Abstract: The device for generating electricity (1) comprises: a first heat pump (3) provided with a first closed circuit (15) in which a first heat-transfer fluid circulates, and with a first heat exchanger (17) between the first heat-transfer fluid and a flow of atmospheric air in which the flow of atmospheric air transfers a quantity of heat to the first heat-transfer fluid, at least a second heat pump (5), provided with a second closed circuit (23) in which a second heat-transfer fluid circulates, and with a second heat exchanger (25) between the second heat-transfer fluid and a third heat-transfer fluid in which the second heat-transfer fluid transfers a quantity of heat to the third heat-transfer fluid; means for transferring a quantity of heat from the first heat-transfer fluid to the second heat-transfer fluid; a third closed circuit (9), in which the third heat-transfer fluid circulates; a turbine (11) inserted on the third closed circuit (9) and driven by the third heat-transfer fluid; an electric generato

Abstract: Device (10, 110) for evaporating a liquid, includes: a reservoir (14) containing the liquid; an organ for absorbing the liquid (16); and an organ for producing a gas flow (18), which is directed towards the absorption organ (16); characterized in that the absorption organ (16) includes a plurality of absorbent strips (24) suited to retain the liquid.

Abstract: The method includes the following steps: creation of a pressurised gas flow with a controlled flow-rate and a given temperature; and injection into the pressurised gas flow of a liquid composition including at least one liquid essential oil, at a dosed flow rate; whereby the flow rate of the gas flow and that of the liquid composition are controlled such that the gas flow, following injection, has a partial essential oil vapour pressure of at least 20% at the saturation pressure of the essential oil vapour at the temperature of the gas flow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fungicidal, bactericidal and/or antioxidative treatment of foodstuffs, by means of formulations of essential oil in a dialkylene glycol.

Abstract: The invention relates to the pre- or post harvest fungicidal and/or bactericidal treatment of plant products, using at least phosphonic acid that is at least partially salified and eugenol or clove oil, at ambient temperature, as well as to the compositions suitable for said method.

Abstract: The thermal fogging device using a liquid, comprises: an assembly (3) for producing a pressurised hot gas flow; an ejection pipe (5); a first liquid source (7); the means (9) for injecting into the ejection pipe (5) a metered liquid flow from the first liquid source (7), characterised in that the means (9) for injecting the metered liquid flow comprises a Venturi device (V) having an area (R), the cross-section of which is narrowed so as to enable the suction of the metered liquid flow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fungicidal and/or bactericidal treatment of plants or foodstuffs using one or more essential oil(s) that enable the treatment of strains resistant to synthetic fungicides and/or bactericides.

Abstract: A process for the anti-germination and/or biocide treatment of bulbs or tubers by separate application of 3-chlorophenylisopropylcarbamate (CIPC) and a component selected from the group consisting of clove oil and eugenol, in this order or vice versa. The process may be used for the treatment of potato tubers.

Abstract: A device for coating food products, of the type having a coating area includes: a coating conveyor provided to drive said food products in a longitudinal direction; and a device for applying a coating compound on the food products driven on the conveyor. The coating conveyor includes a chassis, a plurality of rotary brushes fastened in the longitudinal direction relative to the chassis, and a motorized assembly for driving the brushes in rotation around respective transverse axes relative to the chassis, the brushes being arranged so as to define, together, a support and driving surface for the food products and being provided to make the food products roll during the application of the coating compound.

Abstract: A method for coating food products includes applying, on food products, a composition containing one or more film-forming agents in a solvent, wherein application is carried out by atmospheric pressure showering of the composition or by immersion into the composition.

Abstract: Device (1) for thermal nebulization of a liquid composition (3) comprising: a container (5), a fan for moving the air located in a zone (18) of the container (5) above the liquid composition (3), a channelling housing (9) which has at least one opening (23) for introducing outside air into the device (1), a projection sprayer by means of centrifuging the liquid composition (3) in the form of droplets in the housing (9) in order to form in a mixing region (54) a mist (2) of the liquid composition (3), a conduit (45) for conveying the liquid composition towards the sprayer, and a device (29) for heating the air arranged upstream of the mixing region (54) of the housing (9). Use in the treatment of fruits or vegetables.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fog treatment method using a liquid composition for treating fruits and vegetables, characterised in that it consists in producing a fog treatment mist consisting of droplets having a temperature ranging between 200 and 280° C. and driven at a linear speed ranging between 110 and 140 m/s. More precisely, said method consists in forming said fog treatment mist in the outlet of the cylindrical channel by injecting, at the intake of said channel, said composition into a hot air jet sprayed at high speed into said channel intake, the hot air jet temperature before injection being between 550 and 750° C. and said hot air jet linear speed, before injection, ranging between 160 and 400 m/s. One particular preferred embodiment consists in using a treatment composition based on eugenol and/or isoeugenol.

Abstract: A machine for the sorting by size of pear-shaped objects including a conveyor (10) able to move essentially horizontally. The conveyor includes a first alignment of equidistant and parallel primary rollers (30) separated each from the next by an interval allowing one object to pass through. The conveyor (10) also has a second alignment of secondary rollers (44) each arranged in alignment with an interval. The machine has a device (42) for guiding the secondary rollers (44) along a sorting path (14) of the conveyor. The guide device (42) being such as to move the secondary rollers progressively away from the primary rollers along the length of the sorting path (14). The primary and secondary rollers do not rotate about their axis for the greater part of the sorting path (14).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating fruit and vegetables, including the steps of: bringing a liquid treating composition to a temperature of from 40 to 60° C., this composition containing, in an aqueous vehicle, one or more tocopherols which may be in the form of salts acceptable for food use; and applying the said treating composition to the fruit and vegetables by immersion or spraying, the immersion or spraying being continued for a time of less than or equal to 10 minutes, any process using, as treating composition, a composition containing one or more tocopherols in combination with a terpene chosen from eugenol, isoeugenol, their salts acceptable for food use and their mixtures being excluded from the context of the invention. This process is particularly suitable for treating lettuce, apples and pears after harvesting.

Abstract: The system (14, 18) for evaluating the geometry of articles transported by a conveyor (12) includes a frame (20) adapted to be mounted facing the conveyor (12), feelers (22) carried by the frame and moved relative to the frame (20) by articles transported by the conveyor (12), each feeler (22) having an end (28) for tracking the exposed surface of an article, which tracking end (28) is adapted to rest on the article and to move the feeler (22) by an amount representative of the position of the point on the article to which the tracking end (28) of the feeler (22) is applied, means (32) for measuring the position of each feeler (22) relative to the frame (20), and means (18) for calculating the geometry of the articles according to the measured position of each feeler (22).

Abstract: The visual inspection station (14) for articles, such as fruit, comprises transport means (18) for the articles and at least one viewing post (90, 92) arranged on the transport path of the articles. According to the invention, it comprises two viewing posts (90, 92) arranged successively on the transport path of the articles, each post being designed for the inspection of an exposed face of the articles resting on the transport means (18). Turning means (24) for the articles are arranged between the two viewing stations (90, 92).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating fruit and vegetables after harvesting, using, as plant-protection treatment composition, the mixture with water of the reaction medium resulting from the implementation of steps of purification of a plant-protection product contaminated with impurities of aromatic primary amine type. The process contains the steps of: a) the placing in contact with stirring, at a temperature between 15 and 25° C., of an aqueous solution of an alkali metal nitrite with an organic solution prepared by dissolving the said plant-protection product to be purified in a solvent chosen from a nonionic surfactant, a C2-C12 glycol and mixtures thereof; b) the addition of a strong inorganic acid to the resulting reaction medium, while stirring at the said temperature; c) followed by heating of the reaction medium to a temperature of between 30 and 70° C.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of fruits or vegetables after harvesting by heating to a temperature of 40.degree. to 60.degree. C. a treatment composition including, in an aqueous vehicle, a terpenic compound, and then bringing the fruits or vegetables into contact with the composition at such temperature for a period of less than or equal to 10 minutes.

Abstract: This device includes a conveyor chain on which are fixed support members for supporting products, such members being between positions for transporting the products in the station and for removing the products from the device, under the control of a sorting control. Each support member includes a lever joined, by an articulation joint, to a support stem fixed to the chain and including, on one side of the articulation joint, fingers for supporting the products, and on the other side of the articulation joint, an operating portion designed to interact with the sorting control to control the movements of the lever between the transport and removal positions.

Abstract: The invention is embodied as a unit for grading produce and comprises a transporting device having parallel belts and receptacles which open downwardly and in which produce is arranged, and a weighing station comprising a weighing wheel driven in rotation by a gear motor and a section of which projects into the receptacles so as to carry the produce as it passes through the weighing station. The weighing wheel and the gear motor are supported by a device for weighing the produce. The unit also includes a grading station comprising several stations for ejecting the produce from the transporting device into a device for removing the produce as a function of the weight of the produce.