Abstract: A sheet forming tool (1) for the manufacture of a corrugated sheet has a lower tool element (40) and an upper tool element (50), each of the upper tool element and the lower tool element having a front side (23, 33, 41) and a rear side (25, 35, 42). The lower tool element (40) comprises a first base element (2, 4, 6, 8) and a first finger element (3, 5, 7, 9) projecting from said first base element (2, 4, 6, 8). The first finger element (3, 5, 7, 9) forms a first ridge (22, 24, 26, 28) for forming a corrugation peak in the sheet. The upper tool element (50) comprises a second base element (12, 14) and a second finger element (13, 15) projecting from said second base element (12, 14), the second finger element (13, 15) forming a second ridge (32, 34) for forming a corrugation trough in said sheet.

Abstract: The inlet device has a horn-shaped passage piece at a peripheral wall of a column that feeds a fluid tangentially into the column so that the fluid enters into a vortex flow that rotates around an axis adjacent to a central axis of the column. A middle zone and discharge zone of the passage piece are made in the manner of a diffuser and abut the peripheral wall to extends over less than one half of the wall. A discharge zone of the passage piece through which flow takes place presets a middle flow direction of the fluid which extends along the peripheral wall and is inclined against the main direction.

Abstract: The valve cover has a guide vane extending laterally and downwardly from the central portion towards and in spaced relation to the tray deck for deflecting a majority of the vapor passing upwardly through an orifice downward towards the tray deck. A de-entrainment device with a downwardly angled deflector in vertical alignment with an orifice in the tray deck may be integrated or not with the valve cover below the tray deck.

Abstract: An apparatus for the purification of fluids includes a material exchange apparatus which contains a more volatile fluid and a less volatile fluid. The material exchange apparatus contains a structured packing, with the structured packing containing a first packing layer (10) and a second packing layer (100). The first packing layer (10) and the second packing layer (100) have corrugations, with open channels (12, 14, 16, 112, 114, 116) being formed by the corrugations.

Abstract: The static mixer (1) includes at least one vane pair (2; 2a, 2b) for the generation of a flow swirl (300) in the direction (30) of a passage flow (3). Edges of the vanes at the front at the leading side are perpendicular to the passage flow and parallel to a height of the passage (10). Onflow surfaces following downstream are bent out in a concave manner and in opposite senses. Each vane (2a, 2b) is formed as an aerodynamically designed body which includes an end wall (20), a convex side wall (21) and a concave side wall (22). The end wall has a convex shape or a shape of a leading edge. The vane cross-sections perpendicular to the side walls in particular have similar shapes to cross-sections of aeroplane wings.

Abstract: A droplet separator (10) includes a flow passage (5) through which a droplet charged gas can be conducted and through which this droplet charged gas can flow along a main flow direction (6), wherein a separation element (8) is arranged essentially in ring shape about the flow passage (5). The separation element (8) has a base element (11) and a top element (12) as well as a plurality of connection elements (1) which are arranged between the base element (11) and the top element (12). The connection element (1) includes a wall element (3, 13, 30) along which droplets of the droplet charged gas can be conducted as a film in the direction of the base element (11), wherein the wall element (3, 13, 30) has a separation surface which has a mean width of more than 1 mm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method to prepare a polylactic acid comprising the steps of: performing a ring opening polymerization using a catalyst and either a catalyst killer compound or an endcapping additive to obtain a raw polylactic acid of MW greater than 10,000 g/mol, purifying the raw polylactic acid by removing and separating low boiling compounds comprising lactide and impurities from the raw polylactic acid by devolatization of the low boiling compounds as a gas phase stream, purifying the lactide from the devolatization and removing the impurities from the gas phase stream of evaporated low boiling compounds by means of condensing the evaporated gas phase stream to give a condensed stream and a subsequent melt crystallization of the condensed stream, wherein the lactide is purified and the removed impurities include a catalyst residue and a compound containing at least one hydroxyl group such that the purified lactide is polymerized by feeding it back into the ring opening polymerization.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method to prepare a polylactic acid comprising the steps of performing a ring opening polymerization using a catalyst and either a catalyst killer compound or an endcapping additive to obtain a raw polylactic acid of MW greater than 10,000 g/mol, purifying the raw polylactic acid by removing and separating low boiling compounds comprising lactide and impurities from the raw polylactic acid by devolatization of the low boiling compounds as a gas phase stream, and purifying the lactide from the devolatization and removing the impurities from the gas phase stream of evaporated low boiling compounds by means of crystallization by desublimation from the gas phase, wherein the lactide is purified and the removed impurities include a catalyst residue and a compound containing at least one hydroxyl group such that the purified lactide is then polymerized by feeding it back into the ring opening polymerization.

Abstract: A static mixing element for installation in a hollow body (10) includes a plurality of bar elements, with a first arrangement (21) including at least one first bar element (3) and being arranged cross-wise with respect to a second arrangement (31) which includes at least one second bar element (4). The first arrangement (21) and the second arrangement (31) include an angle different from 0° to the main direction of flow. The first arrangement includes an angle larger than 0° with the second arrangement. On projection of the first arrangement (21) and of the second arrangement (31) onto a projection plane which is disposed normal to the main direction of flow, intermediate spaces are disposed at least partly between mutually adjacent bar elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane having a pore-free separating laye including a polymer mixture for separating simple alcohols and water fr their mixtures with other organic fluids by means of pervaporation or vapor permeation. In accordance with the invention, the polymer mixtu is composed of at least two polymer components which are taken from t group of polymer components which includes of the following polymer components: Polyvinyl alcohol, other polymers such as poly N-N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (poly DMAEMA), a copolymer of DMAEMA and N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP) or of DMAEMA and N-vinyl caprolactam (NVCL), a terpolymer of DMAE, NVP and NVCL or of vinyl acetate ethylene vinyl chloride or from vinyl chloride ethylene acrylic es or from vinyl acetate vinyl chloride acrylic ester. The invention further relates to the use and to a method for manufacturing a membrane in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: A plant (1) for the continuous manufacture of an expandable plastic granulate (G) is disclosed that includes a plastic melt source (2) for providing a plastic melt (F), an impregnating device (3) for providing an impregnated plastic melt (FB) by impregnating the plastic melt (F) with an expanding agent (B) provided by an expanding agent source, and a granulator (4, 41, 42) for producing the granulate (G) from the impregnated plastic melt (FB) with the granulator (4, 41, 42), with the granulator (4, 41, 42) being fluidly connected to the impregnating device (3). According to the invention, a switching means (5) is provided in such a way, that the plastic melt (F) can be fed to the granulator (4, 41, 42) under bypassing the impregnating device (3). In addition, the invention relates to a method for producing a granulate (G) using a plant (1) in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: Forming acetic acid and methanol from the hydrolysis of methyl acetate by reactive distillation is disclosed. A feed containing water and methyl acetate contacts a catalyst in a reactive space to perform the hydrolysis to form methanol and acetic acid. The reactive space comprises at least a first rectification zone, a first stripping zone and a first reaction zone. A catalyst is provided in the first reaction zone. The column further comprises a product space with at least a second rectification zone and a second stripping zone. The second stripping zone shares at least a portion of the column sump with the first stripping zone. A first head product is discharged from a reactive space head portion and a bottom product is discharged from the column sump and a second head product is discharged from a product space head portion and an intermediate product is discharged from the product space.

Abstract: The apparatus for the production of foams includes an extrusion device for the plastification of a polymer melt, a heat exchanger for the cooling of the polymer melt, and also a connection piece for the connection of the extrusion apparatus to the heat exchanger. The connection piece contains a metering device for the introduction of a foaming agent into the polymer melt.

Abstract: A multiple downcomer tray for a mass transfer column includes a mass transfer area and a plurality of downcomers for collecting and discharging a fluid from the tray. Each downcomer is shaped as a channel with an end wall attachable to an extension element. A downcomer and extension element together extends across the column and supports the panels of the mass transfer area.

Abstract: The device (1) serves for the generation of a discrete liquid phase in a continuous liquid phase with a first or a second liquid. The two liquids coexist as separate phases, have different densities and permit a desired exchange of material. Provision is made to arrange the device in a container (9) which contains the second liquid forming the continuous phase. The device includes a distribution member (2), in particular a cylindrical tube, and a collection passage (3) for the first liquid in a horizontal longitudinal extent. The collection passage has an outlet side (4), a collection side (5) and at least one side wall (6) connecting the outlet side and the collection side. The side wall establishes a connection between the outlet side and a horizontal drip edge (7). This side wall has a shape and an inclination which enables the formation of a liquid film of the discrete liquid phase. For enhancing the stability of the Film, the side wall (6) can have a good wettability for the first liquid.

Abstract: The valve cover has a pair of tabs at the ends that are inserted into end sections of an orifice in the tray deck. The tabs of the valve cover abut against the underside of the tray deck while a pair of sloped portions of the valve cover rest on the top side of the tray deck in order to hold the valve cover in place.

Abstract: A mixing element is constructed for installation in a fluid-conducting conduit having an inlet opening of a first cross-section and an outlet opening of a larger second cross-section which is arranged in a plane disposed substantially normal to the main direction of flow. The mixing element has a cross-sectional design which increases substantially continuously from the first cross-section to the second cross-section. Flow-dividing layers are arranged in the mixing element such that a precise fitting of the mixing element into the substantially continuously expanding fluid-conducting means is made possible.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and a device for purifying and/or separating preferably high melting organic raw products or compound mixtures containing, in particular, high melting and/or degradable sterols, by layer crystallization on first heat exchanger surfaces. The raw product is received in a solvent or solvent mixture, and then brought into contact with heat exchanger surfaces. The desired product crystallizes on the heat exchanger surfaces by slow cooling. Solvent evaporating during the crystallization or sweating process is condensed and returned to the mixture.

Abstract: The reflux divider for a separation column has portions for the transfer of material arranged in parallel which are mutually bounded by a vertical dividing wall and which include members for the controlled dividing of a liquid to be treated. A reflux divider feeds part flows to the respective portions employing connection lines that are feed from a common container. A restrictor valve is used in one connection line to control the flow based on signals from a pair of flow meters.

Abstract: The apparatus (1) which combines a heat exchange between a liquid (8) and a heat transporting medium (7) with a static mixing of the liquid includes installed structures (2) in a jacket (3). The jacket extends longitudinally between a head end (4) and a base end (5). The installed structures form a heat exchanging and mixing structure. The heat transporting medium can be conveyed from the base end to the head end as an inner flow in tubes (21, 22) of the installed structures. The liquid can be conveyed from the head end to the base end as an outer flow. Reinforcement elements (6, 6?, 6?) are provided which stabilise the installed structures in the longitudinal direction against pressure gradients generated by the liquid. The installed structures are connected by the reinforcement elements to form a non-expandable part structure (2a) in a main region; they remain at least partly non-reinforced as a longitudinally expandable part structure (2b) and in a secondary region complementary to the main region.