Abstract: A method for the selective catalyst reduction of nitrous oxide (N2O) in the presence of a solid catalyst, with the addition of a saturated hydrocarbon as reducing agent. The catalyst used is a promoted, iron-containing zeolite. As a result, it is possible to increase the conversion of (N2O) compared to unpromoted iron-containing zeolite catalysts. The promoted catalyst is active at temperatures below 350° C. Furthermore, it has been found that the iron-containing zeolite catalysts which are promoted with precious metal also give low emissions of CO and residual hydrocarbons. The catalyst is also very active under high process pressures and in the presence of sulphur.

Abstract: A low-temperature fuel cell assembly including of a low-temperature fuel cell (1) in combination with a sweeping gas circuit (2) for at least the anode part thereof. The fuel gas is prepared by filtering via a semi-permeable wall (5) and the yield from this process is increased by employing sweeping gas. This sweeping gas is obtained by producing it in the sweeping gas circuit (2). During operation some of the sweeping gas is continuously discharged and fresh sweeping gas is continuously produced. With this arrangement it is possible to use hydrogen as fuel gas. Sweeping gas is obtained by injecting air (8) and combusting (9) the oxygen contained therein with hydrogen. It is also possible to perform a methanisation reaction starting from hydrogen as fuel gas by providing CO/CO2 as a result of which the sweeping gas is methane.

Abstract: Microporous hydrophobic inorganic membrane having an average pore size of less than 2 nm and a hydrophobicity index octane/water of at least 2 can be obtained by a process comprising hydrolyzing a metal alkoxide in the presence of a hydrocarbyl metal alkoxide having at least one non-hydrolyzable group in an organic solvent to produce a metal (hydr)oxide sol, and precipitating metal (hydr)oxide from said sol and drying the precipitate. In this process, at least 50% of the amount of hydrocarbyl metal alkoxide is introduced into the solvent after 20% of the hydrolysis period has lapsed.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating fluid mixtures includes plural tubular membranes parallel to each other. Each of the membranes has an inner lumen and the flow direction is from the exterior of the membrane to the inner lumen. Each tube is surrounded by a larger diameter feed tube and a gap is formed between the outside service of the tubular membrane and the inside service of the feed tube. This annulus provides a feed flow channel for the fluid mixture along the outer surface of the tubular membrane. The annulus has first and second ends connected to entrance and discharge ports respectively of the feed flow. The inner lumen of the tubular membranes are sealed from the annular gap and provided with a connection for the discharge of the permeate flow.

Abstract: Method for coating a non-oxidised stainless steel support plate and a MCFC fuel cell stack provided with a separator plate coated in this way. First a diffusion barrier layer and then a nickel layer are applied to the anode side of the support plate. The diffusion barrier layer consists of titanium oxide and the adhesion between titanium oxide and the support plate can be improved by providing an adhesion layer.

Abstract: Method for connecting a first object to a second object along a common contact surface, wherein the first object comprises at the location of the contact surface a portion for a connecting means to be applied, which portion is accessible along an edge zone of or via at least one opening in the second object, by means of thermal spraying of particles of a material suitable as connecting means onto the first object along the edge zone of respectively via the at least one opening in the second object in a quantity such that in solidified state the deposited material particles form a connection between the first and the second object, in addition to a convector element manufactured according to this method.

Abstract: A method for making a semiconductor device having a pattern of highly doped regions located some distance apart in a semiconductor substrate and regions of low doping located between the highly doped regions. A diffusion barrier material is applied to the semiconductor substrate at the location of the regions of low doping by imprinting with the barrier material in the pattern of the regions of low doping. The doping material is applied after or before imprinting with barrier material so that the highly doped regions are formed essentially between the barrier material in the substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus for localizing production errors in a photovoltaic element which is formed substantially by a semiconductor substrate in the form of a wafer, on opposite main surfaces of which are arranged electrical conductors for transporting electrical charge carriers. The apparatus includes at least one first electrode in electrical contact with a first main surface of the substrate and displaceable over the substrate, and a second electrode to be arranged in electrical contact with the conductors on the second main surface. A voltage measuring device is provided for measuring the voltage between the at least one first and the second electrode subject to the position of the first electrode on the first main surface, and a device for adjusting a bias over the electrical conductors on the opposite main surfaces of the substrate.

Abstract: Electrochemical cell on the basis of electrode-supported thin electrolyte includes an anodic support (1) consisting of a nickel/zirconia material and an electrolyte layer (3) disposed that includes zirconia thereon and a cathode layer (6) which is in turn disposed thereon. To improve the quality of the cell and to increase the output it is proposed to arrange an auxiliary or intermediate layer (2) between the electrolyte layer and the anodic support. This auxiliary layer consists of nickel and zirconia particles which are substantially smaller than the particles of the support. Then an electrolyte layer (10) and, on the other side of the anodic support, a current collector layer are applied. None of these layers are sintered. Only after an assembly obtained in this manner has been obtained is a sintering treatment carried out.

Abstract: Method for applying a metallization in accordance with a pattern of a system of mutually connected electrical conductors for transporting electrical charge carriers on at least one of the outer surfaces of a photovoltaic element, wherein the conductors display a determined series resistance and cover a part of the at least one surface in accordance a determined degree of covering, which method comprises the steps of (i) providing said photovoltaic element, at least one of the outer surfaces of which is adapted for applying of a metallization thereto, and (ii) applying a metallization in accordance with a determined pattern on the relevant surface, wherein the metallization, is applied in the second step (ii) in accordance with an optimized pattern, the geometry of which is defined such that the electrical power of this element is maximal as a function of this geometry, and photovoltaic element provided with a metallization applied according to this method.

Abstract: An anode for an electrochemical cell having an oxide-to-metal particle size ratio gradient between the current collector side and the electrolyte side of the anode.

Abstract: An arrangement is proposed for a system with at least two molten carbonate or solid oxide fuel cell stacks (1, 2, 3). The cathode flows (14) of these stacks are connected in series while the anode flows (25) are in parallel. All stacks have an internal reforming device for a hydrocarbon fuel. Anode gas is recycled (24) from the stack outlets to the inlets. The invention allows the stacks to be of the same design and this reduces manufacturing costs. The cathode streams between the stacks are cooled by, for example, adding streams of cool air (15) to them. The cathode inlet temperatures can, therefore, be controlled by relatively inexpensive low temperature air valves. The invention allows the system to be designed with few heat exchangers, if any. The per pass utilization of all the oxidant streams and fuel streams are low. The efficiency of the system is typically 4-5 percentage points higher than that of equivalent conventional systems.

Abstract: Method for connecting a first object to a second object along a common contact surface, wherein the first object comprises at the location of the contact surface a portion for a connecting means to be applied, which portion is accessible along an edge zone of or via at least one opening in the second object, by means of thermal spraying of particles of a material suitable as connecting means onto the first object along the edge zone of respectively via the at least one opening in the second object in a quantity such that in solidified state the deposited material particles form a connection between the first and the second object, in addition to a convector element manufactured according to this method.

Abstract: An arrangement is proposed for a system with at least two molten carbonate or solid oxide fuel cell stacks (1, 2, 3). The cathode flows (14) of these stacks are connected in series while the anode flows (25) are in parallel. All stacks have an internal reforming device for a hydrocarbon fuel. Anode gas is recycled (24) from the stack outlets to the inlets. The invention allows the stacks to be of the same design and this reduces manufacturing costs. The cathode streams between the stacks are cooled by, for example, adding streams of cool air (15) to them. The cathode inlet temperatures can, therefore, be controlled by relatively inexpensive low temperature air valves. The invention allows the system to be designed with few heat exchangers, if any. The per pass utilization of all the oxidant streams and fuel streams are low. The efficiency of the system is typically 4-5 percentage points higher than that of equivalent conventional systems.

Abstract: Method for producing a plate-shaped component. This involves the preparation of a first suspension comprising an alcohol as the dispersing medium and a base material for the plate. A second suspension is prepared which comprises binder, water as the gelling agent and an alcohol as the dispersion medium, possibly with the addition of Li/K or Li/Na carbonate. These two suspensions are mixed together, possibly with the addition of fibers. After mixing, a plate-shaped component is fabricated with the aid of the “tape casting” technique.

Abstract: Method for determining the utilization of a reactant at the anode side or cathode side of a fuel cell. To this end a low flow with high utilization is applied at the side to be measured and an appreciable flow with low utilization is applied at the other side. A table is compiled in which the relationship between the Nernst voltage under the outlet conditions, such as the temperature, and the utilization of the reactant to be measured is incorporated. Cell voltage is then measured at the outlet and is equated to the Nernst voltage. The utilization can be determined from the table. This method can be used for determination of the flow rate and the flow distribution in a stack of electrochemical cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating installation with a Stirling engine and Stirling-type heat pump integrated within a single pressure vessel. Two hot chambers and two cold chambers, as well as a working chamber in which a piston is mounted such that it oscillates freely, are located inside the pressure vessel. The chambers are in fluid communication with one another. A displacer is able to oscillate freely to and for between each pair of hot and cold chambers. By means of this Stirling engine of the fire piston type and the Stirling heat pump integrated therewith, a low-noise, low-maintenance and highly energy-efficient heating installation is formed which has a high net efficiency (COP value between 1.5 and 2.5). The heat from the cold chamber of the Stirling engine and from the hot chamber of the Stirling heat pump part is passed to a hot water system via a first and second heat exchanger. The heat from the exhaust gases is passed to a third heat exchanger.

Abstract: In order to determine the flow status of a surface moving through the fluid, it is proposed to mount flaps on that surface. Such flaps hinge from the one to the other position depending on the flow conditions. The position of such flaps can be rendered particularly readily visible if the one side of the flap has an appearance which differs from that of the other side of the flap and/or if the surface which is covered by the flap has an appearance in the one end position which differs from the appearance of the surface which is covered by the flap in the other end position. A different appearance can, for example, be realized by providing a differently colored, reflective or retroreflective surface or existing differences in transmission, fluorescence or phosphorescence or even coverage of an illuminated surface.

Abstract: In order to improve the electrical contact between electrode (1) and current collector (13) in a fuel cell containing a liquid carbonate (10) as the electrolyte it is proposed that between the electrode and the current collector a functional layer (12) be placed. The electrode (11) consists of a material based on lithium cobaltate, and the functional layer (12) is attached thereto. This functional layer, like the electrode, is preferably applied in the green state, and after assembly of the cell, the ultimate electrochemical fuel cell is obtained by sintering.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for applying a cermet electrode layer to a sintered electrolyte. This layer consists of a mixture of an ion-conducting oxide and a semiprecious metal oxide or precious metal oxide. According to the invention, the ion-conducting oxide is calcined without the presence of the (semi)precious metal oxide in order to provide for lateral electron conductivity, while the sintering of the mixture of the electrolyte takes place at as low a temperature as possible.