Abstract: A device for producing a product gas from a fuel, such as biomass, comprises a reactor which is delimited by a base and reactor walls. The reactor walls comprise a peripheral wall and an upper wall. The reactor comprises a supply opening for the supplying of biomass, as well as at least one riser for chemically converting the biomass supplied to a product gas and a solid. The riser is provided inside the peripheral wall and comprises an upper end and a tower end. The reactor furthermore has a discharge opening for discharging the product gas. The riser is attached to at least one reactor wall. The lower end of the riser is at a distance above at least one section of the base which is underneath it and is freely movable under the effect of thermal expansion.

Abstract: A process for treating biomass comprises providing a material that contains an amount of residual moisture. The material is heated to a torrefying temperature in a low-oxygen atmosphere in a torrefaction reactor to convert it into a torrefied material. The material with the contained residual moisture is essentially fully dried in a drying chamber by evaporation of residual moisture. The torrefaction reactor comprises a torrefying chamber, in which the torrefaction of this dried material is essentially carried out. The material is conveyed through the torrefaction reactor. The drying of the material in the drying chamber is carried out by introducing into it a hot drying gas that flows therethrough cocurrently with the material. The torrefaction of the material in the torrefying chamber of the torrefaction reactor is carried out by introducing into it a hot torrefying gas that flows through the torrefying chamber countercurrently with the material.

Abstract: A device for measuring strain on a surface of an object (3) includes a carrier (5) which is provided with a central section (6) and two end sections (8) which are arranged on either side of the central section (6). A strain element (10) is connected to the carrier (5) and is provided with a strain sensor. The device (1) for measuring strain includes two supporting feet (9) which can be directly attached to the surface of the object (3) at a distance apart. The end sections (8) of the carrier (5) are detachably connected to in each case one supporting foot (9).

Abstract: A thin film device includes an active layer (4), wherein the active layer has optical properties that change by adding and removing hydrogen, and includes a Mg-transition metal layer, or rare earth based layer, the active layer being provided on one side with a protective layer (3) that is hydrogen, oxygen and water vapor permeable and liquid water impermeable, and has hydrophobic surface properties. The thin film can further include a Pd catalyst layer (5) disposed between the active layer (4) and the protective layer (3). The thin film device can be used in a switchable mirror wherein the optical properties of the mirror can be changed by adding/removing hydrogen to/from the active layer.

Abstract: In a method for blade load reduction control of a rotor of a wind turbine, the rotor includes a plurality of blades, and a pitch angle of each blade is controllable by an actuator. The method includes measuring mechanical load parameters on the rotor, providing control for a collective pitch blade setting based on a rotor speed; providing individual pitch control including transforming the mechanical load parameters from a rotational reference frame to a mechanical load on the rotor in a fixed reference frame; determining from the mechanical load two multi-blade pitches; correcting the multi-blade pitches to corrected multi-blade pitches using actuator limitations; inversely transforming the corrected multi-blade pitches to an individual pitch deviation for each blade in the rotational reference frame; adding up for each blade, the individual pitch deviation to the collective pitch to form an individual pitch; and setting each blade to the respective individual pitch.

Abstract: SOFC cell unit in which a separator plate provided with a corrugation is fitted and bears directly against the anode and cathode, respectively. Anode gas and cathode gas preferably move in the same direction and anode gas is supplied from a number of anode gas supply openings extending through a cell stack. These openings are situated on the side parallel to the direction of the ducts formed by the corrugation. Cathode gas can be fed directly into the corrugation. In this way, it is possible to produce a highly efficient cell and an associated compact cell stack in a simple manner.

Abstract: The invention provides a solar cell or photovoltaic element 1, which is a layered structure or stack 25, comprising a flexible conductive composite foil 23, including a support material layer foil 23b and a first electrically conductive layer 23a, an oxide layer 28, a crystalline metal-oxide semi-conductor 26 layer 14, a photosensitization material 15, an electrolytic liquid (or other 18 hole conducting medium) 16, a catalyst layer 19, a transparent second electrically conductive layer 18 and transparent flexible substrate 26.

Abstract: A method for the catalytic decomposition of N2O in an N2O- and NOx-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst contains a zeolite that has been loaded with a first metal chosen from a group of noble metals consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, rhenium, osmium, iridium, platinum and gold, and with a second metal chosen from a group of transition metals consisting of chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper, and in that the loading of the zeolite with these metals is effected by loading the zeolite with the noble metal and the transition metal simultaneously, also relating to a catalyst for this method and to a method for the preparation of the catalyst.

Abstract: A solid oxide reactor provided with an electrode structure comprising a first electrode, a second electrode (6; 26), a first gas chamber (V1 ), a second gas chamber and an ion-conductive medium (8), wherein an ion-conductive medium is located between the first electrode (2) and the second electrode, wherein furthermore, the first electrode borders on the first gas chamber, and the second electrode borders on the second gas chamber. The first electrode comprises a first layer of a conductive oxide material, the conductive oxide material being composed of at least one electron-conducting oxide material provided with a defective structure and one ion-conductive oxide material provided with a defective structure. The second electrode comprises a first layer of a conductive oxide material, the conductive oxide material being composed of at least one electron-conductive oxide material provided with a defective structure and one ion-conductive oxide material provided with a defective structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the catalytic decomposition of N2O in a gas containing N2O in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises a zeolite that has been loaded with a first metal selected from the group of noble metals consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, silver, rhenium, osmium, iridium, platinum and gold, and with a second metal selected from the group of transition metals consisting of chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper, and wherein the loading of the zeolite with metals has been obtained by first loading the zeolite with the noble metal and then with the transition metal, as well as a catalyst for this method and a method for the preparation of this catalyst.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a rotor having a number of rotor blades. At least one rotor blade has openings. The rotor blade has air-displacement elements which, in use, alternately force air out of and into the openings. A sensor is provided for detecting wind speed fluctuations. A control unit is provided for controlling the air-displacement elements depending on the wind speed fluctuations detected by the sensor. The rotor blade has an aerodynamic profile with a suction side and a pressure side. At least one opening is provided on the suction side. The control unit is designed for operating the air-displacement elements of the opening on the suction side if the sensor has detected a positive speed fluctuation. At least one opening is provided on the pressure side. The control unit is designed for operating the air-displacement element of the opening on the pressure side if the sensor has detected a negative speed fluctuation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic cell, includes: providing a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; creating at least one via between a front side and a back side of the semiconductor substrate; applying on the backside a front side contacting metal paste over the at least one via, the front side contacting metal paste including a first contacting metal; annealing the semiconductor substrate so as to melt the first contacting metal, and during annealing, creating at least on the walls of the at least one via an alloy of the first contacting metal and the semiconductor substrate material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a crystalline silicon solar cell, subsequently including: providing a crystalline silicon substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; pre-diffusing Phosphorus into a first side of the substrate to render a Phosphorus diffused layer having an initial depth; blocking the first side of the substrate; exposing a second side of the substrate to a Boron diffusion source; heating the substrate for a certain period of time and to a certain temperature so as to diffuse Boron into the second side of the substrate and to simultaneously diffuse the Phosphorus further into the substrate.

Abstract: Method and assembly for determining the presence of soot particles in a gas stream such as in the air. To prevent the disturbing effect of salts and the like that may be deposited on soot particles, it is proposed to introduce the soot particles into water as a suspension. The salts concerned dissolve in the water and have no effect when determining the change in optical properties resulting from the presence of the soot particles. This determination comprises in particular a light transmittance measurement. The presence of the soot particles can be determined after the gas stream is first passed through a filter, as a result of which a particle size distribution can be determined. Suspension of the soot particles can be achieved by subjecting these to a stream of steam, whereby the steam condenses on the soot particles and then causes these to precipitate out of the gas. The various processes can be expedited by using a cyclone.

Abstract: Method and device for cleaning synthesis gas obtained during gasification of biomass are disclosed. The synthesis gas is passed through a saturation device and an absorption device, both of which are fed with oil. In this way, the synthesis gas is scrubbed with oil and tar is substantially removed therefrom. The tar-containing oil which is released in this process is subjected to a cleaning step, as a result of which oil with a high percentage of tar and oil with a relatively low percentage of tar are formed. The first oil can be retuned to the gasification, and the remaining oil can be reused.

Abstract: Method and device for determining the fossil fuel content in a fuel stream fed to an incineration furnace. According to the method, the waste gas is sampled and the amount of “new” and “old” carbon present in the CO2 is determined by the 14C method. When the stream of waste gas varies, an accurate measurement can be achieved by measuring the quantitative throughput of gas using a mass or volume flow meter and relating this to the size of the sample.

Abstract: A device for producing a product gas from a fuel, such as biomass, comprises a reactor which is delimited by a base and reactor walls. The reactor walls comprise a peripheral wall and an upper wall. The reactor comprises a supply opening for the supplying of biomass, as well as at least one riser for chemically converting the biomass supplied to a product gas and a solid. The riser is provided inside the peripheral wall and comprises an upper end and a tower end. The reactor furthermore has a discharge opening for discharging the product gas. The riser is attached to at least one reactor wall. The lower end of the riser is at a distance above at least one section of the base which is underneath it and is freely movable under the effect of thermal expansion.

Abstract: Method for dyeing a layer of a nanocrystalline material on a substrate using a liquid dye, comprising the successive steps of (i) providing said layer on a substrate, (ii) providing an apparatus for dyeing said layer, which apparatus comprises at least a supply container for the liquid dye, a closable substrate holder provided with at least one inlet and at least one outlet for a substrate provided with a layer of nanocrystalline material, and conduit and circulation means for causing the liquid dye to circulate through the supply container and the substrate holder, (iii) placing the substrate with said layer in the substrate holder and closing the substrate holder, and providing a liquid dye in the supply container, and (iv) causing the liquid dye from the supply container to circulate for a determined time through the substrate holder, and apparatus for performing this method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the catalytic decomposition of N2O in a gas containing N2O in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst comprises a zeolite that has been loaded with a first metal selected from the group of noble metals consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, silver, rhenium, osmium, iridium, platinum and gold, and with a second metal selected from the group of transition metals consisting of chromium, manganese, iron cobalt, nickel and copper, and wherein the loading of the zeolite with metals has been obtained by first loading the zeolite with the noble metal and then with the transition metal, as well as a catalyst for this method and a method for the preparation of this catalyst.

Abstract: A reactor device comprises a reaction chamber for carrying out a reaction with hydrogen (H2) as reaction product. The reactor device comprises a combustion chamber, and a hydrogen-permeable membrane, which is provided between the reaction chamber and the combustion chamber. A supply channel is provided in the combustion chamber. The supply channel is designed, for example, as a tubular supply line. The supply channel is provided with lateral supply apertures for supplying a fluid containing oxygen (O2), such as air, to the combustion chamber.