Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a rock anchor with condition monitoring for determining tensions or deformations in form of a conductor trace which is applied on an anchor body, whose electrical resistance changes proportionally with respect to the tension/deformation. The conductor trace may consist of an electrically conductive ink which is directly applied on the anchor body by a printing method.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a process for removing fluoride from a solution or suspension containing zinc, in particular a solution of zinc sulfate, a defluoridated solution of zinc sulfate obtainable by such a process, its use as well as processes for producing zinc and hydrogen fluoride or hydrofluoric acid. The process for removing fluoride comprises (i) providing a solution or suspension A containing zinc, wherein the solution or suspension A containing zinc further contains fluoride ions; (ii) adding a solution B containing a dissolved salt of a rare earth element to the solution or suspension A containing zinc, wherein a solid comprising a rare earth element fluoride and a solution C containing zinc are formed; and (iii) separating the solid from the solution C containing zinc, wherein the solution C containing zinc has a lower concentration of fluoride ions than the solution or suspension A containing zinc.

Abstract: There is provided a method of fabricating a composite material, the method comprising providing borehole solids originating from a borehole in the earth and embedding the borehole solids in a base material thereby forming the composite material, wherein the base material comprises a polymer. According to an embodiment, the borehole solids contain oil, e.g. on a surface thereof. The oil containing borehole solids may be preprocessed before embedding or may be directly embedded in the base material without preprocessing. Such embodiments allow for a recycling of oil contaminated borehole solids while providing a resource for a filler for polymers.

Abstract: There is provided a method of fabricating a composite material, the method comprising providing borehole solids originating from a borehole in the earth and embedding the borehole solids in a base material thereby forming the composite material, wherein the base material comprises a polymer. According to an embodiment, the borehole solids contain oil, e.g. on a surface thereof. The oil containing borehole solids may be preprocessed before embedding or may be directly embedded in the base material without preprocessing. Such embodiments allow for a recycling of oil contaminated borehole solids while providing a resource for a filler for polymers.

Abstract: A method of treating a borehole is provided, wherein the method comprises introducing a drilling fluid into a borehole, wherein the drilling fluid comprises an ionic liquid. In particular, the ionic liquid may comprise a single ionic liquid, i.e., only one kind of anion and one kind of cation, or may comprise a mixture of different ionic liquids, e.g., may comprise several different anions and/or several different cations.

Abstract: The present invention describes a pumping device (1) for pumping fluids. The pumping device (1) comprises a force transmitting element (2), a tension unit (3) coupled to the force transmitting element (2) and a seal element (10). The force transmitting element (2) is adapted for transferring an upstroke and a downstroke to a pump plunger (5) for pumping fluid (12). The tension unit (3) is adapted for applying a tension force (F) to the force transmitting element (2) for keeping the force transmitting element (2) under tension during the upstroke and the downstroke. The seal element (10) is adapted for sealingly preventing pumping fluids (12) during the downstroke and for enabling pumping fluid (12) during the upstroke. A part (16) of the seal element (10) is rigidly coupled with the force transmitting element (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a pumping system (3) for pumping fluid. The pumping system (3) comprises a first pumping unit (1) comprising a first flow path (4) and a second pumping unit (2) comprising a second flow path (5). The fluid pumped by the first pumping unit (4) is guided through the first flow path (4), and the fluid pumped by the second pumping unit (2) is guided through the second flow path (5). The first pumping unit (1) and the second pumping unit (2) are functionally coupled. The first flow path (4) and the second flow path (5) are adapted to be functionally independent from each other.

Abstract: An explosive cartridge for generating an explosion in a blast hole, the explosive cartridge comprising a flexible casing for containing an explosive and a mechanism for expanding the casing in a first direction and for simultaneously contracting the casing in a second direction which differs from the first direction.