ozonized water mother solution with a given and constant content of dissolved ozone Cm; c) withdrawing a volume Vm of the mother solution and admixing it with a sample of the stored liquid with a volume of Vi; d) measuring at least one of the content Cf of dissolved residual oxidants and dissolved ozone in the sample after admixture with the volume Vm of the mother solution, immediately after at least one of addition and at predetermined, regular or irregular time intervals after the addition; e) determining the level of treatment to be applied to the liquid as a function of the value of the quantity Cf-Ci.

Abstract: The invention relates to a permeation installation comprising: a single pressure resistant chamber (30), a plurality of permeation modules (34, 36) disposed within the chamber, each module being constituted by at least one permeator formed of hollow fibers with porous walls and being disposed within an envelope (38) provided with perforations placing in communication the external portion of each module and the common gaseous circuit, elements (32) to supply the installation with the gaseous mixture to be treated, elements (46) to recover the fraction of the gaseous mixture having passed through the wall of the fibers; and elements (44) to recover the fraction of the gaseous mixture that has not passed through the wall of the fibers.

Abstract: An air treatment plant includes a waste gas vent connected to structure (50) for attenuating the noise conducted by this waste gas. The noise attenuation structure (50) is a substantially closed and at least partially buried enclosure (52). The invention applies especially to plants for separating air by pressure swing adsorption.

Abstract: A compression machine (compressor 4 and/or pump 5) of the plant (1) for the treatment of a fluid, typically by pressure swing adsorption, comprises at least one detector (7) for detecting clearance between a moving part (6) and a stator and delivering a measurement signal used so as to vary, depending on this measurement, the operation of the plant and especially to automatically shorten the phases during which the machine is running at an excessively high speed.

Abstract: This PSA unit is of the type comprising 2N adsorbers (N≧2) whose production outlets can be connected by gas circulation lines. The adsorbers are coupled in the form of pairs of adsorbers (A1-A4, A2-A5, A3-A6); the outlets of the adsorbers of each pair are connected by a direct line (L14, L25, L36) provided with two first valves (i3, (N+i)3); and an intermediate point (B1, B2, B3) of the direct line located between the two first valves is connected to a transverse line (2) common to all the pairs by a connection valve (12, 22, 32).

Abstract: A intended in particular for equipping a tunnel for refrigeration of products such as food products, wherein this tunnel has a gaseous current flowing through it. The fan includes at least one pair of funnels (1) fixed onto one face of a support (2) mounted so that it can rotate about a vertical axis (XX) and connected to a device for driving rotation. The funnels have their entrance apertures (4) arranged radially so as to allow the gaseous current to penetrate into them and to emerge from them at an accelerated speed via their exit aperture (S). One or several fans [according to the invention] can be arranged at appropriate places in the tunnel, their rotation speed being chosen so that the exit gas currents from the funnels ensure a high degree of heat transport while reducing the risk of undesirable movement of products passing by on a conveyor placed below the fans.

Abstract: Provided is a novel semiconductor processing system. The system includes a process chamber for treating a semiconductor substrate with one or more process gases comprising water vapor, means for delivering the water vapor or one or more precursors thereof to the process chamber, an exhaust conduit connected to the process chamber, an absorption spectroscopy system for sensing water vapor in a sample region, and a control system which controls water vapor content in the process chamber. Also provided is a method for controlling the water vapor level in a semiconductor process chamber. The system and method allow for measurement and control of the water vapor level in a semiconductor processing chamber in which water vapor is present as a process gas.

Abstract: A portable device for administering a gas. The device can supply at least one nostril of a user with at least part of a gas. The device includes at least one gas distribution nozzle and a support, with which the at least one gas distribution nozzle is supported or held in position on the face of the user. The at least one gas distribution nozzle is held along at least part of the outer wall or surface of the nose or cheeks of the user, when the device is positioned on the head or the face of the user. The at least one nozzle is outside the user's nostrils.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a unit for the MIG welding of aluminum and its alloys, employing gaseous shielding of the welded zone, composed of a central flow of gas consisting of argon and/or oxygen and of a peripheral gas stream consisting of argon or a mixture of argon and helium. The MIG welding process of the invention allows effective welding of workpieces made of aluminum or aluminum alloys by improving the penetration of the weld and the wetting of the weld bead, that is to say the angle of connection of the weld bead to the welded workpieces.