Abstract: A method of operating a three-phase slurry reactor includes feeding at a low level at least one gaseous reactant into a vertically extending slurry body of solid particles suspended in a suspension liquid, the slurry body being contained in a plurality of vertically extending horizontally spaced slurry channels inside a common reactor shell, the slurry channels being defined between vertically extending horizontally spaced divider walls or plates and each slurry channel having a height, width and breadth such that the height and breadth are much larger than the width. The gaseous reactant is allowed to react as it passes upwardly through the slurry body present in the slurry channels, thereby to form non-gaseous and/or gaseous product. Gaseous product and/or unreacted gaseous reactant is allowed to disengage from the slurry body in a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: Method of operating a three-phase slurry reactor includes feeding at a low level at least one gaseous reactant into a vertically extending slurry body of solid particles suspended in a suspension liquid, the slurry body being contained in at least two vertically extending shafts housed within a common reactor shell, each shaft being divided into a plurality of vertically extending channels at least some of which are in slurry flow communication and the slurry body being present in at least some of the channels. The gaseous reactant is allowed to react as it passes upwardly through the slurry body present in at least some of the channels of the shafts, thereby to form a non-gaseous and/or a gaseous product. Gaseous product, if present, and/or unreacted gaseous reactant is allowed to disengage from the slurry body in a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: A pneumatic vane motor comprising a housing (10) with a cylinder (11), two end walls (13,14), and a rotor (18) journalled in the housing (10) and carrying one or more pairs of sliding vanes (31), and vane supporting pins (32) longitudinally movable in transverse bores (33) in the rotor (18) and forming spacers between two diametrically opposite vanes (31), and the rotor (18) having a coaxial bore (48) with a closed end (49) and an open end (50) closed by a removable plug (51), wherein the coaxial bore (48) intersects the transverse bores (33) and being filled with a lubricant for providing lubrication of the vane supporting pins (32).

Abstract: A method of operating a three-phase slurry reactor includes feeding at a low level at least one gaseous reactant into a vertically extending slurry body of solid particles suspended in a suspension liquid, the slurry body being contained in a plurality of vertically extending horizontally spaced slurry channels inside a common reactor shell, the slurry channels being defined between vertically extending horizontally spaced divider walls or plates and each slurry channel having a height, width and breadth such that the height and breadth are much larger than the width. The gaseous reactant is allowed to react as it passes upwardly through the slurry body present in the slurry channels, thereby to form non-gaseous and/or gaseous product. Gaseous product and/or unreacted gaseous reactant is allowed to disengage from the slurry body in a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: Method of operating a three-phase slurry reactor includes feeding at a low level at least one gaseous reactant into a vertically extending slurry body of solid particles suspended in a suspension liquid, the slurry body being contained in at least two vertically extending shafts housed within a common reactor shell, each shaft being divided into a plurality of vertically extending channels at least some of which are in slurry flow communication and the slurry body being present in at least some of the channels. The gaseous reactant is allowed to react as it passes upwardly through the slurry body present in at least some of the channels of the shafts, thereby to form a non-gaseous and/or a gaseous product. Gaseous product, if present, and/or unreacted gaseous reactant is allowed to disengage from the slurry body in a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: A sequence of a plurality of images to be displayed as a slide show whilst accompanied by an audio item is generated by extracting (209) at least one feature of an audio item, such as pace, —extracting (203) at least one feature of each of a plurality of images; and determining (215) the next image to generate a sequence of selected ones of the plurality of images to be displayed whilst accompanied by the audio item on the basis of the extracted at least one feature of the audio item and on the basis of the extracted at least one feature of the image.

Abstract: A data storage system comprises a plurality of portable data storage devices (12) coupled via a network (10). Each of the portable data storage devices (12) has an associated storage profile, which defines a which data objects will be stored in the storage device. A recommended profile for at least one of the portable data storage devices us automatically generated, using the steps of—collecting profile information about storage profiles for portable data storage devices (12) other than the at least one of the portable data storage devices (12) and/or data object information about properties of data objects stored by the portable data storage devices (12) other than the at least one of the portable data storage devices (12), —using the profile information and/or data information to guide generation of the recommended storage profile.

Abstract: A method of generating an image collection is described. A plurality of images are retrieved (step 202) and the images are divided into clusters according to a predetermined characteristic of the content of the images (step 204). At least one of the clusters is selected based on a number of images in each cluster (step 206). For each selected cluster, at least one image is selected on the basis of a predetermined criterion (step 208) and an image collection 5 comprising the selected images is generated (step 210).

Abstract: A method of processing a plurality of images comprises receiving a plurality of images, defining a set of images for processing, from the plurality of images, aligning one or more components within the set of images, transforming one or more of the aligned images by cropping, resizing and/or rotating the image(s) to create a series of transformed images, and creating an output comprising the series of transformed images, the output comprising either a stop motion video sequence or a single image.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments as disclosed herein are directed to setting and curing accelerators for hydraulic binders, including at least one ester of a polyhydric alcohol with an acid and/or salts thereof, where the acid is a phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid or a C2 to C20 carboxylic acid. Compositions including at least one accelerator as disclosed herein can accelerate the setting and curing of hydraulic binders and mortar or concrete produced therefrom, such as quick-setting cement. Methods for accelerating the setting and curing of hydraulic binders and mortar or concrete produced therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of processing an image signal comprises: receiving an image signal comprising a series of frames, performing light source detection on each frame, and detecting a flash at frame n of length m frames when the following criteria are satisfied: the difference between the detected light source in frame n?1 and frame n is above a first predetermined threshold, the difference between the detected light source in frame n+m?1 and frame n+m is above the first predetermined threshold, and the difference between the detected light source in frame n?1 and frame n+m is below a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method of processing an image signal comprises receiving an image signal comprising a series of frames, calculating a plurality of dominant colors, over the series of frames, selecting a subset of frames of the image signal, calculating a plurality of dominant colors, over the subset of frames, comparing the dominant colors of the subset of frames to the dominant colors of the series of frames, and determining the dominant color in the subset of frames, with the largest difference from the closest dominant color in the series of frames.

Abstract: A process for producing liquid and, optionally, gaseous products from gaseous reactants includes feeding at a low level a gaseous reactants feed comprising at least CO and H2 into an expanded slurry bed of solid non-shifting hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst particles suspended in a suspension liquid, the expanded slurry bed having an aspect ratio of less than 5. The gaseous reactants and any recycled gas are allowed to react with a per pass CO plus H2 conversion of at least 60% as they pass upwardly through the slurry bed at a gas velocity of at least 35 cm/s, thereby to form liquid and, optionally, gaseous products, and with the gaseous reactants and any recycled gas and any gaseous product assisting in maintaining the solid catalyst particles in suspension in the suspension liquid, and with the liquid product forming together with the suspension liquid, a liquid phase of the slurry bed.

Abstract: A system computes a combined dominant color descriptor (DCD) of a plurality of images (IM 1, IM 2, IM n). The system comprises an input 206 for receiving a plurality of respective dominant color descriptors (DCD 1, DCD 2, DCD n) of respective images of the plurality of images (IM 1, IM 2, IM n). The system further comprises means 202 for generating a collection of generated color values (IM) based on dominant colors included in the received dominant color descriptors (DCD 1, DCD 2, DCD n), and means 204 for computing at least one dominant color of the collection of generated color values (IM) for inclusion in the combined dominant color descriptor (DCD). In the collection, at least one generated color value is included representing a dominant color in one of the received dominant color descriptors.

Abstract: A process (10) for at least partially removing hydrogen cyanide from synthesis gas includes feeding a synthesis gas (30) containing hydrogen cyanide to a gas-liquid contacting stage (18) and, in the gas-liquid contacting stage (18), contacting the synthesis gas with an aqueous washing solution (36) comprising at least one dissolved metal salt, with metal cations of the metal salt being capable of forming metal cyanide complexes and/or metal cyanide precipitates, and weak acid anions of the metal salt serving to buffer the pH of the washing solution in a range between 6 and 10. Hydrogen cyanide is washed from the synthesis gas by the washing solution to form a treated synthesis gas (38) and a spent washing solution (40). From time to time or continuously, at least a portion of the spent washing solution is withdrawn from the gas-liquid contacting stage. The treated synthesis gas (38) is also withdrawn from the gas-liquid contacting stage.

Abstract: A process (10) for co-producing power and hydrocarbons includes in a wet gasification stage (70), gasifying coal to produce a combustion gas (86) at elevated pressure comprising at least H2 and CO; enriching (72) a first portion of the combustion gas with H2 to produce an H2-enriched gas (88); and generating power (77) from a second portion of the combustion gas. In a dry gasification stage (16), coal is gasified to produce a synthesis gas precursor (36) at elevated pressure comprising at least H2 and CO. At least a portion of the H2-enriched gas (88) is mixed with the synthesis gas precursor (36) to provide a synthesis gas for hydrocarbon synthesis, with hydrocarbons being synthesised (20, 22) from the synthesis gas. In certain embodiments, the process (10) produces a CO2 exhaust stream (134) for sequestration or capturing for further use.

Abstract: A process (10) for co-producing power and hydrocarbons includes gasifying (16, 70) coal to produce a synthesis gas (36) and a combustion gas (86) both comprising at least CO1H2 and CO2 and being at elevated pressure, separating CO2 (18, 48) from the synthesis gas, and synthesizing (20, 22) hydrocarbons from the synthesis gas. Power (114) is generated from the combustion gas, including by combusting (78) the combustion gas in the presence of oxygen and in the presence of at least a portion of the separated CO2 as moderating agent to produce a hot combusted gas (106) which includes CO2. The CO2 is recycled (112) or recovered from the combusted gas. In certain embodiments, the process (10) produces a CO2 exhaust stream (134) for sequestration or capturing for further use.

Abstract: An object captured by a digital image is automatically identified by determining a location at which a digital image is captured; retrieving a plurality of candidate objects associated with said determined location; comparing an object captured by said digital image with each of said retrieved plurality of candidate objects to identify said object. One of the candidate images can be selected and used to create a collage of the captured image and a more complete image of the object.

Abstract: A method is provided for quenching a slurry in a slurry vessel of slurry phase apparatus which comprises a gas distributor arranged to inject a gas into the slurry at a predetermined level, and an apertured solid particles support below the level at which the gas distributor is disposed to inject the gas. The method includes introducing a quenching liquid into the slurry vessel below the apertured support and passing the quenching liquid into the slurry through the apertures of the apertured support.

Abstract: A process for co-producing hydrocarbons and dimethyl ether (DME) includes feeding a gaseous feedstock comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, into a threephase low temperature catalytic Fischer-Tropsch reaction stage, allowing the hydrogen and carbon monoxide partially to react catalytically in the Fischer-Tropsch reaction stage to form hydrocarbons, and obtaining a tail gas from the Fischer-Tropsch reaction stage which includes unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide and also carbon dioxide. The composition of at least a portion of the tail gas is adjusted to provide a DME synthesis feedstock with a syngas number (SN) between 1.8 and 2.2, where formula (I) and where [H2], [CO] and [CO2] respectively are the molar proportions of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the DME synthesis feedstock. The DME synthesis feedstock is fed into a DME synthesis stage for conversion.