Abstract: A method and system for controlling the temperature of recirculated exhaust gas in an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, such as those used in connection with diesel engines. An EGR loop (which may be either a high pressure loop or a low pressure loop) has a dual-leg segment with an EGR cooler on one leg and an EGR heater on the other leg. By means of a valve, the EGR gas may be diverted to either one leg or the other, thereby providing either cooled or heated EGR gas to the engine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus and computer program product which enable a web service gateway which provides support for business services which are described using a particular document format, for example Web Service Definition Language (WSDL), to further provide support for business services which are described using a different document format, for example in a business to business (b2b) profile such as specified by RosettaNet. The business service provides its profile to the gateway which generates a document from the profile and then uses the generated document to enable a web client, which recognises the document format but not the profile format, to access the web service via the gateway.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of synthesis gas to product comprising liquid hydrocarbons wherein said process comprises contacting synthesis gas at an elevated temperature and pressure with a mixed particulate catalyst comprising a mixture of a particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst and a particulate hydrocracking and/or isomerisation catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a message brokering system for connecting a client in a local publish/subscribe messaging system to a remote message broker. The system comprises a message broker in said local publish/subscribe messaging system and a metabroker application means representing said remote message broker. The local message broker comprises publish/subscribe means for proxying messages between the client and the metabroker application means. The metabroker application means comprises publish/subscribe means for proxying messages between the local broker and the remote broker.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the temperature of recirculated exhaust gas in an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, such as those used in connection with diesel engines. An EGR loop (which may be either a high pressure loop or a low pressure loop) has a dual-leg segment with an EGR cooler on one leg and an EGR heater on the other leg. By means of a valve, the EGR gas may be diverted to either one leg or the other, thereby providing either cooled or heated EGR gas to the engine.

Abstract: Process for the conversion of synthesis gas to higher hydrocarbons. A gaseous stream comprising synthesis gas is contacted at an elevated temperature and pressure with a suspension comprising a particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst suspended in a liquid medium, in a reactor system comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a tubular loop reactor. The suspension and the gaseous stream are passed through the high shear mixing zone(s) wherein the gaseous stream is broken down into gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids. Suspension having gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids dispersed therein is discharged from the high shear mixing zone(s) into the tubular loop reactor, the discharged suspension is circulated around the tubular loop reactor, and a product suspension stream comprising at least a portion of the circulating suspension is withdrawn from the tubular loop reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the conversion of synthesis gas to hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: a) contacting synthesis gas at an elevated temperature and pressure with a particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor system to generate hydrocarbons comprising gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons; b) in a gas separation zone, separating a gaseous phase comprising saturated gaseous hydrocarbons from a liquid phase comprising liquid hydrocarbons and from the particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst; c) passing at least a portion of the separated gaseous phase to a dehydrogenation reactor where at least a portion of the saturated gaseous hydrocarbons are converted to unsaturated hydrocarbons; and d) recycling at least a portion of said unsaturated hydrocarbons back to the Fischer-Tropsch reactor system.

Abstract: Process of contacting a gaseous reactant stream comprising synthesis gas at elevated temperature and pressure with a suspension of a particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising cobalt in a liquid medium in a reactor system comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a reactor vessel, by a) contacting the particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst with a reducing gas at elevated temperature and pressure outside of the high shear mixing zone(s) and the reactor vessel and subsequently suspending the particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst in the liquid medium; b) passing the suspension from step a) through the high shear mixing zone(s) where the gaseous reactant stream comprising synthesis gas is mixed with the suspension; c) discharging a mixture comprising the synthesis gas and the suspension from the high shear mixing zone(s) into the reactor vessel; and d) converting the synthesis gas to liquid hydrocarbons in the reactor vessel to form a product suspension comprising the particulate Fischer-Tropsch cataly

Abstract: There is disclosed a method, apparatus, computer program and computer program product for facilitating access by an application to a data structure comprising a plurality of objects. A request is received from the application which initiates the return of the data structure. A handle is assigned to each of at least some of the plurality of objects. Objects in the data structure are retrieved and the application is informed of assigned handles thereby enabling the application to access retrieved objects.

Abstract: A light fixture or troffer for directing light emitted from a light source toward an area to be illuminated, including a reflector assembly within which the light source is positioned and a lens assembly detachably secured to a portion of the reflector assembly such that a lens of the lens assembly overlies the light source and such that substantially all of the light emitted from the light source passes through the lens assembly. In one example, the lens includes a curved prismatic surface that can be oriented toward or away from the underlying light source.

Abstract: A light fixture or troffer for directing light emitted from a light source toward an area to be illuminated, including a reflector assembly within which the light source is positioned and a lens assembly detachably secured to a portion of the reflector assembly such that a lens of the lens assembly overlies the light source and such that substantially all of the light emitted from the light source passes through the lens assembly. In one example, the lens includes a curved prismatic surface that can be oriented toward or away from the underlying light source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus and computer program product which enables a web service gateway or web service server to provide a document, such as a WSDL, describing a target service to a requesting client which contains details which have been tailored for that client. For example, for a target service which provides access at different qualities of service, a WSDL can be returned in response to a client request, the WSDL containing details of how to access the target service at an appropriate quality of service for a user id which was specified with the client request.

Abstract: A method of providing a video game that tracks events in an actual sporting event can include generating a virtual environment, generating one or more first virtual characters in the virtual environment, receiving event data specifying events of a sporting event, coordinating actions of the first virtual character according to the event data, and generating one or more user-controlled second virtual characters. A system for providing a video game experience that tracks events in an actual sporting event is also provided. The system includes one or more gaming systems for receiving event data containing events of a sporting event, and one or more gaming engines for generating a virtual environment having one or more first virtual characters where the actions of the first virtual character are based on the event data.

Abstract: In order to determine a physical or physiological condition, a series of images of a human subject in motion are captured (1, 2, 3). At least one image (19) is then displayed, and the user selects from a displayed category list (8) an appropriate category to represent the subject's condition. The category list represents categories of physical or physiological conditions. A list of treatments for treating the subject (5) may be displayed, as may a list of possible treatment products, e.g. footwear. Where the treatment products are footwear, there may be a foot measuring device (10) and other information about the subject (5) may be stored so as to assist the user in selection of the appropriate footwear products.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of synthesis gas to hydrocarbons by contacting the synthesis gas at an elevated temperature and pressure with a suspension comprising a solid particulate catalyst suspended in a liquid medium, which contacting takes place in a system comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a reactor vessel wherein the volume of suspension present in the high shear mixing zone(s) is substantially less than the volume of suspension present in the reactor vessel, suspension is mixed with synthesis gas in the high shear mixing zone(s), the resulting mixture of suspension and synthesis gas is discharged from the high shear mixing zone(s) into the reactor vessel and wherein kinetic energy is dissipated to the suspension present in the high shear mixing zone(s) at a rate of at least 0.5 kW/m3 relative to the total volume of suspension present in the system.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of synthesis gas to hydrocarbons, at least a portion of which are liquid at ambient temperature and pressure, by contacting the synthesis gas at an elevated temperature and pressure with a suspension comprising a solid particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst suspended in a liquid medium, which contacting takes place in a reactor system comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a reactor vessel wherein the volume of suspension present in the high shear mixing zone(s) is substantially less than the volume of suspension present in the reactor vessel, which process comprises: mixing the suspension with synthesis gas in the high shear mixing zone(s) and dissipating kinetic energy to the suspension present in the high shear mixing zone(s) at a rate of at least 0.

Abstract: A process which comprises contacting a gaseous reactant stream comprising synthesis gas at elevated temperature and pressure with a suspension of a particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising cobalt in a liquid medium in a reactor system comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a reactor vessel wherein the process comprises the steps of: a) contacting the particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst with a reducing gas at elevated temperature and pressure outside of the high shear mixing zone(s) and the reactor vessel and subsequently suspending the particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst in the liquid medium; b) passing the suspension from step a) through the high shear mixing zone(s) where the gaseous reactant stream comprising synthesis gas is mixed with the suspension; c) discharging a mixture comprising the synthesis gas and the suspension from the high shear mixing zone(s) into the reactor vessel; and d) converting the synthesis gas to liquid hydrocarbons in the reactor vessel to form a product suspe

Abstract: A process for the conversion of synthesis gas to higher hydrocarbons by contacting a gaseous stream comprising synthesis gas, at an elevated temperature and pressure, with a suspension comprising a particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst suspended in a liquid medium, in a reactor system comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a tubular loop reactor wherein the process comprises: a) passing the suspension and the gaseous stream through the high shear mixing zone(s) wherein the gaseous stream is broken down into gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids; b) discharging suspension having gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids dispersed therein from the high shear mixing zone(s) into the tubular loop reactor; c) circulating the discharged suspension around the tubular loop reactor; and d) withdrawing a product suspension stream comprising at least a portion of the circulating suspension from the tubular loop reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the conversion of synthesis gas to hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: a) contacting synthesis gas at an elevated temperature and pressure with a particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor system to generate hydrocarbons comprising gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons; b) in a gas separation zone, separating a gaseous phase comprising saturated gaseous hydrocarbons from a liquid phase comprising liquid hydrocarbons and from the particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst; c) passing at least a portion of the separated gaseous phase to a dehydrogenation reactor where at least a portion of the saturated gaseous hydrocarbons are converted to unsaturated hydrocarbons; and d) recycling at least a portion of said unsaturated hydrocarbons back to the Fischer-Tropsch reactor system.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of synthesis gas to hydrocarbons by contacting the synthesis gas at an elevated temperature and pressure with a suspension comprising a solid particulate catalyst suspended in a liquid medium, which contacting takes place in a system comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a reactor vessel wherein the volume of suspension present in the high shear mixing zone(s) is substantially less than the volume of suspension present in the reactor vessel, suspension is mixed with synthesis gas in the high shear mixing zone(s), the resulting mixture of suspension and synthesis gas is discharged from the high shear mixing zone(s) into the reactor vessel and wherein kinetic energy is dissipated to the suspension present in the high shear mixing zone(s) at a rate of at least 0.5 kW/m3 relative to the total volume of suspension present in the system.